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2024 BMW 530e and 550e xDrive

Earlier this year, BMW presented the new generation of the Series 5, which for the first time comes as a fully electric model. Now, two plug-in drive options with a mild 48-volt hybrid system and all-wheel drive are coming to market, the 530e and 550e xDrive.

The 530e is powered by a 2.0L four-cylinder turbo gasoline engine that, in combination with the hybrid system (eDrive), develops 299 hp (220 kW) and 332 lb-ft (450 Nm) of peak torque. The engine is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. It reaches 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.3 seconds with a top speed of 230 km/h (143 mph), and has a range of 103 km.

The more powerful 550e xDrive is powered by a 3.0L in-line six-cylinder engine combined with an electric motor with a total power of 489 hp (360 kW) and 516 lb-ft (700 Nm) of torque. It reaches 62mph (100 km/h) in 4.3 seconds with a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph).

Both models are equipped with a 19.4 kWh battery, which can be charged at chargers or recharged while driving. According to WLTP norms, the average gasoline consumption in both cases is from 0.6 to one liter per 100 kilometers, and in a situation where only the electric motor is used, the top speed is 140 km/h.

When it comes to price, the 530e costs 65,300 euros, while the more powerful 550e xDrive costs 77,300 euros.

Source: BMW

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2024 BMW 530e and 550e xDrive
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EU is investigating all car manufacturers for Chinese subsidies

As European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a few days ago, the EU launched an investigation into the privileged position of electric vehicles produced in China due to subsidies. “These can also be vehicles from other manufacturers if they have used subsidies in China,” said Executive Vice President of the European Commission for an Economy Valdis Dombrovskis.

Many electric car manufacturers have plants in China, such as Tesla, Renault, VW, etc. All of them export their cars to the European market, and during the collection of evidence, Tesla was among the companies that were found to have had additional benefits. The goal of the investigation is to determine whether and in what way China subsidized car manufacturers in order to take all necessary countermeasures and equalize the market position for everyone.

Tesla enjoyed a special position in China that other companies did not have. Thanks to the Chinese government, the American company has fully utilized its domestic operations, instead of sharing them with a local joint venture partner as is the case with VW and Audi in China. Tax breaks, loans and other forms of aid have helped make China Tesla’s second most important business market outside the US.

Many will think that China will make a countermeasure against European manufacturers. Well, the chances of that are slim. If we consider that the European electric car market is the second largest in the world, after China, it can be hardly expected that the Chinese government will play against itself.

Other car manufacturers, BMW and Renault, have no comment on the situation.

Source: Reuters

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BMW charges an extra 500 euros for the manual gearbox

Automakers are trying to squeeze more money out of their customers in various ways, like BMW which has started charging extra for the manual gearbox on the BMW M2.

“The vast majority of BMW cars are now offered exclusively with an automatic transmission, as few buyers are looking for a manual transmission. It would be easier if only automatic cars came off the assembly line. Instead we have a small number of customers looking for a manual transmission in the M2 series which creates additional complications and increases costs,” said CEO at BMW M GmbH Frank van Meel.

In the UK, buyers pay an extra £545 for the manual gearbox, while in Germany it’s €500. Frank van Meel justifies this by the fact that automatic transmissions are more practical, but that the manual gearbox will remain in the offer because it is more like a matter of tradition. “A manual gearbox is slower, results in higher fuel consumption and sometimes affects the top speed, so from an engineering point of view this type of gearbox no longer really makes sense,” said van Meel. He also admits that there are still a decent number of people looking for a manual gearbox, because that’s the only way they can experience the full potential of the car.

As automakers increasingly embrace automatic transmissions, it wouldn’t be a surprise if BMW’s manual transmission surcharge system became an industry-wide practice.

Source: BMW