FIRST DRIVE: 2023 BMW 7 Series Prototype – New V8 And Mild Hybrid Tech
 

:ack: https://www.bmwblog.com/2022/04/04/f...-bmw-7-series/

:ack: compared to what? and what's wrong with hybridizing a 7-series?

Not sure what I’ll think about the final design but to be honest, no concern on my end with BMW trying to do something bold here. Past few gens have been fairly conservative.

Shit show exterior design. Let us all remember the train wreck E65/E66. Didn’t we recently discuss that if/when we see one on the road today that they still look like total shit? Why offer a hybrid version when they are also offering a fully electric version with the i7? Have they forgotten the clientele/age bracket that tend to buy these?

Same could be said of my 4 GC and the i4...

I think the keyword is "mild hybrid". It's basically adding the same 48V system to their V8 as they recently debuted on their 6 cyl engines. Just a way to get a little more efficiency and better drivability. I doubt they'll offer any ICE egines without this tech in the near future.

As for the design... i think Lexus has watched what BMW has been doing with their grilles and said "hold my beer":
https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/2...-drive-review/

The last good looking 7 series was the E38. This is no more incoherent than the rest of what BMW is doing.

As for why mild hybrid? Well, why not? It makes the start stop function work better, it gives a little grunt off the line, and it pushes their cafe numbers. And no one really cares how this car drives other than smooth and powerful, and a well executed hybrid should add to that.

I'm assuming that it's not like some clunky toyota hybrid. If I'm wrong, then that changes things. But I don't see why BMW wouldn't do that on this.

OK. Thought the Lexus was an April Fool’s joke…

TBD on the mild hybrid. More smooth in some cases; more herky jerky in others.

I may be inclined just to drive in Sport when break-in is done. Just as I did with the 2.

I was not sure where to post this but interesting article about BMW and the move toward electric.

https://www.msn.com/de-de/finanzen/t...%BB/ar-AAW50R1

If you dont have a translator, haha, there is this link to it on the F87 board.

https://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1915216

And then there is the new M760e!

https://youtu.be/o_gT0kVdG4o