Flagship sedans such as the BMW 7 Series provide an excellent blend of style, luxury, and performance. For 2017, the first-ever BMW 740e xDrive iPerformance sedan arrives, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle with standard all-wheel drive. This model brings in a level of fuel efficiency never before seen in the 7 Series line.
What's new for 2017
The 2017 BMW 740e xDrive is all new. It is the first plug-in hybrid available in the 7 Series. This model has all the important design and space attributes of the gas-powered sedan, including excellent interior room and superior storage space.
Like other 7 Series models, the 740e seats five. It shares the same standard long wheelbase of the 740 and 750 lines. One important difference is in storage space as the lithium-ion battery pack intrudes on trunk space, reducing the standard 18.2 cubic feet to 15 cubic feet. But that’s still slightly larger than the room found in the BMW 5 Series.
Choosing Your BMW 740e
Like the other 7 Series models, the BMW 740e is offered in one trim level. Executive, interior design, sport, luxury, and driver assistance packages allow for further customization. Leather, wood, and other embellishments are found throughout the cabin. Technologies, such as gesture control, are also present.
All models are powered by 2-liter, twin-turbo gasoline four-cylinder engine and an electrical drive system with a synchronous motor. An eight-speed automatic transmission with manual shifting capabilities is also present.
The gasoline engine produces 255 horsepower on its own. Maximum total performance is 322 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, enabling this sedan to zip from 0 to 60 mph in just over 5 seconds.
The 2017 740e is EPA rated at 27 mpg and takes premium grade gasoline. This model is also EPA-rated at 64 MPGe when using the government’s measuring criteria for electrified vehicles. The 740e can run on electric-only power for 14 miles and at speeds of up to 75 mph. Owners can plug in with a standard household outlet or upgrade to a 240-volt outlet or a fast-charging outlet.
740e
BMW prices the 2017 740e from $89,100. This price comes in nearly halfway between the 740i xDrive and 750i xDrive models. This sedan comes with adaptive LED headlights, automatic high beams, LED fog lights, power-folding heated side mirrors, chrome accents, and light-alloy 18-inch wheels surrounded by run-flat, all-season tires.
Inside, the 2017 740e provides all the room and amenities of the gas-powered models. It brings in 10-way power front seats with 4-way lumbar support. All models feature Dakota leather upholstery, high-gloss fine line wood trim, and a 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. Convenience features include a power trunk, a power rear sunshade, 4-zone climate control, a panoramic moonroof, front and rear park distance control, wireless charging, and a WiFi hotspot.
Safety features include active front headrests and a suite of airbags. Driver assistance packages bring in such features as side and top view cameras, blind spot detection, lane departure warning, and front collision warning with city collision mitigation.
What the 740e won’t offer—but its gas-powered siblings will soon provide—is available remote control parking. The system makes it possible for you to park your car when outside the vehicle by controlling your key fob. Instead, plug-in hybrid owners must settle for the next best thing—parking assist—which simplifies parallel and perpendicular parking.
With low fuel prices currently in play, hybrid models are a hard sell for manufacturers. This means consumers have some additional leverage when negotiating their price. BMW typically offers a lease credit on this model, an offer that may change from month to month. If you purchase the 740e, state and federal tax credits may apply.