Selling at all BMW authorised showrooms since last September, the petrol driven BMW 530i M Sport was accorded a revised retail price with Energy Efficient Vehicle (EEV) status at RM388,800. Now the plug-in hybrid version of this new BMW 5-Series will start selling nationwide this week and we guess the selling price to be below RM388k…probably RM350k or so.
This will start a waiting list for the new 530e just like the X5 plugin hybrid had and reduce the demand for the petrol driven BMW 530i M Sport. So what will happen to the current 530i M Sport stocks?
Below we share the performance and impressive technology that will come with the new plugin hybrid 5-Series.
530 e power delivery on a par with a high-displacement combustion engine
The BMW eDrive system’s state-of-the-art electric motor has an output of 83 kW/113 hp and places maximum torque of 250 Nm on tap, while the four-cylinder combustion engine with its 2.0-litre displacement generates 184 hp and 320 Nm of torque. The combination of motor and engine keeps the CO2 emissions of the BMW 530e iPerformance very low at just 44 g/km. The overall system output of 185 kW/252 hp and combined peak torque of 420 Nm propel the BMW 530e iPerformance from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.2 seconds and enable it to reach a top speed of 235 km/h.
The BMW 530e iPerformance has a range of up to 650 kilometres (404 miles) in real-world driving and is capable of covering distances of up to 50 kilometres (31 miles) purely on electric power at a maximum speed of 140 km/h. The electric motor and combustion engine direct their power to the sedan’s rear wheels via the standard eight-speed Steptronic transmission. Positioning the electric motor upstream from the transmission allows the transmission’s ratios to be used in all-electric mode too. This dispenses with the need for a torque converter, something that goes a long way towards offsetting the weight penalty of the additional drive unit.
Which Mode Is Best?
As well as the Driving Experience Control switch, with its SPORT, COMFORT and ECO PRO settings, drivers will also find an eDrive button at their disposal, which lets them tailor the BMW eDrive system’s operation even more precisely to the journey ahead through three driving modes: AUTO eDRIVE, MAX eDRIVE and BATTERY CONTROL.
AUTO eDRIVE ensures that the engine and electric motor interact to optimum effect in all driving situations and allows an all-electric top speed of 90 km/h (56 mph). This mode is automatically activated as the default setting every time the vehicle is started. When MAX eDRIVE mode is selected, the BMW 530e iPerformance drives on electric power alone. To do so, it uses the electric drive’s full power and can attain a maximum speed of 140 km/h (87 mph). However, if the accelerator is pressed through to kickdown the engine will cut in, which is handy should an extra boost of power be desired – when overtaking, for example.
BATTERY CONTROL mode lets the driver set the charge level for the high-voltage battery manually. The target value can be adjusted to between 30 and 100 per cent of maximum charge, allowing that proportion of the battery’s capacity to be reserved for all-electric driving at a later point in the journey. The intelligent battery management of the BMW 530e iPerformance either keeps the high-voltage battery’s charge constant at the selected level or increases it to the pre-set value, with the electric motor acting as a generator. In this way, BATTERY CONTROL mode makes it possible to conserve or even increase the reserves of electric power while travelling on the motorway, for example, in order to ensure that an upcoming section through an urban area can be covered with zero local emissions.
Latest-generation iDrive for even more intuitive operation
As in all the other models in the new BMW 5-Series line-up, the navigation, telephone, entertainment and vehicle functions grouped within the optional high-resolution 10.25-inch display can be controlled not only using the iDrive Controller, but also by simply touching the buttons on the display or with the help of the Intelligent Voice Assistant. BMW gesture control, which reacts to simple movements of the hand or fingers, offers users another option when it comes to operating these functions.
So, no need to wait for its launch, visit a BMW showroom and order your 530e asap.
