Buying a caris often about compromises . If you want something that ’s safe and can hale your family and groceries , this often comes at the expense of sporty handling and carrying into action . Or you may desire better fuel economy , yet this typically intend grow a smaller , more efficient vehicle . There are actually very few cars on the market that can declare oneself a perfect combining of everything we need .
However , carmakers are happen way for buyers to not have to live with sacrifices . In fact , many of BMW ’s cars fall along these lines : SUVs and sedans that bid performance , handling , way and in some case , they ’re even good for the environment . Recently the company has been focused on produce high - technical school gas anddiesel enginesthat have very low emission .
A few years ago , BMW come up out of left field with the super strange - looking X6 mannequin , a fomite that blur the line of work between SUV , hatchback door and sports auto . The vehicle ’s recollective , squish roof argument break it the look of a fun coupe , but it rides tall on big tires and it ’s also a highly capable off - roader . It ’s an SUV , yes , but one with eye - catching dash and potent acceleration from its turbocharged six- and eight - cylinder engines . At the same time , the X6 boast a material amount of shipment blank .
The German automaker even make a highly tuned version called the X6 M , with a 555 - H.P. V8 that ’s as tight as the last - propagation M3 mutant sedan chair [ source : Wert ] .
Still , all this playfulness , style and utility arrive at the expense of one thing : fuel economic system . While the regular X6 with a V8enginegets about 12 miles per gal ( 5.1 kilometers per litre ) in the metropolis and a mere 18 miles per congius ( 7.7 klick per liter ) on the highway ; the high - carrying out M version will belike fare even worse .
But what if it did n’t have to be that way ? Can you have your cake and eat it too ? BMW think so , and that ’s why they build up the BMW X6 ActiveHybrid conception car .
loanblend employ gasoline or diesel engines couple on with an electricmotorto rise fuel economy and reduce emissions . This technology is finding its way into several unlike type of vehicles , including liberal 1 and fast I , too .
In this article , we ’ll search at the hybrid version of BMW ’s strange carrying into action SUV , and show how advanced technology will help the X6 ActiveHybrid reach honest fuel saving over the received version – and create what BMW calls " Efficient Dynamics . "
BMW X6 ActiveHybrid Design
Like the ordinary , non - hybridX6 model , the BMW X6 ActiveHybrid ’s exterior design is the first thing people will notice . standardized to the Volkswagen CC and Mercedes - Benz CLS , it uses a curving roof line to give off an aggressive , sport automobile - like face . In fact , BMW does n’t call it an SUV , but rather a " Sports Activity Coupe " – despite having four room access and not two .
The X6 tantalise on large , 21 - inchtiresand has a unique front bumper that add up to its powerful look . It ’s not for everyone , though – the automobile ’s look have been equally praised and criticize in the automotive press .
The car is automatically similar to BMW ’s more conventional SUV , the X5 , but the curvy ceiling come at the cost of some rearward headroom and drag ability . The X6 only seats four the great unwashed in two rows of seats , as opposed to the X5 ’s three rows . The X6 is also lower and longer than the X5 .
Inside , the X6 has a numeral of eminent - tech features . Its gear selector look more like a TV - game joystick , where the driver can toggle it up and down to select different gears . There ’s also the modish version of BMW ’s iDrive , a knob and computer screen that lets the number one wood control the audio , mood and navigation organisation .
The car also has a bit of unique prophylactic features designed to make it confident on every variety of route surface . The X6 ’s xDriveall - roulette wheel - drivesystem and active Performance Control distributes theengine ’s power between any of the four wheels depending on conditions . This admit the gondola to have more quick and accurate handling than you ’d expect from a car that weighs more than 5,000 pounds ( 2,268 kilogram ) [ root : Emmerson ] .
The hybrid concept , unveil at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show , boasts some unusual features that accent its ability to go on electric power . For example , aluminium plate underneath the car move out to cover up the exhaust tips when the car is running solely on the electrical motor [ root : Automobile Magazine ] .
In the next section , we ’ll find out what cause the BMW X6 ActiveHybrid tick , and how its electrical motor is used to boost both fuel economy and performance .
BMW X6 ActiveHybrid Specs
While the conventional X6 that ’s currently on - sale is power by a 300 - horsepower , twin - turbo inline six - cylinder engine or a 400 - horsepower V8 , thehybridrelies only on a V8 with twoelectric motorsattached .
The intercrossed organization on the X6 is draw as a two - way hybrid scheme – a complex chemical mechanism developed jointly by General Motors , BMW and Daimler . The system use three gearset in thetransmissionthat split up power between the gasolene engine and the two electric motors . The two electric motor are run by a largebatterypack .
The transmission determines when the railway car should run on electric power , gasoline or a combination of the two . It ’s idealistic for SUV because of its ability to pull large amounts of exercising weight , and has in reality been used on GM transit double-decker for years [ seed : Stahl ] .
On the X6 ActiveHybrid , the two - mode system means just that : one transmittal musical mode that practice the galvanizing motor for maximal efficiency while pulling away from a period and low - speed driving , plus a 2d modality that ’s ideal for high speeds and explosion of quickening [ source : BMW.com ] . The brake system also get kinetic vigour during deceleration to recharge the bombardment face pack .
The end of this is to create what BMW calls " Efficient Dynamics , " or a fomite that is exalt to beat back without give fuel economy . They hope to combine the best asset of galvanising and gasoline engines to create newfangled levels of performance – for deterrent example , make advantage of the fact that galvanic motor rack up their summit torque instantly from a deadlock . With the gasoline engine providing baron at higher speed , a fast elevator car is make that demand less fuel to accomplish high-pitched performance [ source : BMW.com ] .
All this technology is expected to increase the X6 ’s fuel economic system by up to 20 percent . While nautical mile - per - gallon and HP figures have n’t been released by BMW just yet , a 20 percent increase in fuel economy over the standard V8 would stand for the BMW X6 ActiveHybrid could achieve nearly 22 miles per gal ( about 9.4 klick per l ) on the highway . That ’s a respectable figure for a car that weighs so much and put an emphasis on spirited drive , as well .
As mention before , there are always tradeoffs involved . The ActiveHybrid organisation will lend both weight and extra cost to the X6 . However , the construct – possibly set to be in production by 2010 – express that perhaps we can have vehicle that can do it all , from SUV capability to performance and even Earth - friendly emissions levels .
For more data about the BMW X6 ActiveHybrid and other hybrid railcar topics , abide by the links on the next varlet .
