BMW's first-ever hybrid sedan has been officially revealed in production guise. The ActiveHybrid 7, which is based on the latest generation 7-Series limo pairs the firm's 408HP 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 gasoline engine to a single electric motor for an overall output 465HP and maximum torque of 700 Nm or 516 lb-ft. Power is transferred to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the electric motor, which is positioned between the V8 engine and the converter on the transmission, receiving its supply of energy from a lithium-ion battery.
The mild-hybrid sedan accelerates from rest to 100 km/h (62mph) in 4.9 seconds, while returning an average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle of 9.4 lt/ 100 km that is the equivalent to 29.1 mpg UK and 25 mpg US, with CO2 emissions of 219 gr/km.
By comparison, the 750i that is powered excusively by the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 sprints from standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.2 seconds and has a combined fuel economy of 11.4 lt /100 km that converts to 20.6 mpg US and 24.8 mpg UK. So in other words, the ActiveHybrid 7 is slightly faster and significantly more fuel efficient than its conventional sibling.
The hybrid variant of the 7-Series comes equipped with an auto start stop feature and regenerative brakes while the driver of the sedan can check out the degree of efficiency and the current operating status of the hybrid components through s special displays in the instrument cluster and the Control Display.
To make sure that your neighbors know what you're driving, BMW fitted the hybrid 7er with special monikers on the boot lid, the C-pillar and on the door cutouts while there's also aerodynamically optimized ten-spoke 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 245/45 tyres up front and 275/40 at the rear plus an available Bluewater metallic exterior paintwork that's exclusive to the model.
The ActiveHybird 7 will make its world debut at next month's Frankfurt Show with sales following later in the year.
