In a prepared statement concerning the Bavarian firm's first quarter results, Dr. Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, revealed that the new X1 SUV will hit showrooms this fall followed by the hybrid variants of the X6 SUV and 7-Series limo. BMW's new entry-level X-Series model, which will occupy the space under the X3 rivaling compact SUVs like the Toyota RAV4 and VW Tiguan, is the production version of last year's X1 concept and it will be offered with numerous 4-cylinder and 6-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines.
Both the X6 Hybrid and 7-Series hybrid models have been teased in the form of concept studies in the past. It is expected that they will share the same two-mode hybrid system that combines electric motors with an advanced automatic transmission and a conventional gasoline engine, most likely the 407HP 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8.
The hybrid system allows the vehicles to be powered either exclusively by the electric motors (like the Prius) or in tandem with the gasoline unit. BMW has yet to publish any official figures, but the system is said to boost fuel-economy by around 10 to 15 percent over their conventionally-powered siblings.
