The 2011 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 is a hybrid car that bears little resemblance to a Toyota Prius or other similar hybrids. When you initially think of hybrid, you think fuel efficiency, but the BMW hybrid is nowhere near as efficient as most hybrids. When compared to other 7-series models, the 2011 ActiveHybrid 7 will save more on fuel but it doesn't move well in stop and go traffic and the idle stop feature shuts off the power steering. It is a tech powerhouse, and the hybrid platform adds power and fuel efficiency but also adds quirks to your driving everyday.
The extra power that is supplied by a hybrid system is normally used by most automakers to have a smaller gasoline engine, but not BMW. Even though the common hybrid uses the energy generated by the electric motor to cut down fuel consumption, BMW uses it to make the car move faster. The 2011 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 has a double turbo direct-injection 4.4-liter V-8 engine which is the same as the standard BMW 750i The only difference is definitely the electric motor that's powered from the 120-volt lithium ion battery pack. This makes the gasoline economy of the ActiveHybrid 7 superior to the 750i, and with a lot more horsepower as well.
The ActiveHybrid 7 should only be regarded as a mild hybrid system since the car is not able to drive completely under electric power. It is similar to the Integrated Motor Assist System of the Honda, where it creates boost when it is quickening, and when it stops it lets the engine power down. If you happen to be in the driver's seat, you simply won't even know that you are in a hybrid, but it has a blue area in the fuel gauge, which shows when the car is having electricity regenerated by its momentum. When you arrive at a stoplight, you will know it is a hybrid because the engine will go quiet and the tachometer drops to zero. When you take the foot from the brake, the engine comes back on effortlessly which is impressive considering the size of the engine.
When you are parked at a traffic light that is really long, that is when the idle stop system is useful, but not quite as well in stop-and-go traffic. It is useful to have the engine shut down as you sit there stopped, however it becomes a nuisance when it shuts down for 5 seconds at a time, and this takes some getting used to. It also takes getting used to the level of power, because the vehicle lunges ahead with the slightest touch of the accelerator. The way the car is created, it is not a green car but a car that uses the hybrid system to add more power while improving fuel efficiency somewhat.
Gasoline efficiency is pretty relative comparing it to other hybrids where it is more efficient than other BMW 7 series models but it get 20 miles per gallon. While that is ideal for a luxury sport vehicle that isn't all that much for a hybrid.
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