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BMW ActiveHybrid 7
In the luxury car industry, no manufacturer can afford to ignore
the the latest developments in green technology, what with the
growing global concern for environmentally-friendlier automobiles.
BMW is a company that is at the forefront of such concerns, a
fact that is exemplified by its release of the Active Hybrid 7
long wheel base luxury sedan.
The innovative new vehicle is set to be released to Canadian
market in 2010, and already the automotive is abuzz with
excitement. BMW intends to unveil its new creation at
the Frankfurt Auto Show, and while many would say that
the Active Hybrid 7 comes at precisely the right time
in the automotive industry, it does come in a few years
after the Lexus flagship LS 600h, with which it shares
a similar luxury status.
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BMW is not the only one manufacturer in the fray either, with
Mercedes-Benz having just recently introduced its hybrid S-class,
and both German car makers have seen fit to combine forces in
creating a hybrid 2-ton vehicle that not only aims to take on
the Lexus, but also has the needs of the fuel efficiency market
in mind.
The latest BMW system is billed as the "Hybrid Light and
Power Plus", and it combines a 15 kw electric motor with
a powerful twin turbo V8 in order to reduce fuel consumption and
emissions. This results in what BMW claims to be the quickest
hybrid sedan in the global market, and thanks to the combined
power output of 455 HP that allows the Active Hybrid 7 to go from
0 kph to 100 kph in 4.9 secs flat, there just may be something
to that claim.
In fact, the latest 7-types is a full second-and-a-half faster
than the Lexus LS 600h, and 2 seconds faster than the Mercedes
Benz S400 Hybrid, although the latter also has a similar 15kw
electric motor / V6 engine combo.
A closer look at the Active Hybrid 7 shows plenty of power to
spare, with the vehicle capable of an enormous 516 lb ft. of torque.
Much of this power comes from the electric motor, and the BMW
Active Hybrid 7 pushes forward in similar manner to other V12
powered 7 types.
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Drivers will quickly become accustomed
to having all this power and torque on tap, and they will
soon forget that they are driving a hybrid design. One thing
is for sure: you won't get this kind of power and handling
at the 9.4 liters for every 100km average fuel consumption
rate that BMW claims.
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Among the other welcome features of the Active Hybrid 7 is the
ZF sourced 8-speed gear box that also doubles as an alternator
when braking and coasting, and a rechargeable lithium ion battery
pack that comes in at just under 30kgs and tucks neatly into its
own compartment in the trunk. Keep in mind however that this battery
pack design lowers the cargo capacity of the BMW Active Hybrid
7 from 17.6 cubic ft to 16.2 cubic ft.
Finally, the Active Hybrid 7 also features an automatic start
stop system that switchs off the engine if the vehicle is halted
at a red light, further reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
Upon restart, the electric motor kicks into action with the release
of the brake pedal or a press of the accelerator.
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