Maybe I am over cynical but I wonder if BMW's sudden conversion to hybrid is connected with the new EU CO2 limits for each manufacturer? Even though they got the German government to give them special treatment for several years the new average CO2 limits per manufacturer will hit BMW and Mercedes hard so they have a big challenge to keep selling their profitable high power cars.
Given that ( as I understand it) the curent EU urban/extraurbam tests form the basis of the calculated CO2 per maker then anything that helps the tests results means pure profit to BMW, and any other manufacturer.
Gues what the mild hybrid set up looks ery atrractive to get through the test cycle which is, I think, only 4km for the urban section. So a mild hybrid that gives you 3 miles of battery range for a 300bhp 3 series is magic in terms of keeping htat , highly profitable, model on sale whilst claiming super mpg/CO2 resutls on the official EU tests.
Whether it actually reduces CO2 at al is a different matter but that is not how the rules wil be measured. Sorry if I am being too cynical!
