2012 BMW 5 Series Hybrid Pricing

BMW announced pricing for its 2012 5 Series hybrid sedan. Called ActiveHybrid 5, it will retail for $60,950 when it goes on sale in late spring. Power comes from the same twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder engine found in the 535i, but it's joined by a 55-horsepower electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack in the ActiveHybrid 5. It uses an eight-speed automatic transmission and has a total of 335 hp.

BMW expects the ActiveHybrid 5 to deliver an appealing blend of performance and fuel economy, with a 5.7-second zero-to-60 time and rumors of high mpg figures. BMW says the 5 Series hybrid should get see a big increase in fuel economy compared with the 535i's 21/31 mpg city/highway rating, though official figures haven't been released. The hybrid can operate in all-electric mode, but only for 2.5 miles at speeds below 37 mph.

Unlike BMW's short-lived sales dud, the X6 Hybrid, the ActiveHybrid 5 won't be the priciest 5 Series in the lineup. Rather, it will sit midpack between the base 528i's $46,900 sticker price and the higher-level $64,300 550i xDrive sedan. The range-topping M5 model returns to the 5 Series lineup for model-year 2013.

All prices exclude BMW's $895 destination fee.

2013 BMW M5: Photo Gallery

A high-performance M version returns to the 5 Series lineup for 2013 after taking a few model years off.

More 2011 L.A. Auto Show Coverage

Visual changes are pretty typical for an M car with a gaping front lower grille, quarter-panel vents and quad-tip exhaust. Under the new M5's hood is a twin-turbocharged V-8 replacing the previous M5's V-10.

2013 BMW M5: Up Close

There's nothing surprising about the latest M from BMW.

Traditional M styling cues — a gaping front lower grille, vents in the front-quarter panels and quad exhausts — look right at home on the new 5 Series, and black grates in the twin-kidney grille — as opposed to chrome ones — really stand out on the silver car here.

More 2011 L.A. Auto Show Coverage

As you might expect, the M5's cockpit is awash in premium materials, and most surfaces that weren't finished in metal were trimmed in leather.

Recall Alert: 2008-2011 BMW Vehicles

BMW is recalling 32,084 2008-11 model-year vehicles equipped with an eight- or 12-cylinder engine because of the potential for an engine fire, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The 2008-11 models included in the recall are the 5 Series, 5 Series Gran Turismo, 7 Series, X5 and X6.

In the affected vehicles, an auxiliary water pump, which supports cooling of the turbocharger, can malfunction because of a defective circuit board. In certain situations, this circuit board can overheat and smolder the water pump, which may lead to an engine compartment fire or vehicle fire.

The recall is expected to begin in November. BMW dealerships will replace the pump free of charge. Owners can call BMW at 800-525-7417 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.

2012 BMW ActiveHybrid 5: First Look

• Competes with:  Infiniti M35h, Lexus GS 450h
• Looks like: The first practical hybrid car from BMW
• Drivetrain: 335-hp hybrid system with a 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder; eight-speed automatic transmission
• Hits dealerships: March 2012

The just-announced 2012 BMW ActiveHybrid 5 could be the first hybrid-powered car from BMW that garners mainstream appeal. Like the Lexus GS 450h and Infiniti M35h, the ActiveHybrid 5 will blend power performance gains and fuel economy.

The ActiveHybrid 5 will be marketed as a midrange trim for 5 Series shoppers, a far cry from the pricey and now-defunct 2011 BMW ActiveHybrid X6, which was eschewed toward performance gains only at a steep price. However, the only real luxury hybrid success stories have been the RX 450h and Lexus CT 200h, both of which will cost far less than this 5 Series. 

The ActiveHybrid 5 will be powered by the same 3.0-liter twin-scroll turbocharged inline-six-cylinder found in the BMW 535i, mated to the similarly designed eight-speed automatic transmission. On top of those conventional components will be a 55-horsepower electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack. BMW says the system makes a combined 335 hp. Unlike the mild-hybrid system in the ActiveHybrid 7, this system is an evolved version of the dual-mode hybrid system found in the ActiveHybrid X6 but now equipped with a precisely controlled energy management system.

BMW Adds Four-Cylinder Option to 5 Series

In a surprise move, BMW’s recently introduced 240-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine will make its way to the 2012 5 Series. The new engine will appear on the 528i trim and replace the naturally aspirated 3.0-liter six-cylinder, but returns the same horsepower.

Combined with an eight-speed automatic transmission and start/stop technology, the new powertrain promises to return up to 15% better fuel efficiency than the 2011 528i, which got an impressive 22/32 mpg city/highway. On top of that, the new powertrain will offer 0 to 60 mph acceleration times of 6.2 seconds. That’s 0.4 seconds faster than the old six-cylinder.

There’s also a new intelligent all-wheel-drive option for the trim. The 2012 BMW 528i goes on sale this fall.

2012 BMW Lineup: Ch-Ch-Changes

For the 2012 model year, BMW has made iPod/USB integration virtually standard across its lineup. It used to be a pesky $400 option on most models. Also, BMW has reduced the cost of most of its transmissions, and in some cases, you can get either a manual or automatic at the same price. The new BMW Applications system, which is a $250 option across all models, adds Twitter, Facebook and internet radio support.

Continue reading below for more details:

2013 BMW M5: First Look

• Competes with: Mercedes-Benz CLS AMG, Audi S6, Cadillac CTS-V
• Looks like: A sleeper of a sports sedan
• Drivetrain: 560-hp, twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 engine with auto start/stop function and seven-speed double-clutch auto/manual transmission 
• Hits dealerships: TBA

The redesigned 5 Series has proven to be a popular seller for BMW — with sales up 16% in May — and has helped the German automaker become the best-selling luxury carmaker in the U.S. year-to-date.

That’s all fine and dandy, but the new model meant there was no high-performance M5 offering for nearly a year — I’m sure to performance junkies, that felt like an eternity. But the wait is finally over, and the new 2012 BMW M5 looks like it will reward those with patience.

The heart of the new M5 is its all-new engine. Don’t let the smaller displacement and two fewer cylinders fool you. This 560-horsepower, 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 produces 502 pounds-feet of torque, and it is the most powerful engine ever to reside in a mass-market BMW engine bay. The powertrain packs more 60 hp and 119 pounds-feet more torque than the 2010 M5. The sedan is estimated to accelerate from zero to 62 mph in 4.4 seconds.

BMW M5 Concept: First Look

• Looks Like: A little more green but just as mean 
• Defining characteristics: New twin turbocharged V-8 with auto-stop function 
• Ridiculous features: Nothing really 
• Chances of being mass-produced: 100% 

It’s close to a year since the re-engineered and redesigned BMW 5 Series went on sale in the U.S. While the new 5 Series has proven to be a hit — we found the new model to be quiet, comfortable and less awkward looking than its predecessor — performance junkies are still waiting for the fifth-generation M5.

They won’t have to wait too much longer if the BMW M5 concept is any indication. This thinly veiled concept shows that BMW is bringing its green efforts to even its high-performance M Series.

Cars.com Podcast: 2011 Hyundai Elantra, 2011 Lincoln MKX, 2011 BMW 535

Our 80th podcast tackles three new models for three very different buyers. The all-new Hyundai Elantra wowed Mike Hanley, who explains how the little things — and great mileage — make the compact sedan the one to beat in the segment. Also find out what didn’t wow our editors about the Lincoln MKX and what did in the BMW 535.
 
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