Not to be outdone by the likes of Audi, Porsche or Volkswagen, BMW have introduced their Concept X6 ActiveHybrid at Frankfurt. BMW claim that their ActiveHybrid is far superior to conventional hybrid vehicles in terms of driving dynamics while achieving up to 20 percent better fuel consumption and emissions performance over a comparable conventional engined vehicle.

Details regarding the Concept X6 ActiveHybrid are limited at this stage but we do know that it features an innovative two-mode active transmission that incorporates an electric drive system and enables the vehicle to drive at fixed transmission ratios within one system. According to BMW, this effectively combines the driving dynamics and efficiency of the combustion engine with the electric drive system.

Interacting with the two-mode active transmission, the concept, through electrical support, offers two operating modes, one for setting off and driving at low speeds and one for higher speeds. Like most hybrids it would seem that the Concept X6 ActiveHybrid is able to run on the combustion or electric engines independently or in combination with the onboard electronics determining the most efficient mix given the situation.

There is no word on the likelihood of the Concept X6 ActiveHybrid making it to production but the odds are that it will hit the road over the next year or two. With Audi’s Q7 hybrid going on sale in late 2008, we are sure BMW won’t be far behind with a hybrid X5 and X6.

Steane

[Source: BMW]