The new iPerformance model designation, which will be given to all BMW plug-in hybrid vehicles from July 2016, provides a visible indicator of the transfer of technology from BMW i to the BMW core brand.
It will celebrate its premiere at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show in the new BMW 7 Series model range with the addition of three plug-in hybrid luxury sedans to the line-up.
With a total of what will now be five plug-in hybrid variants in model ranges from the BMW 2 Series to the BMW 7 Series, BMW has spread the technology over a wide area of the market – from the compact class to the luxury segment. And further models are set to join them.
All BMW’s plug-in hybrid models already use expertise from BMW i when it comes to electric motors, battery cells and electronic control systems, for example. In order to also make BMW’s rigorously-applied electrification strategy visible from the outside, all iPerformance models will display a BMW i logo on the front side panel, BMW i-style blue elements in the kidney grille and wheel hubs, and an eDrive logo on the C-pillar.
Customers can also make use of the BMW i 360° ELECTRIC range of products and services. These include the BMW i Wallbox for home charging, which is offered together with an installation service. Arrangement of a suitable green energy contract with renewable energy suppliers is also part of the services available. The BMW i Remote app and intelligent BMW ConnectedDrive Services provide additional benefits.
The new BMW 7 Series plug-in hybrid models source their power from a four cylinder petrol engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology and an electric motor, which together generate a system output of 240 kW/326 hp. The new BMW 740e iPerformance with standard wheelbase and new BMW 740Le iPerformance with long wheelbase capture the imagination with their supreme dynamics yet average fuel consumption of just 2.1 litres per 100 kilometres (134.5 mpg imp) and CO2 emissions of 49 grams per kilometre.
In the new BMW 740Le xDrive iPerformance (fuel consumption combined: 2.3 l/100 km [122.8 mpg imp]; CO2 emissions combined: 53 g/km) intelligent all-wheel drive distributes the combined power of the combustion engine and electric motor permanently and as required between the front and rear wheels.
The plug-in hybrid variants of the new BMW 7 Series allow top-level driving pleasure, long-distance comfort and luxury to be experienced in combination with all-electric, locally emission-free mobility as well. In so doing, they represent the most rigorous implementation yet of Efficient Dynamics in vehicles from the BMW brand.
