February 20, 2012

The 2011 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 Can't Be Compared To The Toyota Prius

We know very well that you have heard about AFRICAN DISTRIBUTORS because it is talked about so much all over the place. It is tough to say with certainty how many people understand its importance, today. While we cannot be sure about you, we do tend to think you will discover this on your own. As you know, this is a broad topic of discussion, and that is why it will be helpful for you to think in broad terms.

Just like many other subjects, a few details might seem to not apply to you - but the majority or maybe all of it will.

The new 2011 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 is actually a hybrid automobile that bears little resemblance to a Toyota Prius or other similar hybrids. Gas efficiency is the thing that you think of when you think hybrid nevertheless the BMW hybrid is not that fuel efficient. Even though the 2011 ActiveHybrid 7 is going to save on fuel compared to its other 7-series siblings, its ride in stop and go traffic is iffy and the power steering gets turned off in idle stop. It really is a tech powerhouse, and the hybrid system adds power and fuel efficiency but also adds quirks to your driving everyday.

The added power that is furnished by a hybrid system is normally used by most automakers to have a smaller gasoline engine, but not BMW. BMW chose to use the extra power generated by the electric motor to make the car go even faster instead of using it to reduce fuel consumption. Like the standard BMW 750i, the 2011 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 has a twin turbo direct-injection 4.4-liter V-8 engine. Unlike the BMW 750i, the ActiveHybrid 7 features a 120-volt lithium ion battery supply. The hybrid will give you much better fuel consumption than the regular 750i but provide even more horsepower.

The ActiveHybrid 7 should simply be considered as a mild hybrid system since the car is not able to drive completely under electric power. It is just like the Integrated Motor Assist System of the Honda where the engine is going to shut down at stops and will add boost during acceleration. While driving, you will have no idea that it is a hybrid aside from when you see a blue are in the fuel monitor to show that electricity is being regenerated. When you come to a stoplight, you will know it really is a hybrid because the engine will go quiet and the tachometer drops to zero. When you take the foot off of the brake, the engine comes back on effortlessly which is impressive considering the size of the engine.

The idle stop system is pretty impressive when you are at a traffic light but it can't be the same when you are stuck in stop-and-go traffic. For unkown reasons, the car will power down for 5 seconds at a time even in stop-and-go traffic. The amount of performance is impressive but it does take some getting used to given that the car will lunge forward even with a light touch on the accelerator. It does not appear to be a very eco-friendly car but the purpose of this hybrid is to add power more than improve fuel efficiency.

Fuel performance is pretty relative when comparing it to other hybrids where it is more efficient than other BMW 7 series models but it get 20 miles per gallon. Although that is wonderful for a luxury sport vehicle that is not all that much for a hybrid.