Ahead of its world debut, the new BMW 225xe Active Tourer plug-in hybrid was introduced to the press today. Using BMW’s latest eDrive technology coupled with a 1.5 liter three-cylinder petrol engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, the new 225xe Active Tourer makes it possible to enjoy both all-electric driving and unrestricted motoring mobility.
With a maximum electric range of 41 kilometers (25 miles), zero-local-emission driving, the plug-in hybrid can be a silent daily driver in the city and a long-distance runner outside the city gates.
Driving the rear wheels with the electric motor and the front wheels with the combustion engine’s power furthermore produces an electrified all-wheel-drive system with great traction in all weathers, and especially in adverse conditions. The plug-in hybrid drive has an overall system output of 165 kW/224 hp. Average fuel consumption (combined) in the BMW 225xe is 2.1–2.0 liters/100 km (134.5–141.2 mpg imp), which equates to CO2 emissions (combined) of 49–46 g/km (in the EU test cycle).
Like the BMW i8, the BMW X5 xDrive40e, BMW 330e and BMW 740e can all – at the touch of a button in MAX eDRIVE mode – run on purely electric power up to 120 km/h (75 mph), the BMW 225xe goes up to 125 km/h (78 mph). Here, the combustion engine only comes into play when the accelerator’s kickdown threshold is passed. In SAVE BATTERY mode the battery’s charge can be maintained to enable electric driving later on in the journey. If the charge level drops below 50 per cent, the battery is replenished. If the selector lever is moved into the S gate, the combustion engine starts up regardless of the mode engaged, ensuring sustained availability of the combined maximum output of the two drive systems. In addition, the battery’s charge is raised to 80 per cent.
Next year, BMW is expected to also unveil a plug-in hybrid version of the 2 Series Gran Tourer.
