Engine Box

Mild hybrid
As a hybrid system ActiveHybrid 7 can not fully drive the car under electric power, it should be considered a mild hybrid system. Like Honda's Integrated Motor Assist system, BMW's hybrid system adds increased under acceleration and allows the engine off at stop lights. But ActiveHybrid 7 much more subtle.

From the driver's seat, there is little to indicate the hybrid system. As in other new BMW, tachometer has a blue region in the fuel economy gauge shows when the car electrical regeneration of the momentum. 10.2-inch LCD Center superwide can be made to show an animated real-time distribution of hybrid electric cars, but its 3D presentation makes it harder to read than electrical diagram found in the hybrid Toyota and Ford.

The most obvious indication of the nature of hybrid cars came when stopped at traffic lights. Tach needle drops to zero as the engine went silent. Take your foot from the brake, and engine back to life with surprising smoothness, given the size of the machine.

Idle stop systems require some getting used to, and not better in some situations. It works great in places with long traffic lights, because the car can sit there no combustion or pumping gas pollutants and carbon dioxide. But in a traffic jam, with a stop-and-go traffic, shutting down the engine for 5 seconds at a time is not as efficient, and less annoying for drivers.

Number of power on tap in ActiveHybrid 7 also takes some getting used to, as the car lunges forward only with press lightly on the gas pedal. Putting labels on the hybrid car may sound green, but the real virtue of the hybrid system is horsepower. Combined output of the V-8 turbo and electric motor rated at 455 horsepower and 515 pound-feet of torque. Compare that with 400 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque in the 750i. Power 7 ActiveHybrid is close to the V-12 760i.

BMW ActiveHybrid acceleration puts 7 in 4.7 seconds to 60 mph, and it feels every bit as fast when you put the pedal to the metal, or the pedal to the floor plushly carpet. The car surges forward, traction control quickly adjusts the power to keep tire useful motion, make very little doubt in the initial push. Large car feels solid and solid like taking speed, 60 mph speedometer last slipped to hit 70, 80, and 90, respectively.

Although they use the same basic engine, the extra power more 750i ActiveHybrid 7 has not all come from the electric motor hybrid system. While figuring out how to make gasoline and electric drive systems work in harmony, BMW's engineers realized that they could do themselves with things like starter, alternator, and air conditioning compressor drive belt. Hybrid system to handle the tasks of the component.

Shedding the teeth, and maybe some smart tuning of BMW, enhance the output of the 4.4-liter V-8-440 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque. a hybrid electric motor that, by itself, rated at 20 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque. Motor is located between the engine and torque converter transmission. Its lithium ion battery pack to form a cube a little strange in the trunk, making a strange package on the BMW.

But the hybrid system that should have anything to do with fuel economy, and so on with, ActiveHybrid 7 that get EPA economy of 17 mpg city and 26 mpg highway, from 2 to 4 mpg better than the 750i. Driving on a combination of city streets, 65 mph highway and a mountain highway in sport mode, the car turned an average of 20.6 mpg. nothing magical, but still quite good for a car of this power and luxury.

The good : BMW's hybrid system adds significant strength for 2011 ActiveHybrid 7, while making 7-series models the most fuel efficient. A car active suspension provides excellent handling. local Google search is integrated with the navigation system.

The bad : Point-of-interest and display the music library unintuitive, and not easy to operate while driving. Idle stop feature shuts off the hybrid system's power steering and does not work very well in stop-and-go traffic.

The bottom line : Though power generation technology, in some ways a hybrid system in 2011 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 feels like anything new. He added power and fuel efficiency, but also adds quirks for everyday driving. cabin features cutting-edge technology available at all 7-series models.

Most car manufacturers use the additional energy provided by the hybrid system to go with a smaller gasoline engine, so it can be expected to maintain power but reduced fuel usage. BMW considers that the additional strength and thought, "Well, we can make our cars go faster!"

Such is the case with the 2011 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 which host the same machine with the standard BMW 750i, twin turbo direct-injection 4.4-liter V-8, but the strap on an electric motor to get electricity from the 120-volt lithium ion battery packs. The result: substantially more horsepower and fuel much better than the 750i.

In addition to the power train, ActiveHybrid 7 offers all the amenities of a typical series-7. In fact, BMW makes a lot of features standard on the hybrid technology will be an option on other models of 7-series. Things like upgraded 16-speaker audio system, head-up display, and comes with a car rearview camera, helping to justify the premium price tag, high even by the standards of BMW.

BMW handling
Given the hybrid system, you would think the car will suffer a penalty to bring the handling of this additional equipment, but it does not. Although 230 pounds heavier than the 750i, holds the road well, active suspension ensures that the tire remains strong contacts with the sidewalk.

A rocker switch on the console changes in damping through Comfort, Normal and Sport settings. Comfort loosens up the suspension, so smooth over bumps, while the Sports screws down tight. In this mode, ActiveHybrid 7 corners very well, responding to steering input with precision.

