BMW 740Le - 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show Live

Has a pure-electric range of 40 km with a maximum speed of 120 km/h.

BMW has showcased the BMW 740Le hybrid variant of the new 7 Series at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show.

The 740Le is BMW’s answer to the Mercedes S500 PHEV. The sedan is powered by a 2.0-liter TwinPower turbocharged four cylinder engine along with an electric motor that give it a combined output of 326 hp. The electric motor sources power from the high voltage lithium-ion battery that is placed under the rear seat for better weight distribution and enhanced protection in case of a crash.

This battery, claims BMW, can be recharged from any domestic power socket, public charging station or BMW’s I Wallbox system. Power transmission to the wheels is through an 8-speed Steptronic gearbox.

BMW says that the 740Le gives a combined fuel efficiency of 47.61 km/l (134.5 mpg) and has a carbon dioxide emission of 49 g/km. The hybrid sedan can be driven in three settings. The first is the Auto eDrive, and in this the engine power is boosted by the electric drive during acceleration providing quick bursts of speed. The Max eDrive mode gets the car running in pure electric mode with a maximum speed of 120 km/h and a maximum range of up to 40 km. The last is the Battery Control mode which raises or maintains the battery's state of charge thus conserving all-electric driving for later use.

The BMW 740Le ensures practicality with 420 liters of space that can be further expanded by lowering the cover in the rear section of the boot and opening the side storage compartments.