BMW present 5 Series Hybrid in Shanghai

BMW will present a prototype plug-in hybrid sedan based on the long wheelbase version of the BMW 5 Series at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show.

As part of BMW’s joint venture with Brilliance China Automotive Holdings, the environmentally friendly premium vehicle will be developed exclusively for the Chinese car market. However there is no reason the vehicle couldn’t be sold worldwide if its popularity takes off.

The plug-in hybrid is powered by a parallel set-up consisting of a 160 kW combustion engine with BMW’s TwinPower Turbo technology, and a 70 kW electric motor. BMW say the car will travel for 75 km at zero emissions when running solely off the battery’s power at a constant speed of 60 km/h. Switching over to the combustion engine gives an additional 400 km of range. The battery can be recharged via mains power.

Production of the plug-in hybrid is scheduled to begin in China in 2013.