However, all the BMW 7-series models of large vehicles, and active roll stabilization optional feature is intelligent technology to be included. This feature puts rotary actuators at the front and rear sway bars counteract the tendency of body lean in corners. Lack of this feature, the weight of our testers ActiveHybrid 7 made himself felt in the change. This is a valuable option, making the car much more capable.

Sport setting also affects the throttle response, making it easier engine power available. In addition to the rocker switch, the transmission has its own settings for Sport, which makes downshifts is more aggressive, and holds the lower teeth. Keeping remote tachometer above 2,000 rpm, the transmission's Sport mode defeating nature of the gas-saving hybrid system.

However, transmission ActiveHybrid 7's played a big part in fuel economy car. He has eight gears, two more than in other models of 7-series. High gear to help cars achieve 26 mpg highway rating, while a larger selection of gears allows the engine run more efficiently through the circuit speed.

To ensure cabin comfort, the BMW-powered air conditioner off of the electrical system so it does not stop when the engine died at stop lights. However, still rely on engine power steering hydraulic pump for the company, resulting in the wheels do not move when the engine is turned off. BMW really should have looked into an electric power steering unit for ActiveHybrid 7.

Google Search
Many technical innovations that more can be found in the cabin. As on other BMW models, the navigation system uses several maps richest in the industry, with lush topographic contours. Zooming out beyond the scale of miles, the satellite image map changes.

A weak point in the cabin BMW technology has always been a screen to find points of interest or browsing the music library, and the problems that remain in this new hybrid. The screen looks like they were designed by a computer programmer instead of an expert interface.

But 7 ActiveHybrid features a new way to find local addresses: has a built-in Google search function. Entering "restaurant" term in San Francisco with a list of good local restaurants have restaurants in their name or who fit the description of the canteen. Taking a step further, a search on the term "hammer" is only brought up the business with the hammer in the name, not a list of hardware stores, which is more of a limitation of Google from BMW.

Google search box using a bad design, so it looks shoehorned into the car rather than as features that are well integrated. But the functionality is good, by clicking on each search result allows you to send the address directly into the navigation system. List the results came back a little slowly, similar to a search with a 3G smartphone-connected.

Besides just showing the car speed, head-up display, which comes standard on ActiveHybrid 7, shows the route guidance. This display shows everything from a simple arrow for a render of brindle many highway complete with lane suggestions.

BMW makes a good number of driver assistance features that are available for ActiveHybrid 7. The model sent to CNET including blind-spot detection, which uses warning lights in the rearview mirror of vehicles to show cars in the blind, and lane departure warning. This feature last vibrating steering wheel when the car drift over the lane lines.

Premium audio system is a nice bonus for ActiveHybrid 7. This brought in 16 speakers and 600 watt amp, not the 10 speakers at the standard 7 series. Though luxury cars including a brand-name audio systems, speakers in the car logos lack, but that does not infringe on quality. It's a very balanced system produces smooth sound at all frequencies, with satisfying bass, owned by two subwoofers, and the highest with good detail and no shrillness.

Along with the usual controls for bass and treble levels, surround sound, and balance, BMW includes a seven-band graphic equalizer, allowing audiophiles to improve sound output.

Audio sources include standard HD radio, satellite radio, iPod integration, and a full 12GB onboard storage. The only thing that ActiveHybrid 7 deficiency is a Bluetooth audio streaming, something BMW has not been adopted.

Summarily
Rather than come in as a technology, both subtle ready-for-prime-time, hybrid system in 2011 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 seems almost experimental. Battery box sits uncomfortably in the trunk and an idle stop feature requires more attention than it should. However, there is no denying the extra power and fuel economy delivered by the system. Coupled with BMW's high-tech suspension and eight-speed transmission, the performance of this car is a top technology.

However, higher levels of cabin electronics. BMW pushing all boundaries, integrating Google with navigation system, creating a good phone integration, and design a high-quality audio system. Add to that the available rear-seat entertainment system and the raft of driver assistance features, and ActiveHybrid 7 incredible scores.

The main area where BMW design is tripped. Forms sedan is as practical as ever, and certain design cues clearly marked as a BMW. That said, you will not look twice at the car if you pass on the road. IDrive interface to do some things right, such as easy-access main menu, but dig deeper into the screen, get a little tense paradigm, with the screen to find points of interest and audio sources that are not easy to use while on the road.

Tech specs
Model 2011 BMW ActiveHybrid 7
Trim n / a
Twin turbo power train direct-injection 4.4-liter V-8 transmission, automatic 8-speed, 120-volt lithium ion mild hybrid system
EPA fuel economy 17 mpg city/26 mpg highway
Observed fuel economy 20.6 mpg
The standard hard-drive navigation with traffic-based
Standard Bluetooth phone support
Disc single player MP3-compatible CD / DVD
MP3 player supports iPod integration
Other Onboard digital audio hard drive, USB drive, satellite radio, HD Radio
16-speaker audio system, 600-watt system
Driver aids night vision, head-up display, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot detection, lane departure warning, surround-view camera, backup camera
Base price $ 102,300
Price tested $ 106,075

Gallery 2011 BMW ActiveHybrid 7

By : Wayne Cunningham

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