xDrive iPerformance 4dr All-Wheel Drive Sedan
2018 BMW 740e
The 2018 BMW 740e xDrive iPerformance is the plug-in hybrid variant of BMW's flagship sedan. Rather than using an inline-six, V8 or V12 like past 7 Series, the 740e mates a potent turbocharged inline-four with an electric motor. Thanks to a 9.2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, the 740e is capable of running on pure electricity for about 14 miles. Performance doesn't suffer that much, so the car is capable of hitting 60 mph in 5.1 seconds on its way to a top speed of 155 mph. As a lot of cars are proving these days, green doesn't mean slow. This test car (actually two, we drove the 740e in both Detroit and Seattle), was fairly light on options. The $400 cold weather package added heated seats both front and rear as well as a heated steering wheel. We also had the $1,700 driving assistance package, the $700 parking assistance package and the $900 panoramic sky LED roof. All in, the car stickered for about $100,000. Managing Editor Greg Rasa: The big BMW arrived on the same day as houseguests, so we did what we always do with visitors — took them to see the Bothell crows. One of the nation's largest colonies of Corvidae, they call the University of Washington-Bothell home and have inspired UW research and several books. Each evening, 16,000 birds return to campus from across the Seattle area. They socialize noisily at dusk and then, on some mysterious signal, roost and fall silent. One key detail, noted over many visits: Though thousands of crows caw and whirl overhead, there's never any poop. The campus grounds are spotless. The birds must not want to foul their home. But on this night, in a wide-open, empty parking lot, one crow singled out the BMW, adding a galaxy of goo to the Panoramic Sky Lounge moonroof's starry firmament of LED lights. Crows are tricksters. Did the bomber identify the car as a $100,000 BMW? Was this a bird joke? Or an editorial comment? Inside the 740e, things were much more serene. It has acres of legroom for chauffeuring passengers around in a large lap of luxury. This car is more than 17 feet long and weighs 4,740 pounds, but it doesn't look big — maybe it just seems small behind its enormous kidney grille. And it doesn't drive big. The ride is quiet and luxurious, though Sport mode firms things up considerably. Its turbo 2.0-liter four and electric motor combine for 322 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The 9.2 kWh lithium-ion battery will take a charge in under three hours when plugged in. It can also be charged directly from the engine. Pure EV range is 13-14 miles, and because the EV mode names are confusing, a trip in "Battery Control" quickly drained the reserve. "Auto eDrive" and "Max eDrive" provide a balance of propulsion systems. The battery robs trunk space, leaving a two-tier arrangement that is still enough for a few suitcases. And the gas tank shrinks from …
Full Review
The 2018 BMW 740e xDrive iPerformance is the plug-in hybrid variant of BMW's flagship sedan. Rather than using an inline-six, V8 or V12 like past 7 Series, the 740e mates a potent turbocharged inline-four with an electric motor. Thanks to a 9.2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, the 740e is capable of running on pure electricity for about 14 miles. Performance doesn't suffer that much, so the car is capable of hitting 60 mph in 5.1 seconds on its way to a top speed of 155 mph. As a lot of cars are proving these days, green doesn't mean slow. This test car (actually two, we drove the 740e in both Detroit and Seattle), was fairly light on options. The $400 cold weather package added heated seats both front and rear as well as a heated steering wheel. We also had the $1,700 driving assistance package, the $700 parking assistance package and the $900 panoramic sky LED roof. All in, the car stickered for about $100,000. Managing Editor Greg Rasa: The big BMW arrived on the same day as houseguests, so we did what we always do with visitors — took them to see the Bothell crows. One of the nation's largest colonies of Corvidae, they call the University of Washington-Bothell home and have inspired UW research and several books. Each evening, 16,000 birds return to campus from across the Seattle area. They socialize noisily at dusk and then, on some mysterious signal, roost and fall silent. One key detail, noted over many visits: Though thousands of crows caw and whirl overhead, there's never any poop. The campus grounds are spotless. The birds must not want to foul their home. But on this night, in a wide-open, empty parking lot, one crow singled out the BMW, adding a galaxy of goo to the Panoramic Sky Lounge moonroof's starry firmament of LED lights. Crows are tricksters. Did the bomber identify the car as a $100,000 BMW? Was this a bird joke? Or an editorial comment? Inside the 740e, things were much more serene. It has acres of legroom for chauffeuring passengers around in a large lap of luxury. This car is more than 17 feet long and weighs 4,740 pounds, but it doesn't look big — maybe it just seems small behind its enormous kidney grille. And it doesn't drive big. The ride is quiet and luxurious, though Sport mode firms things up considerably. Its turbo 2.0-liter four and electric motor combine for 322 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The 9.2 kWh lithium-ion battery will take a charge in under three hours when plugged in. It can also be charged directly from the engine. Pure EV range is 13-14 miles, and because the EV mode names are confusing, a trip in "Battery Control" quickly drained the reserve. "Auto eDrive" and "Max eDrive" provide a balance of propulsion systems. The battery robs trunk space, leaving a two-tier arrangement that is still enough for a few suitcases. And the gas tank shrinks from …
Hide Full Review
Hide Full Review
Retail Price
$90,700
MSRP / Window Sticker Price
| Engine | I-4 |
| MPG | |
| Seating | 5 Passengers |
| Transmission | 8-spd w/OD |
| Power | 255 @ 5000 rpm |
| Drivetrain | all wheel |
Smart Buy Program is powered by 
