BMW's ActiveHybrid 5 shows once again that environmentally-sound design doesn't necessarily mean performance sacrifices. The company has paired a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with a lithium-ion power system. Driving characteristics can be individually customized by making changes to the 8-speed transmission's shifting style.

BMW ActiveHybrid 5: fuel-efficiency, and 340 hp

Two sides of the ActiveHybrid 5's performance specifications create a drastic contrast: firstly, the 340 hp provided by the electro-motor and the six-cylinder internal combustion engine are certainly not to be taken lightly. Secondly, the 6.4-7 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers that the BMW says the ActiveHybrid 5 is capable of make the vehicle quite impressive indeed.

Eight-speed automatic and driving experience controls

The BMW ActiveHybrid 5 uses an automatic eight-speed transmission. The driver can use the "driving experience" controls to select how gear changes are made, resulting in an individual driving style - despite the automatic transmission.

Start-stop system

Additional fuel savings are achieved with the start-stop system. The internal combustion motor shuts off while driving in addition to while stopped at traffic lights. At speeds of up to 160 kilometers per hour, the motor shuts off when the driver lets of the gas, leaving all necessary safety and braking systems running. And with a top speed of 250 km/h possible, the ActiveHybrid 5's high-end performance is pretty impressive.