BMW goes green with new ActiveHybrid range of luxury cars

By David Ebert

Prestige Automobiles (Pvt.) Ltd. announced the launch of its next generation BMW ActiveHybrid range of luxury cars at the company’s newly refurbished showroom in Battaramulla yesterday.

Taking intelligent energy management one step further, the new models in the 3, 5 and 7 series range are set to offer even greater mileage, lesser fuel consumption and zero compromise on the power and dynamics of its three litre BMW TwinPower Turbo, straight six engine, which works in conjunction with a 40kW electric motor, to supply sufficient supplementary power to minimise the cars’ dependency on fuel.

Speaking at the event, Prestige Automobiles Chairman and Managing Director Heinz Reuter stated, “We are the first luxury vehicle seller to introduce a complete range of hybrid vehicles and the hybrid components. The BMW TwinPower Turbo straight six-cylinder petrol engine now comes with even more efficient power development thanks to efficient dynamics where the 40kW electric motor supplies sufficient power to drive the vehicle for up to 4km on electricity alone.

“The kinetic energy generated is then saved by the lithium-ion high-performance battery which also supplies power to the electric engine as needed. The BMW ActiveHybrid 7 is another impressive example of how the combination of an electric motor and a combustion engine are absolutely compatible and don’t require any compromise on comfort. It offers the same luxurious comfort found on our flagship limousine and yet, it offers greater power and efficiency than the regular BMW 740Li.”

Packed with innovative features such as the new eco pro mode that allows the driver to select a driving mode to suit urban traffic conditions or even try out a brand new experience of coasting with the combustion engine turned off at up to speeds of 160kms over long distances.

The eight-speed Steptronic automatic transmission, the Hybrid Start Stop function and countless other BMW efficient dynamics measures complement the driving experience by increasing efficiency and decreasing overall fuel consumption.

Prestige Automobiles Director and General Manager Gehan Siribaddana, speaking further on the new advantages customers can expect from the hybrid series added, “Our customers have high product expectations, so our cars are built to face future challenges.

“All environmentally conscious car enthusiasts can now enjoy a guilt-free luxury driving experience, with the cars offering an enhanced mileage of around 100 kilometres on 6.4 litres of petrol on some of our models as well as a significantly reduced carbon dioxide emission level of only 149 grams per kilometre.”

The full range of ActiveHybrid cars are now available at Prestige Automobiles, supported by the company’s internationally benchmarked service help desk, fully stocked replacement parts department and a state of the art workshop with BMW specified diagnostics to cater to its customer requirements.

 – Pix by Kushan Pathiraja