BMW 330e Plug-in Hybrid launched - Let's just throw some figures and comparison into the picture for the fun of it.....

Photo: Autoworld.com.my

Today BMW launched the BMW 330e plug-in hybrid. It costs RM248,000 less insurance. It is cheaper than something with a 330i badge because it gets the EEV tax incentives. So you save over a hundred thousand ringgit if you buy one. 

According to its specifications it has a 2.0liter turbocharged engine as well as an electric motor. It makes a total of 252hp and a fat 420Nm worth of torque. It can hit 0-100kmh in about 6.1seconds and has a top speed of 225kmh. All through an 8-speed automatic transmission (most probably their sweet ZF 8-speeder used throughout the range). You get 37km range and 120kmh top speed running on full electric mode (with a 3 hours charging time) and also, a (unrealistic) fuel consumption of 2.1liters/100km.

The 330i is still king of the hill. It may cost RM309k but it is a pure performance model and not an efficiency model that would help BMW's overall emissions figures as well as get those tax break incentives to make the cars cheaper. We're talking over RM120,000 less tax money here. 0-100kmh is 5.8 seconds from a 252hp and 350nm 2.0liter turbocharged engine. 

The soon to be launched Mercedes C350 PUH (that's short for you know what lah) gets 275bhp combined and over 600nm torque. It does 0-100kmh in 5.9seconds and a top speed of 255kmh. It will be estimated to cost RM299,000 before any insurance

So the BMW 330e PUH is cheaper, and slightly slower. But did you notice its top speed? If you bought a normal and cheaper at RM228k BMW 320i Sport it will have a 7.2secs 0-100kmh time and a top speed of at least 234kmh? Of course, the 0-100kmh time is more important than top speed. 

But if you're playing Top Trumps at a table with your friends then always play the acceleration card and not the top speed car if you bought the 330e PUH. And also if you're doing 225kmh on the highway, be wary of any Mercedes C-Class as even the base C180 can do 231kmh easily. Or be wary of the cheaper 320i also. Or an Audi A4 1.8TFSI. Or a cheaper Golf GTI. Or a Golf R. Or a....oh you get my point. Somehow, with the dual powertrain, BMW has limited the maximum speed of the 330e a little. But why does rival the C350 PUH have no such restrictions?

Well, from what research I've done the 330e does not have the usual 'sports' type transmission that 'normal' BMWs have. This would mean that the gear ratios are tuned for efficiency and fuel economy in mind. The fact that it can still accelerate to 100kmh in the low sixes is already a good thing in my opinion. And 225kmh is more than fast enough to escape most cars out there. 

So when you buy a hybrid like this from BMW, you lose a little maximum speed and boot space - 110liters of bootspace is missing due to the battery pack(s). It is obviously shallower. It now has bootspace smaller than a Perodua Bezza (503liters) at 370liters. According to BMW it still can hold the all important two golf bags. 

There you have it. The most important aspects of the new BMW 330e PUH.