Hybrid variants of the Bmw 7-Series and X6 coming in 2009

LS600h got some competion. btw BMW also makes 760i with V12, so now in the future comparison test of upcoming 760i and 7 hybrid, benifits of each model will become more clearer.

JUGNU

TheSailor, you're relentless at writing nonsense about hybrids. Someone pays you for this? In the AMuS test, the X5 3.0d returned 12,5 l / 100 km = 18,8171667 miles per gallon with 0 - 100 kph = 8,1 sec (Source#1) while the RX400h returned 10,1 l / 100 km = 23,2885726 miles per gallon with 0 - 100 kpm = 7,6 sec (Source#2). So it's precisely the opposite of what you wrote. I don't even want to normalize the result. The poor diesel performance was mostly due to the engine being new, over the miles the mileage slightly improves. So 32 RX400h drivers get and average of 9,8 l / 100 km = 24,0014881 miles per gallon (Source#4) while 10 (relatively small sample) X5 3.0d drivers get 9,79 l / 100 km = 24,0260044 miles per gallon, normalized by energy density factor of 1,08 this is 22,25 US-MPG. So the hybrid is faster, more economical and cleaner (these X5s don't have NOx reductors since BMW see no problem in European people inhaling cancerous nitrogen oxides). And this time there's no purpose-built design advantage for the hybrid, yet it still beats the diesel. That's why Audi, BMW and MB either have started or are starting with petrol hybrids. It looks like the case is closed, TheSailor, the resistance is futile. Prius in EU expensive? Well, most influencing nations in the European Union are Germans and French which happen to be biggest car producing nations there. No wonder they'll keep jabbing Japanese imports with 10% or more duty, hence higher Prius price. In the U.S, prices for the Prius and Jetta TDI are virtually equal. Source #1: http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/vergleichstest/bmw-x5-gegen-ml-320-cdi-wonne-toppen-751949.html Source #2: http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/einzeltests/lexus-rx-400h-strom-linie-655869.html
Source #3: http://www.spritmonitor.de/de/uebersicht/6-BMW/43-X5.html?fueltype=1&constyear_s=2005&constyear_e=2009&power_s=165&power_e=185
Source #4: http://www.spritmonitor.de/de/uebersicht/26-Lexus/931-RX400h.html

TheSailor, we have had you cornered since ever you started posting against hybrids. And I'm getting tired of proving you wrong especially that I have to correct every single statement you write. ||| I normalize fuel economy for the same reason industrial diesels your work with have fuel efficiency defined in grams/kWh, not in liters (unlike volumetric, the gravimetric fuel energy density is virtually equal). ||| Prius is larger than Jetta (especially it has larger interior), that's why it's a midsize car (source: wikipedia), one class above the Jetta which is a compact car (source: wikipedia). For the same reason Prius was classified by EuroNCAP as "large family car" (source1) while Golf-based cars are all in the "small family car" group (Source2). ||| X3 3.0d consumes 9,38 l/100km * 1,08 = 10,13 l/100km (Source3) which is MORE than 9,81 l/100km of RX400h (Source4). Both X3 3.0sd and X5 3.0sd consume even more so there's no point in quoting them, they're well behind the hybrid. RX400h too small? No problem, take the Highlander Hybrid 4WD, it returns 24 US-MPG = 9,80 l / 100 km (Source5), same as RX400h and can accommodate up to 7 people. Notice EXACTLY the same mileages as RX400hs from Spritmonitor. ||| Duties charging Japanese imports are EU-wide, not Germany-wide. In Switzerland, a country free from EU tax and duty nonsense, Prius costs 39779 CHF (source6) while Jetta 2.0 TDI DSG (Prius has an autobox so Jetta has to have one too) is 40100 CHF (Source7). How about that, TheSailor? Same in the USA. No hybrid-bashing duties and diesels start costing the same or more. ||| X5 heavier? Who cares? Weight has been diesels inferiority since ages (heavy engine block, additional equipment, low-revving high torque resistant parts). ||| PS. Hydrogen fuel cells are nonsense. Hydrogen ICEs are nonsense squared. Hydrogen was the fuel of the future 30 years ago. It's the fuel of the future now. And it will be the fuel of the future in 30 years also. ||| Source1: http://www.euroncap.com/large_family_car.aspx Source2: http://www.euroncap.com/small_family_car.aspx Source3: http://www.spritmonitor.de/de/uebersicht/6-BMW/42-X3.html?fueltype=1&power_s=156&power_e=180 Source4: http://www.spritmonitor.de/de/uebersicht/26-Lexus/931-RX400h.html Source5: http://fueleconomy.gov/mpg/MPG.do?action=browseList2&make=Toyota&model=Highlander%20Hybrid%204WD Source6: http://de.toyota.ch/cars/new_cars/prius/spezialangebot_prius.aspx Source 7: http://pdfserver.datacase.ch/pdf/amag/vw-pw/deutsch/Preisliste/Jetta_d.pdf

Another pointless addition to the market. The defining example of an oxymoron.