We can still remember the reaction we had when the seventh-generation BMW 7-Series revealed itself in mid-2022. Internally known as the G70, to say we gasped was an understatement given the understated elegance the previous two models had. It was practically the same reaction most had with the equally controversial fourth-generation (E65) that came out in 2001.
Interestingly, though, global sales have actually been above expectations, thanks to the fact that it’s actually a good car, and partly because of the wide powertrain options. Locally, we have the 735i and the all-electric i7 xDrive60.
But BMW Philippines appears to be not content with just those. Based on documents from the Land Transportation Office, there might be a new variant that we can all soon expect.
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So, what’s this new BMW 7-Series variant, you might ask. Given the company’s push for electrification in the country, it might not come as a surprise that it’s a plug-in hybrid model. Fans of the brand already know the answer with that clue, but we’re here to tell you that it’s the 750e xDrive.
While the LTO papers don’t really show much in the way of specs, we are familiar with some of the numbers this full-sized sedan puts down. It uses exactly the same setup as the X5 50e xDrive, meaning a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six mated to a single electric motor and a 22.1kWh battery.
It goes beyond that, of course. With the engine and motor working together, it has a combined output of 483hp and 700Nm, the same the plug-in hybrid X5. Per BMW, its electric-only range hovers between 83 to 87 kilometers, depending on charge and traffic conditions. Having experienced this powertrain in the X5, we can say that it works like a true hybrid once battery charge has been depleted.
Expected launch? Well, that’s still up in the air, but since the papers are in, it might not be much of a long wait. We are sure of one thing, though. Ambassadors, tycoons, and monied ultra-lux sedan fans might want to take a look at this.
