Autocar - First for car news and reviews

What is it?

Conventional logic suggests hybrid systems are best used for their added fuel saving effect. The problem is that they only begin to make financial sense if they are applied to exclusive upper-end luxury models – the likes of which attract well-to-do customers for whom fuel efficiency is typically not an overriding priority.

Why not alter the primary focus to out-and-out performance enhancement, then? That, in essence, is the thinking behind the new BMW Active Hyb...Read the full article

I'm confused!

I thought a 'Mild Hybrid' was a vehicle which used regenerative energy to recharge the battery and turned the engine off when idling, but which ultimately lacked an electric motor?  

Meaning that aren't BMW's existing Efficient Dynamic diesels mild hybrids? (Admittedly BMW does not advertise them as such.)

If the 7-Series Active Hybrid has an electric motor, shouldn't we be calling it a full hybrid? 

Autocar:

Superb driveline, excellent refinement, but awful brake feel

And awful face.

a hybrid is mild when the electric motor cannot propel the car on its own.

To me this is the only arrangement that makes sense. Full hybrids require big expensive electric motors, fancy clutches and big expensive batteries which are a fortune to build and replace. Mild hybrids produce pretty much the same effect on urban fuel consumption with less complexity and weight.

 Bmw done a great job with the new 7 its like a ipod so advance, this hybrid version makes it even more appealing to me. Wonder how much it will cost in 3 years time looks even more attractive

 15bhp for 100kgs ahahahaha!

you can get an extra whole engine of about 1.4 for 100kgs, that would give another 150bhp under turbo pressure, ten times more power that what the electric motor provides.

beachland2:

15bhp for 100kgs ahahahaha!

 this may come as a shock but hybrids are not about more power.

The bonnet alignment where it meets the grille/headlamp unit looks awful......

Amanitin:

this may come as a shock but hybrids are not about more power.

My point of view, which also this article is written to show is that the point of hybrid is for rich people to spend money on it, and they have cash for high fuel prices anyway, rendering the economy factor redundent, thats why its featured in luxury or sports vehicles as a business model. But then the above car doesn't work because even with that in mind, as it could be 100kgs lighter with the same power and potentially better mpg in some situations, ie mostly when being driven properly.

beachland2:

the point of hybrid is for rich people to spend money on it, and they have cash for high fuel prices anyway, rendering the economy factor redundent

Firstly having the money and will to buy luxury cars does not mean being unaware of and insensitive to environment issues. In better parts of the world people do not accumulate wealth by being narrow minded and arrogant.

Secondly in a lot of places hybrids do mean real cost savings even for those who don't care about fuel prices. Not sure about the UK, where I live there is a fee of around 13000£ for a 750 sort of car, and that's before applying VAT. For hybrids there is none.

Amanitin:

Mild hybrids produce pretty much the same effect on urban fuel consumption with less complexity and weight.