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| BMW
X3 Hybrid |
Broadcast
dates : 15th January 2006
21st January 2006 |
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The
BMW Active Hybrid Technology concept vehicle is based on the
X 3 all-roader. It uses as combination of an advanced
six-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor.
Ho-hum, you might be thinking – so what else is new?
What’s new is that the X3 hybrid is designed as a
performance vehicle, and it carries no extra batteries to
charge the electric motor.
In effect, the electric motor takes the place of a torque
converter in the standard-size automatic transmission used
in this hybrid.
Dual clutches see the 60 kilowatt electric motor used to
start the vehicle from standstill.
The second clutch then seamlessly kicks in the conventional
high-performance petrol engine once the car is under way.
When a power boost is needed at speed, the electric motor
kicks in, for an instant extra 60 kilowatts of power.
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The electric motor recharges itself when the brakes are
applied, and for energy storage, special capacitors, known
as SuperCaps, are used.
In its fifteen years of hybrid research, BMW has
traditionally used production models as test beds.
It should come as no surprise that the X3 Active-Hybrid is
fully equipped with a power-everything cabin.
On the test mule, BMW went to some pains to spec the X3 with
a particularly alluring leather-clad cabin. This makes the
point that fuel-efficient vehicles of the future need hold
no hardships for traditional, pampered BMW customers.
Great news is the performance. This X3 will accelerate to a
hundred in just six-comma-seven seconds, and top out at
two-hundred and thirty-five kilometres-per-hour. All at ten
per cent less fuel than a slower, standard X3.
The only real differences will be keeping an eye on the
different fuel gauges.
But such is BMW’s faith in its system that, it’s
claimed, the batteries will always have some power available
for a performance boost.
As for production plans, hybrids with this type of
performance can’t be too far down the road.
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