2019 BMW 7 Series to introduce more potent 745e plug-in hybrid
New sighting of facelifted luxury saloon shows it’ll also wear taller kidney grilles
BMW will ramp up the electric performance of its plug-in hybrid 7 Series when the line-up is facelifted in 2019.
The flagship range’s current electrified model, the 740e iPerformance, will give way to a 745e iPerformance that uses a hybrid electric powertrain offering more punch and increased range.
Output for the 740e peaks at 322bhp and 369lb ft of torque, but the use of a more advanced motor powered by batteries of a higher energy density is expected to provide more power to the turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine to edge combined output towards 400bhp.
The new electrified tech will also provide the 745e with more pure electric range. The 740e is good for 29 miles, so it’s likely that the new hybrid will push that number into the early 30s.
Alongside an improved plug-in variant, the rest of the 7 Series range will also receive improvements. Expect more power and improved fuel economy for the engines, which include six-cylinder petrols and a four-cylinder diesel, as well the V8 750i and V12 M760Li xDrive.
The spotted test car, seen during high-speed testing at the Nürburgring, shows that the facelifted car will wear a new front end dominated by larger kidney grilles. Although heavily camouflaged, they appear to take influence from the upcoming X7 SUV (which Autocar has driven in prototype form).
The X7, a future rival to the Range Rover, will rub shoulders with the 7 Series at the top of BMW’s range. The design link could be a tactic to create familiarity between the two flagship models.
Both cars are pitched directly at high-flying luxury car buyers, of which a large portion comes from China. Buyers there typically prefer more aggressive car design, so this new look is possibly also evidence of a design shift to cater to tastes in the world’s biggest new car market.
Aside from the altered front end, the rest of the spotted test car appears to feature more discreet alterations, including a new front bumper design and slimmer lights at the back.
Inside, the existing cabin architecture will be updated with BMW’s latest infotainment technology. Major changes are not expected, although a digital instrument cluster is likely and should significantly enhance user experience, while also helping the 7 Series keep up with tech offered by rivals such as Audi.
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