BMW presented a pair of hybrids yesterday—both packed with V8 engines—at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The old news is the BMW X6 full hybrid crossover, which debuted last year in Frankfurt. The new item is the BMW 7-Series mild hybrid concept, which promises a 15 percent reduction in fuel consumption.
Unveiling the 7-Series hybrid, Dr. Klaus Draeger, BMW board member, said, “What does that mean for customers? The highest level of efficiency in the luxury class combined with the best dynamic performance among hybrid vehicles.”
The powerful twin-turbo 4.4-liter gas V-8 delivers 400 horsepower and 450 lb-ft. of torque with the 120-volt electric system adding some auxiliary power. The heart of the system is an AGM (absorbent glass mat) lithium ion battery pack stored in the trunk. An electric motor integrated into the transmission replaces the alternator and enables the start-stop system.
The new non-hybrid BMW 7 Series arrives in the US in early 2009. The hybrid version remains a concept at this time.
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