Automobile club Luxembourg

Power Hybrid 6

The facelift that the 5 Series has undergone included the addition of a second plug-in hybrid version in addition to the 530e. Before we get onto the technical aspects, let us take a moment to mention the aesthetic changes, such as the enlarged radiator grille, the refined headlights with matrix LED technology and the redesigned tail lights. Inside, meanwhile, changes to the passenger compartment have been limited to a new infotainment system, which now comes with a 12.3-inch touch screen.

The electrics are the same as with the 530e, with an 80kW electric engine housed in the 8-speed ZF automatic transmission and the 12kWh battery located beneath the rear seat. The electric range, of course, remains unchanged at approximately 55km. What has changed, however, is the combustion engine, which has gained 2 cylinders to become the famous 3.0L in-line six-cylinder engine, with a total power of 394hp, and that changes everything! This has a positive impact not only the smoothness and fluidity of operation but also the performance, which is significantly improved here to give a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 4.6 seconds.

The xDrive all-wheel drive system, combined with the 4-wheel steering system, makes for exceptional handling despite the 2-ton weight of this beast. The good news is that CO2 emissions of under 50g/km mean that this car qualifies for the €1,500 bonus, taking the €75,570 price tag on the basic version down a little bit. In conclusion, then, the switch to the in-line six-cylinder option makes the hybrid engine worth writing home about and the 545e xDrive a great buy in its segment.
 

 

Image source:  BMW