As part of the nine models planned for an India launch by BMW, the Bavarian auto giant will be launching the 7-Series ActiveHybrid sedan in the country in July this year. The 7-Series ActiveHybrid will be the company’s first hybrid vehicle for India and is more of a brand builder than a volumes product. Differentiating the 7-Series ActiveHybrid from the regular 7-Series sedan is the addition of an electric motor that helps the flagship sedan return higher fuel efficiency and lower CO2 emissions.
The BMW 7-Series ActiveHybrid is powered by a 3.0-litre 6-cylinder petrol engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology that produces 320 HP of power at 5800 RPM and 450 Nm of torque between 1300-4500 RPM. The conventional engine is paired to an electric motor that is capable of producing 55 HP of power and 210 Nm of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels of the sedan via a 8-speed automatic gearbox. 0-100 km/hr comes up in 5.7 seconds, while the top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/hr.
As per the EU driving cycle, the BMW 7–Series ActiveHybrid returns a fuel efficiency of 14.7 km/l, while CO2 emissions are limited to 158 g/km. The sedan also gets a 120-volt lithium ion battery pack that powers the air-con when the car is turned off to avoid consumption of fuel and improve fuel efficiency. Being a CBU, expect the 7-Series ActiveHybrid to carry a rather hefty price tag of around Rs. 1.75 crores in the country.
BMW has a lot of exciting products planned for the second half of 2014. Apart from the 7-Series ActiveHybrid, BMW will launch the X3 SUV facelift, M3 sports sedan and M4 coupe; followed by the 2015 MINI range. While the 7-Series ActiveHybrid may not be a brisk seller as the 730Ld, it will help shape a green image of BMW in the country; making way for the i8 hybrid sports car that will also see a year end launch.
