CAR /
MOTOR SHOW
December 17, 2014
The BMW ActiveHybrid 3 Makes Its World Debut.
BMW
2012 Detroit Motor Show
ActiveHybrid 3 World Premiere!
BMW, which last year became the top-selling premium car brand in the North American market, surpassing Lexus, has seen its new 3 Series make its long-awaited public debut. Simultaneously, the ActiveHybrid 3 was unveiled to the world.
Text & Photo by SHIMASHITA Yasuhisa
New 3 Series Makes Public Debut
Last year, BMW claimed the top spot in the premium car segment in the North American market, unseating Lexus, the long-time leader, and overtaking Mercedes-Benz, which had been in close pursuit. While it's true that Lexus faced supply shortages due to the earthquake, BMW's aggressive product strategy was undoubtedly a key factor in its success.
The star of the BMW booth this year is the new 3 Series. Although it had already been announced and a press international test drive event had been held, its public debut was at this Detroit show. Also on display were the M Sport, making its first public appearance, and the ActiveHybrid 3, a world premiere. With these powerful new models, BMW appears poised to further extend its momentum this year.
ActiveHybrid 3
The mechanical components of the ActiveHybrid 3, positioned as the top-grade model of the new 3 Series, are largely shared with the ActiveHybrid 5. Specifically, the engine is a 3.0-liter inline-six twin-turbo producing 306 ps, combined with a 54 ps electric motor, resulting in a system output of 340 ps and 450 Nm.
Fuel economy is rated at 6.4 L/100km in the EU combined cycle (approximately 15.6 km/L). Compared to the 335i, which uses the same engine, this represents a 12.5 percent improvement in fuel efficiency while also increasing power output. It is capable of electric-only driving up to 3-4 km at speeds up to 60 km/h.
The battery is a lithium-ion type. Its placement has been moved from behind the rear seats in the ActiveHybrid 5 to the floor of the luggage space. Although the capacity is reduced from 480 liters in the 335i to 390 liters, the reduction is smaller than in the ActiveHybrid 5. Furthermore, features such as the pass-through enabled by the 3-way split folding rear seat backrest are retained, significantly enhancing usability.
Sales are scheduled to begin this autumn, with an expected arrival in Japan around the same time.
