BMW ActiveHybrid 7 Series introduced

BMW has released images and detail on the BMW ActiveHybrid 7 Series

Just as with the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 we gave you details of earlier, we reported on the BMW Active Hybrid 7 Series a couple of weeks ago when it was announced that the car would be at Frankfurt. And as with the X6 ActiveHybrid, BMW has today release imnages and details of the 7 Series.

The 7 Series ActiveHybrid, although built to serve the same purpose, utilises a different methodology to the X6 AvtiveHybrid. It is a ‘Mild’ Hybrid – built in co-operation with Mercedes – that uses a single electric motor (as opposed to the X6’s twin motors) together with the BMW 4.4 litre, twin-turb0 V8, to deliver 455 horses and 516lb/ft of torque. The V8 delivers 440bhp with the electric motor adding an extra 15bhp.The electric motor in the 7 Series ActiveHybrid is sandwiched between the 8-speed ZF ‘box and the engine.

Unlike the X6 – which uses NMH batteries – the ActiveHybrid 7 has Lithium Ion storage, which is used to power things like the AirCon when the 7 Series has its stop-start activated (incidentally, this is the first automatic BMW to feature stop-start). As with the X6, the 7 series uses brake energy regeneration to capture the energy otherwise lost in braking and stores that in the batteries, the power from which is then used to drive the car’s electrical systems and augment the economy. BMW are claiming reductions of 15% in fuel consumption.

Again, huge detail in the BMW ActiveHybrid 7 Series Press Release.