2013 BMW ActiveHybrid3 Goes Drag Racing

Recently, Autobytel’s Road Test Editor Benjamin Hunting had the chance to drive a 2013 BMW ActiveHybrid3. Now you might think that Mr. Hunting would take the ActiveHybrid3 on a nice trip, using every trick in the book to exceed the EPA ratings of 25 City/33 Highway/28 Combined. No, he took it to Napierville Dragway in Canada to find out how it would fare in the quarter-mile.

On the face of it, this seems like a farcical exercise. Why take a hybrid vehicle to a dragstrip when you know it will be painfully slow? If this was a Toyota Prius, then we would be in agreement with you since its hybrid powertrain is used to help improve fuel economy, not track time. In the ActiveHybrid3’s case, however, it uses the hybrid powertrain to provide performance. How so? Well, the ActiveHybrid3 starts with a 3.0L TwinPower turbocharged inline-six from 335i and bolts on a 40kW electric motor that brings the total system output up to 340 horsepower. 0-60 time? 5.3 seconds.

How did the ActiveHybrid3 fare at the quarter mile? You're going to have to watch the video to find out.