BMW X5 hybrid

By Mat Watson

July 2003

The vehicle is part of a BMW research project designed to show that performance need not be sacrificed for economy. And producing an amazing 1,000Nm of torque at 1,000rpm - far more than any other BMW - the hybrid X5 certainly proves the point.

With a similar set-up to the system used in Toyota's Prius, an electric motor is fitted to the 4.4-litre V8. On the move, it provides an additional boost when quick progress is required. It can deliver a whopping 650Nm of torque, in addition to the 350Nm supplied by the conventional petrol engine. This huge output is made possible by the use of super capacitors fitted under the boot floor, which can deliver much more charge than the conventional batteries used in current hybrid vehicles.

But what is the X5 like to drive? At 1,000rpm, the surge of acceleration is enough to give you whiplash. However, it's short-lived, as the capacitors can deliver full power for a mere seven seconds. Fortunately, they take only this long to recharge again, too, and the electric motor gives less assistance as speeds rise, allowing time to recover.

Offering 30-40 per cent better acceleration than the standard car, while improving economy by a fifth, this hybrid shows you can have your cake and eat it. Expect the technology to make its debut in high-performance BMW models within the next few years. A hybrid supercar? It's not too far away.

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