BMW’s 7-Series gets a few new additions for the 2017 model year, one of which is a plug-in hybrid model in the form of the 740e xDrive i Performance.
The eco-friendly luxury sedan is priced from $90,095, including a $995 destination charge, and is available in dealerships from August.
The EPA rates the electric efficiency as 64 mpge (i.e. the distance the car can travel electrically on the same amount of energy that is contained in a gallon of gasoline) and the range as 14 miles.
The battery is a 9.2-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion unit that can be fully charged in less than 2 hours with Level 2 (240V) charging or around 7 hours on a standard 120V household plug.
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2017 BMW 740e xDrive i Performance
The car’s closest rival is Mercedes-Benz’s S550e, which the EPA rates as 58 mpge and 12 mi of electric range.
The 740e xDrive i Performance features the same plug-in hybrid system found in the 2016 BMW X5 xDrive40e that we recently rested. A turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 is paired with an electric motor that’s integrated with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Drive is then routed to all four wheels.
Peak output of the system is 322 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, which BMW says is enough for 0-60 mph acceleration in 5.1 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph.
A final feature worth mentioning is the “eDrive” button on the center console. This allows the driver to select from various modes for the hybrid system, and includes modes for all-electric driving and saving a specific level of charge in the battery (between 30 and 100 percent).
The default mode is “Auto.” This mode uses the electric motor as much as possible, normally at speeds below 50 mph. Above this speed or when charging is getting low, the engine is switched on. The engine is also used under high load situations such as pedal-to-the-floor acceleration.
