German automaker BMW strengthened its leading position in the new energy vehicle market with the launch of its first plug-in hybrid electric premium business sedan, the BMW 530Le.

The model is based on the BMW 5 Series Li and was developed by the brand's local joint venture BMW Brilliance and produced in its factory in Shenyang, Liaoning province.

"The new BMW 530Le is the latest achievement under BMW Brilliance's new energy vehicle development strategy," said Olaf Kastner, president and CEO of BMW Brilliance.

The 530Le is equipped with BMW's eDrive technology, which is originated from the BMW i family and is the world's leading battery energy management and electric drive technology, according to the company.

As the first locally produced luxury sedan with eDrive technology, the model set the benchmark in its segment in terms of fuel efficiency and emissions. It boasts the lowest fuel consumption in the premium business sedan segment, of 2 liters per 100 km, and the lowest carbon dioxide emissions of 49 g/km, according to the company.

Sporting a 2.0-liter Twin Power Turbo engine and 8-speed automatic gearbox, the combustion engine has top output of 160 kW and a maximum torque of 310 Nm. Its electric motor has a top output of 70 kW and maximum torque of 250 Nm.

The 530Le has a top speed of 233 km/h in hybrid driving mode and 120 km/h in pure electric driving mode, with maximum mileage of 58 km. A zero to 100 km/hour sprint takes just 7.1 seconds.

The 530Le has two driving modes, pure electric drive and hybrid drive..

The N20 Twin-Power Turbo engine with 8-speed automatic gearbox means the car can run for long distances and is not limited by the electric driving mileage range, according to BMW.

As well as its power-train, the 530Le has several advanced safety functions. The model simulates engine noise when in pure electric driving mode at speeds of less than 30 km/h, for the safety of pedestrians.

The battery has an active cooling system connected to the air conditioning system to ensure high performance and long lifespan even in extreme temperatures. Battery units are located at the rear of the car in case of collisions.

The driving experience is another highlight of the new model. The air conditioning remote control and dynamic damper control systems give drivers a more comfortable driving experience, said BMW.

According to the company, dynamic damper control is an intelligent system that automatically provides suitable settings according to different road surfaces.

The model has 11 dealerships in seven cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Hangzhou and Shenyang. The number of dealerships is due to further increase this year.

"China is BMW's number one market in the world and new energy vehicles like the BMW 530Le will play a critical role for BMW to achieve its global target in energy saving and emission reduction," said Kastner.

duxiaoying1@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 03/30/2015 page19)