BMW USA announced the market launch of the plug-in hybrid 2017 740e xDrive iPerformance with the first cars to arrive in dealerships this month.
BMW will only offer the all-wheel drive version of the 740e iPerformance in the United States, unlike Europe which gets three versions of the same car (740e, 740Le and 740Le xDrive).
The plug-in hybrid powertrain combines a four-cylinder turbocharged 255hp 2.0-litre petrol engine with an 111hp electric motor for a total output of 322hp and 369lb ft (500Nm) of peak torque. An eight-speed automatic gearbox is responsible for sending the combined power to all four wheels.
BMW’s plug-in hybrid variant of the 7-Series is capable of a 0-60mph in 5.1 seconds and a electronically limited 155mph top speed. When in all-electric mode, top speed is again limited to 75mph. The company announces a combined fuel economy of 64 MPGe and an all-electric driving range of 14 miles.
The 9.2kWh lithium-ion battery pack is mounted underneath the rear seat and can be fully charged in under 7 hours when a residential outlet is used and just under three hours with BMW’s own fast charger.
Drivers get three different powertrain modes to choose from, Auto eDrive, Max eDrive and Battery Control, with Max eDrive being the all-electric mode, providing there’s sufficient charge left in the battery pack.
The 2017 BMW 740e xDrive iPerformance gains specific badging and blue detailing on the outside while inside there are now special graphic displays in the instrument cluster and in the infotainment screen showing information on the battery’s charge level and other hybrid-specific details.
Pricing starts at $90,095 and includes a very long list of standard equipment which includes LED headlights, the BMW Display Key, the ConnectedDrive navigation package, smartphone integration with wireless charging for mobile phones, the iDrive infotainment system with touchscreen function and gesture control, auxiliary air-conditioning which can be engaged via a smartphone and many more.
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