BMW ActiveHybrid X6
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What is it?
An X6 XDrive 50i with a significant premium to cover the cost of adding two electric motors and batteries under the boot floor. It's BMW's first full hybrid, the German firm combining 4.4-litre turbocharged V8 power with two electric motors to create a hybrid that's as much about the performance it delivers against the clock as it is about saving fuel and lowering emissions.
Is it any good?
It is technically something of a marvel, BMW's engineers squeezing two electric motors into the drivetrain and making them work almost seamlessly with the twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 engine. The nickel hydride batteries in the boot allow the X6 ActiveHybrid an electric-only range of around 1.5 miles, at speeds up to 37mph. That's enough to enable you to trickle silently down your drive in the morning or through stop-start traffic in town. The V8 cuts in whenever it's needed, but likewise it will shut down any time it's not.
The result is an official combined consumption figure of 28.5mpg and CO2 emissions of 231g/km. Impressive numbers when you consider that the X6 ActiveHybrid packs 485bhp and a thumping 575lb.ft of torque, which, despite its hefty kerb weight, allows it to reach 62mph in just 5.6 seconds. It's unlikely you'll ever achieve those consumption numbers, though if you want to beat them you should have your X6 with either of the diesel engine options - which although slower are more economical and emit less.
Outwardly it wears its hybrid status relatively subtly. The bonnet features a bulge to accommodate the electrical additions on top of the V8 engine, there's some badging on the rear and unique, aerodynamically optimised alloy wheels that help reduce fuel consumption (and hence emissions). Inside there's a display showing you exactly what the engine and two electric motors are doing, and there's a battery meter at the bottom of the rev-counter that shows you the state of the battery's charge. Unlike some of the latest hybrids the X6 ActiveHybrid creates its own electricity rather than plugging in for a top-up, the batteries replenished by regenerative braking, reclaimed energy from the drivetrain when coasting and from the petrol engine when needs be.
Should I call the bank manager?
Only if you're in the USA or other left-hand drive markets, as you'll not have the option to buy it in the UK. That's hardly surprising with the availability of cleaner and more efficient turbodiesels, the X6 ActiveHybrid created as both a technical can-do and to allow wealthy American owners some green credibility while retaining all the performance of non-hybrid V8 models.
Summary
Very clever but perhaps pointless in its current guise, BMW's first true hybrid demonstrates that the company can create an electrically-assisted model that drives just like a BMW should. In time the hybrid elements should be fitted to diesel versions to create truly greener cars, but until then the X6 ActiveHybrid is an anomaly in the line-up.
