BMW has announced that it will be the world’s first mass-market carmaker to introduce wireless charging for its new 530e iPerformance sedan.

The system will first be introduced on the hybrid 5-series due next year and is based on the BMW i8 safety car that is used in the Formula E racing series.

The German manufacturer claims that the wireless charging system can charge the 530e’s lithium-ion battery in 3.5 hours, which is about an hour and a half slower than the fastest current wallbox plug that is offered with the model.

The 530e’s wireless system uses resonant magnetic inductive coupling technology to create an electromagnetic field, just like the one the BMW i8 safety car used in Formula E possesses. The 9.2kWh battery can be charged at a rate of up to 3.2kW via this field.

Charging begins automatically as soon as the 530e is parked on the floor charge pad with its engine switched off. Guiding lines displayed on the infotainment system will guide driver’s onto the pad, which can be placed indoors or outdoors.

While BMW has only confirmed wireless charging for the plug-in hybrid 5-series, it will surely be offered with other BMW EVs such as the facelifted i8, which will be equipped with a larger, 10kWh battery as used by the uprated Formula E safety car.

BMW has recently launched the new 5-series in India with three diesel trims and the 530i petrol variant. The range-topping 600hp, AWD M5 that was showcased at the 2017 Frankfurt motor show will also come to India next year.

Courtesy : Autocar

Quickest Porsche Panamera estate gets turbocharged V8 paired to electric motor, delivering a combined 680hp; does 0-100kph in 3.4sec.

Porsche has taken the wraps off the fastest Panamera Sport Turismo model yet, the Turbo S E-Hybrid.

It is powered by the 550hp turbocharged V8 motor found in the Panamera but is paired with a plug-in hybrid powertrain that features a 14.1kWh lithium-ion battery pack and an electric motor producing 136hp. The total output of the Panamera Sport Turismo Turbo S E-Hybrid is 680hp and 850Nm of peak torque from just 1,400rpm.

The combined output is sent to all-four-wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission that helps the estate to hit 100kph from standstill in a claimed 3.4sec, which is 1.4sec quicker than the regular E-Hybrid Panamera. Porsche further claims a 0-198kph time of 11.9sec, a top speed of 310kph and a fuel efficiency of 33.33kpl.

The 14.1kWh lithium-ion battery can be recharged in 2.4 to six hours depending on the power outlet. The range-topping Panamera hybrid also has a 49km pure-electric range and a top speed limited to 140kph.

The addition of the battery back has seen boot space shrink by 95 litres with total boot space at 425 litres, which can be expanded to 1,295 litres thanks to the rear seatbacks that can be folded electrically in a 40:20:40 split.

As standard, the Sport Turismo Turbo S E-Hybrid comes with 21-inch alloy wheels, Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control and torque vectoring. There’s also a rear, limited-slip differential and ceramic composite brakes, as well as adaptive three-chamber air suspension with Porsche Active Suspension Management.

The Turbo S E-Hybrid is the new range-topping Panamera variant and will rival the likes of the Audi RS6 Performance and Mercedes-AMG CLS 63 Shooting Brake in international markets.

Courtesy : Autocar