BMW ActiveHybrid X6 Is Stretching The Green Image Of Hybrid Cars

Sep 14 2009, 5:00am CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

I am a total fan of the BMW X6. It just looks awesome and in my opinion it is the most interesting car BMW offers these days. Of course I was intrigued when BMW announced a hybrid version of the BMW X6 SAV last year at the Detroit Auto Show 2008. The BMW ActiveHybrid X6 will go on sale in Spring of 2010 and will be launched at the IAA 2009 this month.

I got a brochure of the BMW X6 Hybrid in my hands and the specifications are a bit of a headscratcher.
The BMW ActiveHybrid X6 only comes with the V8 engine available in the top model X6 xDrive50i. The electric motor adds to the 407hp another 78hp to give you a total of 485hp. The hybrid X6 is with 2,525kg 260kg heavier than the X6 xDrive50i, the acceleration and the top speed stay about the same though.
The charging of the battery works almost like Kers in The Formula One. When you brake the battery gets charged. The ActiveHybrid also charges the battery on decend and you get automatic start/stop. The technology behind the hybrid drive in the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 definitely is cool, but what does the environmentally conscious X6 customer get?
You can drive 2.5km in electric mode, the CO2 emission drops from 299 to 231 and the fuel consumption in cities drops by almost 7liters. On the Autobahn of course it stays the same.
But are these values really holding up in real life?

For me the concept of the most powerful hybrid car is not working with these parameters. It is just smarter to stick with a Diesel powered X6 if you want fuel efficiency in a big car. If you really want power, stay true and get the BMW X6 M. The BMW ActiveHybrid X6 is just not meeting my definition of a green car nor that of a power car.

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Luigi Lugmayr
Luigi is the founding chief Editor of I4U News and brings over 15 years experience in the technology field to the ever evolving and exciting world of gadgets. He started I4U News back in 2000 and evolved it into vibrant technology magazine.
Luigi can be contacted directly at ml@i4u.com. Luigi posts regularly on LuigiMe.com about his experience running I4U.