BMW 740e Plug-in Hybrid
The covers have been lifted on the BMW
740e range prior to the 2016 Geneva Motor Show.
The roll-out of the new hybrid 7-Series
variants comes alongside the announcement of the iPerformance brand which will
be used on all plug-in hybrid models produced by the German automaker. With
that in mind, the 740e line-up consists of the 'regular' 740e iPerformance, the
740Le iPerformance and the all-wheel drive740Le xDrive iPerformance.
These three plug-in hybrid derivatives
of the 7-Series utilise a twin-turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine mated
to an electric motor. All up, this combination results in a total of 326 hp
while offering an all-electric range of 40 km for the 740e and 740Le
iPerformance and 37 km for the all-wheel drive model.
The internal combustion engine itself
provides 258 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque between 1,250 rpm and 4,800 rpm,
allowing the hybrid 7-Series models to accelerate to 100 km/h in 5.5
to 5.7 seconds (depending on spec). Of more importance however is the fact
that the vehicles sip just 2.1-2.3 liters of fuel per 100 km over
the combined cycle while emitting 49 grams of CO2 emissions per kilometer.
One key feature of the 740e range is the
implementation of a special eDrive button on the center console which allows
drivers to configure how the plug-in hybrid drive system operates. Usually, the
electric motor works in conjunction with the petrol engine but once switched into
Max eDrive mode, the petrol engine shuts off allowing fully electric drive.
When the accelerator is pressed hard, the turbo'd motor kicks back into life.
Another new element found in the plug-in
7-Series range is the Driving Experience Control switch. As the name implies,
it offers different driving modes consisting of Eco Pro, Comfort, Sport and the
configurable Adaptive mode. Charging the 9.2 kWh battery will take
less than four hours from a domestic power socket and under three hours when
charged through a BMW i Wallbox.
As you'd expect, the models also include
all the same standard features as other 7-Series versions, including the
ConnectedDrive navigation package, smartphone integration with wireless
charging, a large touchscreen and advanced gesture control functionality.
