2010 BMW Active Hybrid 7 V8 Concept

2009 BMW ActiveHybrid - Front View

Automotive analysts knows that we’re driving toward a transportation future powered by multiple fuels. Only a politician blinded by party loyalty or major donor paybacks could dispute this reality. Over the next ten to fifteen years we’ll see battery-electric powered vehicles sharing the roads with diesels, multi-fuel-capable internal combustion engines, and a variety of hybrids. Surprising to some, many cars will still run only on plain, old gasoline.

2009 BMW ActiveHybrid - Dashboard Interrior

BMW’s 2010 product line exemplifies the early stage of this trend. Munich’s gasoline engines feature efficient direct injection and turbocharging. Diesels are available across the board in Europe and in several U.S. models. BMW recently introduced its ActiveHybrid X6, the crossover that uses a powerful dual-mode hybrid system to improve city and highway fuel economy. Most recently at the LA Auto Show, the U.S. version of the ActiveHybrid 7-Series appeared in something other than a press release.

2009 BMW ActiveHybrid - Logo

* Key Competitors: Lexus LS Hybrid, Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid.
* Power: 4.4L V8 – 440-hp / 475 lb-ft of torque, 3-phase synchronous electric motor helps produce a total of 455-hp / 516 lb-ft.
* Transmission: 8-speed automatic transmission.
* Performance: 0-60 mph in just 4.8 seconds; top speed of 150 mph.
* Availability: Spring 2010.
* Pricing: TBA.

2009 BMW ActiveHybrid - Rear Side

The motor is not powerful enough to allow for electric-only driving, but does add enough oomph to help the 4800-pound car move briskly off the line with literally no hesitation. The assist is so significant that it allowed BMW engineers to change the transmission gearing and raise final drive ratio considerably.

The result? Across the board fuel savings, regardless of speed. The bump in economy comes from lowering the engine’s RPM at any given road speed. For example, in top gear at 1000 rpm, the ActiveHybrid 7 loafs along at about 50 miles per hour. At the same speed, the V-8 in a non-hybrid 750i is turning 1600 rpm. The gearing change made possible by the additional torque of the electric motor. Like most other BMWs, top speed is limited; the electronic nanny on this model steps in at 150 mph.

Another fuel-saving characteristic of the BMW ActiveHybrid 7 is the engine’s auto-start/stop. Pull to a red traffic light and the engine smoothly shuts down. Of course, all interior amenities are maintained. Because BMW retained the standard 7-Series hydraulic steering, the wheel goes stiff from loss of boost. A tug on the rim causes the engine to instantly re-fire, making the car ready for action. Releasing the brake pedal causes a similar reaction from under the hood. During the miles we drove, we never caught the car wrong-footed.

The ActiveHybrid 7′s lithium-ion battery pack (stored between the rear wheels in a position that maintains the car’s 50/50 weight distribution) keeps the car alive when the engine is not. The 120-volt/400 watt-hours battery is about the size of a large encyclopedia and weighs barely 60 pounds. Storing the battery causes a net loss of only one cubic foot from the 7-Series’ trunk.