BMW 5-Series ActiveHybrid Premieres at the Tokyo Motor Show

The ActiveHybrid version of BMW’s X6 SUV may soon be discontinued from the U.S.market due to poor sales, but the Munich-based carmaker is certainly not giving up on hybrid technology.

In fact, it just unveiled a hybrid version of the latest 5-Series mid-size luxury sedan at the Tokyo Motor Show. Not that you’d notice by looking at it, since only the “ActiveHybrid 5” badges on the C-pillars, grille and inner door sills differentiate it visually from the non-hybrid version.
BMW’s ActiveHybrid 5 is powered by a hybrid powertrain comprising of the 535i's 306HP twin-turbocharged six-cylinder gasoline engine, a 55HP electric motor and a high-performance lithium-ion battery pack placed in the trunk.
 
The system has a combined output of 340HP and 450Nm (332 lb-ft) of peak torque, with power transferred to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox. BMW says that the ActiveHybrid 5 goes from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.9 seconds and can reach an electronically-limited top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph).
 
The lithium-ion battery enables the hybrid 5-Series to be driven pure-electric mode at speeds of up to 60 km/h (37 mph). BMW says that at an average speed of 35 km/h (22 mph), its all-electric range is a mere 4 kilometers (2.5 miles).
When the car is braking or coasting, the electric motor acts as a generator and charges the battery, while under acceleration it boosts performance. Moreover, when cruising at speeds of up to 160 km/h (100 mph) with the Eco Pro mode selected, the gasoline engine can be automatically switched off and decoupled, further reducing consumption.
Despite its performance, the ActiveHybrid 5 returns an average fuel consumption of 6.4-7.0 lt/100 km (44-40 mpg) with corresponding CO2 emissions of 149-163 g/km.

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Mitsubishi Mirage is a No Frills - Low Cost Entry in the Small Car Segment

You'd think that with the rise of the Korean auto industry, a troubled Japanese carmaker like Mitsubishi would up its game and even take some risks to gain a competitive edge.

Instead, Mitsubishi goes and creates the Mirage – quite possibly, the most bland looking city car in the market today…
 
But perhaps that was Mitsubishi's plan all along […] as the company claims that the design of the small subcompact model "was focused on compactness, affordability, and high fuel efficiency in order to fit the needs of emerging markets as an affordable entry-level model as well as needs of advanced markets for fuel efficiency and low-CO2 emission."
In terms of size, at 3710 mm long, 1,665 mm wide and 1,490 mm tall, the Mirage sits between thoroughbred city cars like the Fiat Panda and superminis like the Ford Fiesta.
A new 1.0-liter three-cylinder MIVEC gasoline engine with an available Auto Stop & Go (AS&G) system linked to a CVT drives the front wheels of the car with Mitsubishi targeting a fuel efficiency of 30km/L (equal to 3.3lt/100km or 70mpg US) on the Japanese test cycle.
The new Mirage will go on sale in 2012 in Thailand first before Mitsubishi releases it across the world later in the year.

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