While there is still a nice 4.4 liter, 32-valve V8 engine (with Twin Turbo Power), there is also a 120-volt lithium-ion battery with boost function that controls the 8-speed automatic transmission. It also employs start/stop technology where the engine powers down at stoplights and switches to the hybrid mode to run the needed electronics. This type of technology, paired with BMW’s “ultimate driving machine” mentality makes the 750li an absolutely fun car to drive. But, this advancement in driving comes at a price — a steep price.
At nearly $110,000, my tester carried a hefty price tag indeed. Luxury abounds (as expected) inside with heated front seats, navigation system, park distance control and premium audio system. Extra perks come standard as well like rain-sensing windshield wipers, Xenon adaptive headlights, power soft-close automatic doors and BMW’s iDrive system with voice command controls.
Melt into the leather captain’s seats during rapid acceleration and responsive steering and you’ll become one with the car. Regenerative braking through the hybrid system brings a rapid, but firm and controlled end in an inconspicuous manner. Usually in regnerative braking systems, found in hybrid models, you lose the feeling in the brakes, but in the 7-series the car never lurches upon deceleration. As impressive as the power of acceleration is, so is the engineering put forth in the braking system.
And because it’s a hybrid, you expect to have an improvement in fuel efficiency. The BMW 750li with ActiveHybrid delivers. The fuel economy is not blow-you-away impressive, but is about a 20 percent improvement over other 7-series without the hybrid technology. In mostly highway driving, my tester averaged 20 mpg. The EPA fuel estimates for this vehicle are 17 city and 24 highway. Those numbers are not hybrid-like, but little about this vehicle is hybrid-like outside of its name and proudly displayed ActiveHybrid label.
Jimmy Dinsmore is the Wheels editor at the Dayton Daily News and may be reached at (937) 225-2115 follow him on Twitter @wheelseditor.