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BMW Launch New 7-Series Plus-In Hybrid
A new plug-in hybrid line-up for BMW’s flagship 7-Series has been revealed, billed as combining the sportiness, comfort and feel-good ambience of BMW’s flagship luxury models with increased efficiency.
There’s a choice of two model variants: the BMW 745e and the BMW 745Le xDrive, the latter of which gets intelligent all-wheel drive.
The plug-in hybrid system consists of a six-cylinder in-line petrol engine and an advanced high-voltage battery with an enlarged capacity compared to previous plug-in models.
This gives a boost in power output and torque, as well as improved figures for electric range, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
Power comes from a 3.0-litre BMW EfficientDynamics engine producing a peak power output of 286hp combined with an electric motor with a rated output of 113hp and torque of 265Nm, along with a new lithium-ion battery featuring the very latest battery cell technology and expanded storage capacity.
In SPORT mode, the two power sources combine to give a total power output of 394hp and maximum torque of 600Nm, giving the 745e sports car-like acceleration.
The hybrid system features intelligent energy management for precisely controlled interaction between the two power units, including a preview function that works with the car’s GPS to assign electric power most efficiently on a pre-planned route.
In performance terms, the 745e accelerates from zero to 62mph in 5.2 seconds. The new 745Le xDrive, with its intelligent four-wheel-drive, cuts that time down to just 5.1 seconds, with all three models electronically limited to a top speed of 155mph.
The new high-voltage lithium-ion battery for the plug-in hybrid 7 Series has an increased capacity of 12.0kWh, allowing electric power to be enjoyed beyond the city limits.
In HYBRID mode, all models can travel at a speed of up to 68mph - 13mph faster than the predecessor models – in purely electric mode. The petrol engine doesn’t join in until the car reaches the higher speed, or the engine is under particularly heavy load. In ELECTRIC mode, the power of the electric motor alone is sufficient to reach a speed of 87mph.
The 745e has a maximum electric range of between 34-36 miles depending on driving conditions, while the 745Le xDrive aims to achieve an electrically powered range of 32-34 miles.
The new BMW 7-Series Plus-In Hybrid will go on sale from Spring 2019 with prices starting from £76,815.