BMW has trumped its rivals in the hybrid-car business by using a lithium-ion battery pack, which has a higher energy density than the commonly used nickel-metal-hydride type. Higher energy density means more charge for the buck in a smaller package, which BMW, in this case, has cleverly located in the northwest corner of the ActiveHybrid7's trunk.
The battery energizes an electric motor (15-kilowatt, 20 horsepower equivalent) that works in tandem with a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 engine (455 horsepower, 515 foot-pounds of torque).
The arrangement saves fuel and reduces tailpipe pollution in city traffic when the gasoline motor shuts down at stoplights and other traffic interruptions and the battery and electric motor take over.
But the two power systems work together on the highway, providing a tremendous boost in acceleration, beating the heck out of many full-size gas-guzzling sedans and wearing something of an environmental halo in the process.
With it all comes BMW 7-Series comfort, elegance and opulence -- four-zone climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with plush leather seats, rich wood-grain accents, ambient interior lighting for night driving, onboard navigation with a high-definition backup camera, and myriad active and passive safety technologies.
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