The BMW ActiveHybrid 3.

Latest-generation BMW ActiveHybrid technology: six-in-line engine, electric motor, lithium-ion battery.

The 225 kW six-cylinder in-line engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology in the BMW ActiveHybrid 3 is the same unit renowned for its free-revving capability, pulling power and efficiency in the BMW 335i. The electric motor, meanwhile, develops 40 kW and is supplied with energy by a high-voltage lithium-ion battery integrated underneath the luggage area.

Power from the two drive systems is transferred to the rear wheels by the eight-speed automatic transmission. In addition to its full-hybrid construction, which enables purely electric and therefore local emission-free driving in urban conditions or when coasting, the BMW ActiveHybrid 3 boasts not just highly sporty performance but also a double-digit percentage improvement in fuel economy over the BMW 335i/335iA.

Superior efficiency thanks to ECO PRO mode including coasting and intelligent energy management.
In order to exploit the potential of the BMW ActiveHybrid technology, the intelligent energy management of the power electronics uses a host of innovative functions to ensure the drive system runs efficiently.

Charging of the high-performance battery primarily takes place during coasting or braking, the electric motor performing the role of a generator feeding energy into the high-voltage battery. By contrast, under acceleration the electric motor takes on a boost function. Here, it assists the petrol engine by generating an ultra-dynamic burst of power, lending the Sedan’s sporty driving experience a sharper edge.

Moreover, while coasting at speeds of up to 160 km/h in ECO PRO mode, the combustion engine can be switched off and fully decoupled. This coasting mode combines comfortable driving with optimum utilisation of the kinetic energy already generated. To avoid periods with the engine running at idle at junctions or in traffic tailbacks, the BMW ActiveHybrid 3 deploys its hybrid start-stop function. Plus, the power electronics can be intelligently linked up with the navigation system Professional (optional on the ActiveHybrid 3). This allows for proactive analysis of the driving situation, enabling the drive components to be primed to deliver maximum efficiency (the effect may vary according to the quality of the available navigation data).

Design: sporty elegance with individual accents.

The BMW ActiveHybrid 3 sees the sporty yet elegant body design of the BMW 3 Series Sedan complemented by bespoke touches which highlight its innovative drive technology. The “ActiveHybrid 3” lettering on the C-pillars and at the rear, along with the matt chrome exhaust tailpipes, set the exterior apart from the other models in the range. Further accents come courtesy of the standard satin-finish window surrounds and the BMW Individual High-gloss Shadow features in the side graphic.