bmw 7 series hybrid

BMW X6 Hybrid To Be World's Most Powerful Gas-Electric Vehicle

BMW ActiveHybrid X6 - Click above for high-res image gallery

High performance hybrid – an oxymoron? Not according to BMW, as the upcoming BMW X6 ActiveHybrid will be the most powerful hybrid in history with its 480 peak horsepower and diesel-like plateau of 575 lb-ft of torque. That's one muscular hybrid.

That impressive powertrain consists of twin electric motors (delivering 91 hp and 86 hp, respectively) and a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 engine. All those horses will be corralled through a seven-speed dual-mode transmission and BMW's xDrive all-wheel-drive system. The run to sixty will take just 5.4 seconds and the top speed will be limited to 130 miles per hour.

The EPA has yet to test the vehicle, but the German automaker is estimating its X6 Hybrid will return a 20-percent fuel mileage improvement on average over the standard twin-turbo X6. That should mean about 18 miles per gallon combined here in the States. The official public debut is scheduled for the Frankfurt Motor Show in September and the sale date is slated for four-quarter 2009. Click past the break for the almost comically-detailed press release.

Gallery: BMW X6 ActiveHybrid