Without electric motors, the car industry will not be able to meet future, stricter CO2 emission standards. Even large limousines are not immune from electrification. BMW has already given its PHEV 7 series a thorough update.
BMW already gave the 7-series a serious update and that facelift was not exactly subtle: the kidney grille has never been so big. The reason? China! More than 40 percent of the 7 series are sold there and they simply want cars with an impressive appearance like that of a cathedral. Hence. The car has also been revised under the skin. Perhaps the most interesting for the Dutch market is the update of the plug-in hybrid variant. It no longer has a four-cylinder, but a six-in-line. The electric motor has also become more potent. The electrification of these types of cars does not come out of the blue. In 2020, the car industry has the clean task of reducing the average CO2 emissions of its cars sold in Europe from the currently permitted 130 g / km to below 95 g / km. This is virtually impossible without electric motors. With the help of those electric motors, even with the full-size 7-series, CO2 emissions approach 50 g / km. In the Netherlands, this means that the bpm amount for this car is only a fraction of what is counted for the conventionally powered versions. It immediately makes the 745e the cheapest variant of BMW’s 7 series. BMW also offers the 745e with both short and long wheelbases. There is also a 745Le xDrive with four-wheel drive.
Beautiful materials, an exemplary finish: entering this plug-in is entering a world of luxury and well-being. Equipped with tightly lacquered wood and super soft leather, the BMW is a travel cocoon in which you can completely shut yourself off from the rest of the world. The multimedia system has been further improved with the recent update. The downside is that the large, clearly readable meters in the instruments have made way for a digital display. That screen is busy and not the most convenient. Finding the right seating position behind the wheel is no problem and there is more than enough space in all directions. The latter also seems to be the case at the back. Thanks to the long wheelbase, there is no shortage of legroom for the rear passengers. With the two executive armchairs, the wide center console, a folding table, additional screens and an electrically folding footrest of the optional Executive Lounge, the 7 looks a lot like a moving men’s salon, but the headroom is not quite your style. In a middle class you might shrug your shoulders, but here, in a car that is designed to transport people in the back seat, you can’t!
The test car differs from the other models in the price list with its drivetrain. In the 745e, the petrol engine is basically the same 3.0-liter six-cylinder that we also know from the 740i, but then reduced from 340 hp to 296 hp. Together with a 113 hp electric motor, this petrol engine produces a combined peak of 394 hp, which is more than enough to get the big BMW up to speed, especially in sporty mode. Nice that it can be done quickly, but the drivetrain seems more in its element when cruising comfortably. In hybrid mode, the two engines work nicely together. You occasionally need the tools to see which engine is working. This is top class, where the eight-speed automatic fits neatly. Incidentally, you can put the drivetrain in more modes. You can also choose not to use the battery while driving (and save electricity for later) or even have it actively charged. Usually, however, the electronics themselves know best when which motor has to work at what time to arrive at the most efficient picture.
In order not to compare apples to pears, we split the consumption test in two: an electrical section and a petrol section. On a full battery we arrive with the BMW in electric mode on average 34 km. On gasoline (or actually the car without charging is just a hybrid) it achieves a consumption of 9.9 l / 100 km. Incidentally, the battery pack in this car requires space and that is at the expense of the loading volume. The BMW can only take 420 liters of luggage (in the conventional 7 goes 515 liters).
Despite his ability, this car was not conceived to chase them sporty over a winding track. For that he has his weight against. At BMW they seem to have made a forced attempt to make the chassis of the 745e a bit stiffer in the Sport mode, but for those looking for a dynamically responsive car they have BMW – despite the rear wheel steering of this 7- series – other models in the range.