Topic: First Drive: 2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 3

[Autos_Editor]

The BMW ActiveHybrid 3 may not be the most efficient compact luxury sedan, but it lives up to its billing as the "BMW of hybrids."

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[JohnnyMac]

Why exactly would BMW make such a vehicle?  I just don't get it.  I wonder just how long you'd have to own this vehicle to recoup the cost of owning the hybrid compared to the regular 335.  I think the "polar bears" would be more impressed if you bought the very good 328 (4 cylinder) and spent the difference on household upgrades to reduce your energy use.  Oh and I'm sure in the next few years we'll see a diesel option and that will probably be cheaper than this hybrid and more fuel efficient.

I understand their 5 series offered in Europe with that crazy diesel engine making something bonkers like 400 hp and over 500 lbs/ft torque but this vehicle is not a better performer than the regular 335 and not really that more fuel efficient than the 328.

[redman]

BMW has expanded it's partnership with Toyota. Toyota to offer Bimmer their hybrid technology and BMW to aide Toyota with diesel engines. Who know we may see a Toy/BMW Diesel/Hybrid yet, just to name a few synergies between the Japanese and Germans to come.

[aquadorhj]

After the Toybaru, maybe a ToyoW  or BMta?

[garytam]

another non-sense product from BMW.  - Give us the Diesel , or put the active hybrid to a 2.0L turbo !!!!!

[5 Wheel Drive]

It doesn't make much sense to me either that they did the Active Hybrid thing with a 335, and not a 2.0l 328.

[OliverD]

another non-sense product from BMW.  - Give us the Diesel , or put the active hybrid to a 2.0L turbo !!!!!

Supposedly we will be getting a diesel F30, likely a 330d. I'm guessing it would be priced between the 328i and 335i.

[jamesautos]

"When lifting off the accelerator while coasting or going downhill in Eco Pro mode, the engine decouples from the drivetrain and shuts off at speeds up to 160 km/h. The only thing weirder than flying along at 120 km/h with the tachometer needle resting at zero is how instant and absolutely undetectable this transition is."


I have the same feeling every time I step on the clutch when I am going down hill...

[jyarkony]

another non-sense product from BMW.  - Give us the Diesel , or put the active hybrid to a 2.0L turbo !!!!!

Supposedly we will be getting a diesel F30, likely a 330d. I'm guessing it would be priced between the 328i and 335i.

I thought I read somewhere that we were getting the 320d...

This car might be developed for the Chinese market primarily, where they probably don't want diesels... This hybrid does seem pointless for our markets, except that I think OEMs get 'CAFE credits' for hybrids, but not for diesels... And now that they have a more compact transmission-based hybrid system, they'll just stick it in everything...

[Soram6275]

I like BMWs but this is an idiotic marketing ploy. 

[dragonfly]

 Hey..How come no-one mentioned the super-ugly wheels on this thing?  Ugh    Jack

[OliverD]

Hey..How come no-one mentioned the super-ugly wheels on this thing?  Ugh    Jack

They're probably supposed to be aerodynamically functional but I agree, they're not too pleasant to look at.