Feb 21 2012: The 2011 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 Vs . The Toyota Prius: They're Not The Same
You can find so many conversations about http://www.parts4euro.com on the web; we know because we have been in enough of them. While that is all happening, maybe people are becoming more aware of what is going on and why it matters so much.
Our experience has been along those same lines, and learning more about the little things has helped us. This article was produced from the perspective of looking at the overall which should at least touch on some of your concerns.
It is nearly impossible to cover every possible angle here, and that is why this may be somewhat general like an overview.
Although the 2011 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 is actually a hybrid, you will never mistake it for a Prius. Gasoline 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 will do a good job of combining raw car power with the fuel efficiency of hybrid technology but there are some quirks that get in the way.
Most hybrids possess a smaller gas engine since the car is also being powered by the electric motor but this is not true for the BMW ActiveHybrid 7. BMW made a decision to utilize the extra power generated by the electric motor to make the car go even faster instead of using it to reduce fuel consumption. The 2011 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 has a twin turbo direct-injection 4.4-liter V-8 engine which is the same as the fundamental BMW 750i The only real difference is the introduction of an electric motor than gets its power from a 120-volt lithium ion battery pack. This makes the fuel economy of the ActiveHybrid 7 better than the 750i, and with a lot more horsepower also.
In spite of being a hybrid car, the ActiveHybrid 7 isn't going to drive in pure electric mode in any situation. As a substitute, the system will create some boost during acceleration and the engine will shut down at a stop which is like the Integrated Motor Assist System of the Honda. If 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 is a hybrid because the engine will go quiet and the tachometer drops to zero. Despite the proportions of the engine, the car starts up very smoothly when you take the foot off the brake pedal.
While you're waiting at a traffic light that is really lengthy, that is when the idle stop system is effective, but not quite as well in stop-and-go traffic. The vehicle will have a tendency to shut down for 5 seconds at a time which can end up being irritating after awhile. Additionally, it takes getting used to the degree of power, because the vehicle lunges ahead with the slightest touch of the accelerator. It might sound green calling this vehicle a hybrid, but the added horsepower and not fuel efficiency is what this hybrid system has done.
As soon as you imagine a hybrid, you think of fuel efficiency, and even though the 2011 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 is more efficient that the standard BMW 7-series, it only gets around 20 miles per gallon. Although that is great for a luxury sport vehicle that isn't all that much for a hybrid.
Additional Links:
http://osvaldouykeith.hyves.nl/blog/49173111/A_New_2011_BMW_ActiveHybrid_7_Can_t_Be_Contrasted_To_The_Toyota_Prius/ZJxh/?pageid=53RO3BTZNCGSW8O4O
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