BMW New 7-Series ActiveHybrid Concept

Maximum efficiency in the luxury class, supreme dynamics in the hybrid segment – precisely these are the unique standards offered and combined with one another by the BMW Concept 7 Series ActiveHybrid.

Introducing this Concept Car based on the new BMW 7 Series, BMW is clearly demonstrating the potential offered by the most advanced hybrid technology available today. The BMW Concept 7 Series ActiveHybrid comes with hybrid components tailored precisely to the character of this unique saloon, offering driving comfort, everyday motoring qualities and driving safety of the supreme standard only the BMW 7 Series is able to provide.

In addition, the BMW ActiveHybrid technology featured in the Concept Car reduces both fuel consumption and emissions by 15 per cent versus the same car with a combustion engine and offers a standard of driving dynamics clearly exceeding all series models with hybrid technology presented so far.

The BMW Concept 7 Series ActiveHybrid combines an eight-cylinder gasoline engine and an electric motor developing 15 kW/20 hp and maximum torque of 210 Newton-metres/155 lb-ft as a mild hybrid concept. Electric power is generated by a particularly powerful variant of Brake Energy Regeneration already featured in the BMW Group’s regular production cars. The energy generated in this way is then stored in a lithium-ion battery fitted in accordance with the package of the car beneath the luggage compartment.

This electrical energy serves to supply the on-board network and, in addition, to boost the combustion engine under clearly defined driving conditions. The result is a significant optimisation of engine power and response ensuring even more dynamic acceleration whenever required.

BMW ActiveHybrid technology thus supports the BMW EfficientDynamics development strategy in a particularly intelligent manner, offering even greater driving pleasure on less fuel as well as cleaner emissions.

BMW ActiveHybrid is an important building brick within the BMW EfficientDynamics development strategy as a whole. Pursuing this strategy, the BMW Group has indeed introduced a wide range of efficiency-boosting features in series production throughout the entire model portfolio, thus achieving unique progress the world over in the reduction of fuel consumption and emissions.

Sales of BMW cars with EfficientDynamics since the year 2007 already exceed a million units. Accordingly, this broad-scale strategy lauded on many occasions through significant prizes and awards has led to a substantial reduction of average fuel consumption by the BMW car fleet.

Parallel to this trendsetting strategy, the BMW Group is developing hybrid technology along various lines for various vehicle segments. The objective of this elaborate development process is to create hybrid systems significantly reducing fuel consumption while maintaining the driving dynamics so typical of the brand, in this way living up to the great demands made of a BMW in every respect.

Pursuing this strategy, two models with BMW ActiveHybrid technology will be reaching production level in 2009 alone.

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Credits: Jarvis