BMW has officially launched their new plug-in hybrid 7 series, the (bit of a mouthful) 740Le xDrive iPerformance. The luxury hybrid comes in long wheelbase form, with all-wheel drive, a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder, 9.2 kWh lithium-ion battery, and an 113 hp electric motor. The combination produces 326 hp and 369 lb-ft. More than enough to move the big sedan around briskly, with a 0-100 km/h time quoted as 5.3 seconds.
The hybrid side of the equation gives the plug-in 7 an electric range of up to 45 km on the European Union test cycle. Fuel economy is rated at 2.2-2.5 L/100 km on the same test (which takes the electric range into account). Canadian ratings have not yet been released. The transmission is a special version of BMW's eight-speed automatic which is revised to integrate the electric motor and to accommodate regenerative braking. The car also gets EV mode features that will keep it on electric only as much as possible, and at speeds up to around 80 km/h. In MAX eDRIVE pure electric, the BMW can reach a top speed of 140 km/h using only the electric motor.
The hybrid can be charged in four hours from a conventional plug, or three hours using BMW's charger. It also has auxiliary heating and air conditioning units which can use power from the plug to heat or cool the car while it's parked. The battery is located under the rear seats, so trunk space is not reduced significantly. Choosing the hybrid option doesn't sacrifice interior comfort, and the 7 can be optioned with the first-class airliner style rear-seat executive lounge package. It can also be had with a panoramic roof option.
In international markets, the plug-in hybrid will be offered in short-wheelbase 740e iPerformance and rear-wheel drive 740Le. The only version confirmed for Canada is the all-wheel drive 740Le xDrive iPerformance starting from $107,900. That car starts production tomorrow, and should arrive in dealers by early fall.
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