2010 BMW ActiveHybrid 7

Following the launch of the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 will be a hybrid version of the 7 Series luxury sedan, which will go on sale in the spring of 2010. Unlike the X6’s full hybrid setup, the ActiveHybrid 7 will feature a mild hybrid system. That means the efficiency gains are smaller, but BMW says there will still be a 15% gain in fuel economy. The 750i gets 17 mpg, so the hybrid should bump that to 19 or 20 mpg. It will also feature an auto start-stop function that will shut the engine off when at a standing stop. The company will offer both a standard version and a long-wheelbase model of the ActiveHybrid 7. There are also specially designed wheels that add some aerodynamic efficiency.

Of course, buyers of this car — the 750i starts at $80,300 — likely won’t care about the efficiency of the ActiveHybrid, which makes us wonder why it needs to exist. While the ActiveHybrid X6 will be the most powerful hybrid on the market and is aimed at driving enthusiasts, the 7 isn’t the same package. Sure, BMW says it’ll put out 455 hp and 516 pounds-feet of torque, but no one is thrashing a 7 Series with regularity. Instead, the ActiveHybrid 7 will top the lineup in price and will likely be more of a status symbol.

More photos below.

2010 BMW 7 Series Gains AWD, M Sport Package

With Audi's A8 featuring Quattro and Mercedes-Benz's S550 available with 4Matic, BMW's 7 Series had been the lone all-wheel-drive holdout among full-size German luxury sedans. That will change for the 2010 model year, when xDrive all-wheel-drive editions of the 750i and long-wheelbase 750Li join the current rear-drive lineup. All-wheel-drive models hit dealerships this fall. Pricing information hasn't been released.

BMW says xDrive, which is available on models like the 3 Series and 5 Series, gains improvements aimed at driving dynamics. The system can route up to 80% of engine torque to the rear wheels, and it can also selectively apply the rear brakes for the benefit of handling performance.

In addition, a new M Sport Package lifts certain features from BMW's M performance division, like an M steering wheel, and also adds performance features, like BMW's Active Roll Stabilization, on rear-drive models. Additional features include a special body kit and 19-inch wheels with performance tires. Twenty-inch wheels are optional.

2009|BMW|7 Series

2010|BMW|7 Series

New V-12 Engine Powers 2010 BMW 760Li

We recently reviewed BMW's V-8-powered 750i luxury sedan, but for those looking for more power and luxury — and willing to spend more money — BMW offers a V-12 version, the 2010 760Li, which receives the same platform updates as the redesigned 750i but features a new V-12 engine that pairs with a new eight-speed automatic transmission. Pricing information hasn't been released, but expect its starting price to be somewhere near the outgoing 760Li's $124,100 base price. It hits dealerships this fall.

Like the V-8 in the 750i and 750Li, the 6.0-liter V-12 in the 760Li features twin turbochargers. The V-12's preliminary specifications are 544 hp and 553 pounds-feet of torque, and BMW says the car can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in less than 4.5 seconds, which is more than a half-second quicker than the 750Li. Gas mileage estimates haven't been released yet. The sedan is also equipped with a self-leveling rear suspension.

V-12 sedans are only offered in long-wheelbase Li form, which adds 5.5 inches to the sedan's wheelbase for more backseat room. Subtle exterior changes distinguish the 760Li from its V-8 sibling, like more slats in the twin-kidney grille, V-12 badges on the front doors and unique exhaust outlets. Interior features include illuminated doorsills, Nappa leather around the instruments, and Alcantara material for the headliner and sun visors.

Having driven the 750i, I can say that the car is plenty quick with its 400-hp V-8. That said, the 760Li is less about improved performance — though that comes with the package — than it is about extravagant transportation. When you're going up against models like the Audi A8 L W12 and Mercedes-Benz S600, it's what you have to do to be competitive.

Cars.com Reviews the 2009 BMW 750

BMW’s redesigned 2009 7 Series hasn’t undergone changes as drastic as those it saw for 2002. Nonetheless, it has some tweaks and updates that are worth noting. Cars.com’s Mike Hanley reviews the 2009 BMW 750i and suggests that with a sticker price in the $80,000 range, the car had better get just about everything right. After all, no matter where you test-drive the 750, a Mercedes-Benz dealer can’t be that far away.

2009 BMW 750 Review