It seems like BMW is testing its upcoming 7 Series flagship all over the world, not only at the Arctic Circle, Germany and the US. The latest spy video featuring early prototypes comes to us from Italy, courtesy of Emile Oomen.
Driving around in a BMW F10 M5, he spotted two camouflaged Bimmers rolling between Alessandria and Asti in Northern Italy. So far so good, you’ll say, but these two weren’t "ordinary’ ‘extraordinary’ appearances on the road.
Coming a little bit closer, the camera picked up an interesting sign posted on the driver’s door and on the rear bumper, a sticker saying ‘Hybrid Test Vehicle’. That’s when a light lit up inside his mind.
Just like we said earlier, BMW is planning to introduce a new plug-in hybrid version of the 7 Series, probably with the same configuration as the X5 eDrive concept we’ve seen earlier this year.
Looking to make the ActiveHybrid7 fiasco history, the company will be wanting a more attractive proposal for their eco-friendly executive customers. The AH7 was a fiasco from the get go.
Fitted with a a 3-liter turbocharged petrol engine making 320 HP and 450 Nm (332 lb-ft) of torque and an electric motor making 55 HP and 210 Nm (155 lb-ft), the 2 ton car didn’t have enough power to be considered an attractive alternative. Furthermore, the small EV range and the fact that you couldn’t charge it from a wall socket, made it a flop.
Not the same could be said about this model, that could mark a series of premieres for the Bavarian company. It could be the first 4-cylinder 7 Series ever made if it follows in the footsteps of the X5 and it could also be the first plug-in version.
In the video, we can clearly spot a fuel cap on the front left fender that is probably housing the socket for the charging cable. Therefore, no surprise here.
The powertrain could also have 245 HP coming from the internal combustion B48 engine up front and 95 from the electric one in the back for a grand total of 340 HP and 600 Nm (442 lb-ft) of torque, plenty to determine BMW to name this car the ‘740e’.
Electric range is expected to be around 20 miles (32 km) and a wider range of batteries could be offered as an optional feature, to allow you to cover more ground on EV mode if you want to.
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