The hybrid variant of the car, featuring BMW’s new ‘mild hybrid’ system, won’t arrive for another “two to three years,” a company spokesman confirmed to Germany’s DPA. The powertrain will feature a petrol powered engine mated to a compact generator-motor mounted directly onto the gearbox. This electric motor will be powered by an array of lithium-ion batteries in the boot, which can be topped using conventional Brake Energy Regeneration technology.
BMW’s new twin-turbo petrol V8, which debuted in the X6 crossover, will also make an appearance in the 7-series as well as a possible V8 turbodiesel. Other new technologies will be a new eight-speed ZF automatic transmission and a torque-splitting differential on the rear axle. Click here to see our preview story on the new 7-series for more details.
BMW Vision EfficientDynamics X5 Concept