Before the official launch of the BMW ActiveHybrid 7 in 2010, the new luxury sedan will be exclusively driven by public figures and VIPs, a move that BMW hopes it will draw some attention to their first high-end luxury hybrid sedan.
As the official launch date approaches, the 7 Series hybrid will be available to other customers as well. BMW’s first hybrid performance/luxury sedans will arrive in showrooms in Spring 2011 with a base MSRP of $103,125 including destination and handling for the ActiveHybrid 7 and $107,025 for the long wheelbase ActiveHybrid 7L.
The first production ready BMW hybrid uses a different electric drive setup from the X6 Hybrid and it’s being considered a mild hybrid. The system was developed in collaboration with Mercedes Benz. The upgraded V8 twin-turbo with High Precision Direct Injection runs together, at the same time, with a 3-phase synchronous electric motor which is positioned between the engine and the torque converter. The electric motor generates approximately 20 hp and peak torque of 155 lb-ft.
The “pumped up” V8 twin-turbo engine produces 40 horsepower more than the engine found in the 750i/Li models to a total of 400 horsepower. The overall combined output is being advertised at 455 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. It runs from 0-62 mph in only 4.7 seconds.
BMW ActiveHybrid 7 has an average fuel consumption of 9.4 liters in the EU cycle (25 MPG US), which corresponds to CO2 emissions of 219 grams per kilometer.
[Source: BimmerToday ]
