SEE the driver of a big BMW 7 Series looking smug this summer and it’s probably because they’re doing their business at the wheel of one of the first BMW iPerformance hybrids.
They’re good for 134.5mpg and with sub-50g/km CO2 for maximum tax efficiency.
Launched in Geneva, iPerformance is the new branding for all BMW plug-in hybrid models rolled out across the model ranges after turning heads with the high-tech i3 and i8 models where the technology has been most successfully proven.
Matt Bristow, head of corporate sales for BMW, says: “Our sub-brand BMW i has become well established within the market and is synonymous with efficient, electric vehicles – therefore, we feel this name change will help position our new plug-in hybrid models and make it easier for our customers and prospects to understand.
“The term ‘PHEV’ is widely used in the marketplace and we want to ensure customers and prospects understand our technology and drivetrains, and that it is different to our competitors.
“Furthermore, the technology and driving experience you get from a BMW i model can be found in an iPerformance model – for example, the electric drive elements of the BMW i8 have also been integrated into the 225xe Active Tourer.
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 in the new BMW 7 Series model range with the addition of three plug-in hybrid luxury saloons 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 door-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 134.5 mpg and CO2 emissions of 49g/km.
In the new BMW 740Le xDrive iPerformance (fuel consumption combined: 122.8 mpg ; 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.
