BMW Details 530e Plug-in Hybrid in Official Videos

We've talked about the 530e iPerformance quite a bit already when it came out, but BMW released a couple of official videos, and we thought you guys might want to see what it's like to plug a 5 Series into the mains or even check the state of its charge using your smartphone.

BMW's proprietary app is shown on an iPhone that's fitted with BMW-branded case. Charging is done via a port on the left front fender. That and the blue badges scattered everywhere are clear indications of its relationship to the i8. However, BMW designers didn't want to make it too futuristic. Unlike your average Toyota Prius, the 530e has two very large exhaust pipes at the back, almost like those on the M235i.

The first two versions of the new 5 Series to become available are the 430i and 440i, next February. However, the 430e will also launch in March, which says something about how important this is. It's still not a car you buy for the ultimate driver enjoyment or to save money. However, the 45 grams per kilometer of CO2 and the instant torque are definitely bonuses.

The engine isn't the only thing contributing to the 2l/100km fuel consumption. There's also the extended use of aluminum and the active air stream kidney grille.

The combined output of 250 hp and 420 Nm (310 lb-ft) of torque is the same as that of the 330e iPerformance. However, because this is a bigger car, the 0 to 100 km/h time goes from 6.1 to 6.2 seconds. It's worth point out that while the ActivHybrid 5 got a bad reputation, it's still a faster car with more power and torque.