BMW no longer makes a mistake – to combine a four-cylinder with an electric motor in the top league. The previous generation G11 already compensated for this flaw as part of the model cycle and the successor model follows. So the 750e not only has plenty of power, but also the image and sound gain, which some car manufacturers underestimate and which is so important for customers in the premium league. The performance delivered by the new BMW 750e – obligatory an xDrive all-wheel drive – is at the level of former top-of-the-range V8 models. While the three-liter in-line six-cylinder provides 230 kW / 313 hp / 450 Nm as the basic drive, the electronic module on the eight-speed automatic transmission contributes a further 145 kW / 197 hp / 450 Nm for the befitting propulsion. Powers a mighty 360 kW / 490 hp and a maximum torque of 700 Nm at full power demand. The standard consumption: 1.0 liters per 100 kilometers – for a plug-in hybrid, however, calculated with a fully charged battery pack in the underbody.
If that’s not enough: the more powerful brother BMW 760e with plug-in hybrid drive has the same electric motor on the eight-speed automatic and also all-wheel drive, but a more powerful in-line six-cylinder with 380 kW / 380 hp / 520 Nm. The total output of 420 kW / 571 hp / 800 Nm is at the level of the former V12 top model, which unfortunately found no place in the new model generation. Does it now need the 760e or is the 750e enough? This question is easy to answer, because the thrust, which the drive duo of the weaker version already delivers, is more than impressive and always dynamic despite the curb weight of almost 2.5 tons. Admittedly, the sound of the six-cylinder could be more impressive and the driver doesn’t waste any thought about sitting in an eight- or even twelve-cylinder. But with 0 to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds and a hot intermediate sprint from 80 to 120 km/h in a spectacular 2.7 seconds thanks to the electric boost, there are no wishes for a performance boost. The top speed: 250 km/h.
The luxury model from Dingolfing plays out those strengths that shine with the other drive variants up to the BMW i7 60. It is easy-going, it is incredibly confident and offers a chassis that, with air suspension, adaptive dampers and an excellent noise level inside, leaves nothing to be desired, not only in terms of comfort. The precise and extremely adaptable steering remains in a class of its own, which plays a significant part in the driving pleasure that the BMW 750e xDrive can spread, especially on country roads, despite its opulent excess weight. Inside there are air-conditioned seats that make every kilometer a short vacation, both front and rear, and a level of comfort that the current Mercedes S-Class can at best keep up with. Unlike the competition, the BMW 7 Series is also only available as a PHEV in the version with a long wheelbase and a guard size of 5.39 meters. The panorama roof with a fold-out large screen for the second row replaces the electric sunroof that only a few customers still love.
For a car so young on the market that still has a full model cycle with another six years to go, the crisp displays could be larger and a passenger display, long established in this league, is somewhat surprisingly absent. The various driving modes, sometimes linked to theme worlds with different ambience colors, remain a matter of taste, as does the colorfully illuminated light strip that extends into the doors. Doesn’t change that: the BMW 7 Series offers a smooth one for the stay value at the front and rear, regardless of its drive type. Leg, head and shoulder room are in a class of their own and with its 525 liter cargo space, hardly anything needs to be left at home.
The BMW 750e xDrive is particularly interesting for customers who not only push the pace on long journeys, but also drive at a moderate speed in large areas or even in the city center. Because with its bulging 18.7 kWh battery, the purely electric range is over 80 kilometers before you have to go to the next charging plug. The maximum charging power is 7.4 kW – the luxury sedan from Dingolfing, which costs at least 123,500 euros, does not offer a quick charging function, such as that offered by Mercedes, for example. A lot of money for a lot of luxury and even more driving pleasure. If you use the still surprisingly long list of extras, you probably won’t have any problems reducing the purchase price of the plug-in hybrid to well over 150,000 euros in the basic version of the 750. The slightly more powerful BMW 760e xDrive even starts at 144,000 euros.
