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BMW is presenting new electric models at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, including the world premiere of the BMW X3 xDrive30e and the BMW 330e, the BMW X5 xDrive45e – with a 50 mile electric range – and the electrified model variants of the new BMW 7 Series.
There is also increased electric range for the BMW 530e and the BMW 225xe Active Tourer, and a plug-in hybrid version of the BMW 5 Series is now also available worldwide with the BMW xDrive all-wheel drive system
The BMW X3 will be produced in a plug-in hybrid variant for the first time in December 2019. This makes it the first model of the brand to be offered with a conventional combustion engine, a plug-in hybrid system, and a pure electric version in 2020.
With a market share of more than 9 per cent, the BMW Group leads the worldwide ranking of established premium providers of vehicles that are purely electrically powered or run on plug-in hybrid systems. In 2018 the BMW Group was the market leader in the premium segment of electrified vehicles in both Germany and in China. With a share of more than 16 per cent, the company also once again led the overall European market for electrified vehicles.
BMW Group achieved a new worldwide sales record in 2018 with more than 140,000 units of electrical and plug-in hybrid vehicles sold – an increase of 38.4 per cent over the previous year.
The aim of the BMW Group is to have put more than half a million electrified vehicles of its brands on the road by the end of 2019.
BMW offers the BMW i3, BMW i8 Coupé and BMW i8 Roadster pure electric vehicles, and plug-in hybrid variants of the BMW X5 and the BMW X3, the BMW 2 Series, BMW 3 Series, BMW 5 Series and BMW 7 Series and the MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4. The BMW X1 xDrive25Le is produced in China for the local market. And this year will see the launch of the purely electrically powered MINI. The BMW Group will therefore have 12 electrically-powered models by the end of 2019.
By 2025 the BMW Group will have increased the selection of its brands’ electrically powered vehicles to at least 25 models.
World premiere: the BMW X3 xDrive30e with plug-in hybrid drive
BMW starts production of another SAV with plug-in hybrid drive in December 2019. Seeing its world premiere at the 2019 International Geneva Motor Show, the BMW X3 xDrive30e achieves an electric range of up to 31 miles, with CO2 emissions of 56 g/km.
The plug-in hybrid system in the BMW X3 xDrive30e consists of a 4-cylinder petrol engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology and an electric motor. Both drive units put their power on the road via an 8-speed Steptronic transmission and the intelligent all-wheel drive system. Their joint system output of 185 kW/252 hp can be increased by up to 30 kW/41 hp by temporary use of the electric motor’s peak output. The BMW X3 xDrive30e takes just 6.5 seconds (provisional figure) to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph.
The BMW X3 xDrive30e plug-in hybrid is fitted with a lithium-ion battery which is positioned under the rear seat in order to save space. With a luggage volume of 450 litres, the transport capacity of the BMW X3 xDrive30e is at the level of those model variants which are fitted with a conventional engine.
Other world premieres in Geneva: BMW 330e Sedan, BMW X5 xDrive45e and the plug-in hybrid models of the new BMW 7 Series
The new BMW 330e Saloon has an increase in electric range of 50 per cent to up to 37 miles and CO2 emissions reduced to 39 g/km. The system output of its plug-in hybrid drive is 185 kW/252 hp – with the possibility of a temporary increase by an additional 30 kW/41 hp using the standard XtraBoost. As a result, the new BMW 330e Saloon does the sprint from 0-62mph in 6.0 seconds (provisional figure).
Increased output, efficiency and electric range are also offered by the latest version of the BMW X5 with plug-in hybrid drive. The new BMW X5 xDrive45e is now fitted with an in-line 6-cylinder petrol engine combined with an electric motor – with a system output that is now increased to 290 kW/394 hp, resulting in a 0-62mph time of 5.6 seconds (provisional figure). Its electric range is 50 miles, almost three times that of its predecessor. With its 69-litre fuel tank, the BMW X5 xDrive45e is also perfectly suited to use over long distances. Its plug-in hybrid drive technology reduces CO2 emissions to 49 g/km.
BMW 745e
In the plug-in hybrid models of the new BMW 7 Series the electric range has been increased by almost 30 per cent as compared to the predecessor models, now at a distance of between 31 and 36 miles.
The model range comprises the BMW 745e (combined CO2 emissions: 52 – 48 g/km), the long wheelbase BMW 745Le (combined CO2 emissions: 53 – 50 g/km) and the BMW 745Le xDrive (combined CO2 emissions: 59 – 52 g/km) with extended wheelbase and intelligent all-wheel drive.
Its drive system now comprises an in-line 6-cylinder petrol engine together with an electric motor. By setting the drive experience switch to SPORT mode, the driver can tap into a system output of 290 kW/394 hp. The new BMW 745e accelerates in 5.2 seconds from zero to 62 mph; the new BMW 745Le takes 5.3 seconds; the new BMW 745Le xDrive reaches 62 mph in 5.1 seconds.
BMW 530e Saloon and BMW 225xe Active Tourer with further developed lithium-ion batteries and increased electric range
The new lithium-ion battery for the plug-in hybrid model of the BMW 5 Series Saloon now has a gross energy content that has been increased from 9.2 to 12.0 kWh. This means an increase in electrically powered range by more than 30 per cent to 40 miles. The BMW 530e Sedan now achieves a CO2 emissions of 38 g/km. As an additional model variant, the all-wheel drive BMW 530e xDrive Saloon will also be on sale worldwide from July 2019 onwards. The latter achieves an electric range of up to 35 miles. Its CO2 emissions are 44 g/km.
The BMW 225xe Active Tourer, with all-wheel drive, now has an electric range of 35 miles, an increase of more than 25 per cent, thanks to a lithium-ion battery that now has a gross energy content that has been increased from 7.7 to 9.7 kWh. The BMW 225xe Active Tourer has 43g/km CO2 emissions.
