BMW prices 2013 ActiveHybrid 5 from $61,845

BMW's midsize hybrid luxury sedan can scoot to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds for $61,845.

BMW's first midsize hybrid sedan made its North American debut today at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, and while there's not much difference between our version and the global model, the German automaker did announce the sedan's starting price.

Including a mandatory $985 destination charge, the ActiveHybrid 5 will start at $61,845.

That money gets you BMW's 3.0-liter TwinPower turbo inline six-cylinder gas engine and eight-speed automatic transmisison, which mate to an electric motor powered by a 96 cell lithium ion high-voltage battery. The electric motor adds 55 horsepower and 155 lb-ft. of torque to the 335 horsepower cranked out by the inline-six.

Like other hybrids, the ActiveHybrid 5 recharges its battery through brake regeneration and its gas engine turns off at a complete stop to save fuel.

Together, the two motivate the ActiveHybrid 5 to 60 mph in just 5.7 seconds, but perhaps the most notable achievement is that the electric motor can power the sedan on its own for up to 2.5 miles at 22 mph or a top speed of 37 mph.

The ActiveHybrid 5 squares off against an increasingly large field of midsize premium hybrids that also includes the Lexus GS 450h, the Infinti M Hybrid (or M35h) and the recently-unveiled Mercedes-Benz E400 Hybrid.