Hybrids never used to get any respect here in the land of the oil burners we like to call Europe. But that's changed drastically. Porsche and Mercedes will both show hybrid-powered SUVs here. And this morning BMW unveiled its gas-electric take on the SUV with the fetchingly named BMW Concept X6 ActiveHybrid... Contrary to the impression BMW gave at its overcrowded press conference, the two-mode hybrid powertrain is not unique. It is, in fact, the result of the cooperative between GM, BMW and the company formerly known as DaimlerChrysler. So the basic arrangement of two electric motors and electronic continuously variable transmission is shared with the utes from the other companies.
BMW claims a 20 percent improvement in fuel economy compared to a conventionally powered version. The Hybrid will go on sale in 2009 and BMW acknowledges that it will introduce hybrid versions of other models after that date. -- Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit, Inside Line
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I think this is the world's biggest hatchback.
Who knows, though, the CLS worked in the sedan segment, this just might catch on with form-over-function yuppies.
20% better economy is not that significant when the original isn't efficient, so the hybrid is just for bragging rights.
Also, imagine how much this thing weighs.
It would make more sense to do a 3 series sedan hybrid.