New Concept Car: BMW 5-Series Plug-In Hybrid

Take a look at the brilliant new BMW! This is the first official image of BMW's new plug-in hybrid 5-Series, ahead of its debut at the Shanghai Motor Show in ten days time.

Called the BMW Brilliance New Energy Vehicle, it's been built in partnership with Chinese manufacturer Brilliance and uses the long-wheelbase 5-Series, only available in China, as a starting point. The powertrain is all-new though and uses a 212bhp 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbocharged engine in parallel with a 95bhp electric motor.

When fuilly charged from mains power the car can travel up to 43 miles on electric power alone, at a steady speed of 37mph. The battery is housed in the luggage compartment at the rear, while the petrol engine adds an additional 250 miles - giving the car a range of 300 miles on a tank of fuel. No economy figures are currently available.

Don't expect to see this car in the UK anytime soon - it's a China only venture and will go on sale there sometime in 2013. For more details click here.

Thanks to: Auto Express