VIDEO: G12 BMW 740Le shown in full before launch

The G12 BMW 740Le iPerformance has yet to have been launched in Malaysia, and already we’ve been given a look at what the plug-in hybrid luxury sedan will come with, thanks to a video posted by Louis Siah.

From the looks of it, the car will come with all the bells and whistles of the current range-topping 740Li, including Laserlight headlights, 19-inch five split-spoke alloy wheels and the Pure Excellence exterior design package that adds chrome trim on the front air intake and rear tailpipe surrounds. Distinguishing the hybrid from the petrol variants is the charging port on the left front fender, along with eDrive and i badging.

Unlike in other markets, we won’t get the iPerformance-specific blue highlights on the outside, following a trend set by the 330e and X5 xDrive40e sold here. If you squint, you can also just about make out the radar sensor under the front number plate and the stereo cameras at the top of the windscreen, which mark the presence of the Driving Assistant Plus package.

This adds Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go, steering and lane control assist, and lane keeping assistant with active side collision protection for semi-autonomous driving, plus front and rear cross traffic assist. These go on top of the basic Driving Assistant features, including autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, rear collision prevention, lane change and lane departure warning and rear cross traffic warning.

Peeking inside, one can spot the seat quilting that comes with the Nappa leather upholstery; the seats themselves are full Comfort items front and rear with extra adjustment, lumbar support and massage functions. There are also two 10-inch rear entertainment screens, four-zone auto climate control, 360-degree Surround View and a slot between the rear seats for the BMW Touch Command tablet (not seen here).

Expect our 740Le to get the rest of the 740Li’s kit list, including full air suspension, soft-close doors, a head-up display, a touchscreen-equipped BMW Display Key, a Professional navigation system with a 10.25-inch iDrive display, Gesture Control and a 16-speaker, 600W Harman Kardon sound system. BMW Malaysia has already teased the inclusion of the Sky Lounge LED-lit panoramic roof.

As with the 330e, the 740Le is powered by a 2.0 litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, but has been uprated to 258 hp and 400 Nm of torque – the same as the 730Li. Allied to the petrol mill is a 113 hp/250 Nm electric motor integrated into the ZF eight-speed automatic transmission, as well as a 9.2 kWh lithium-ion battery, putting total system output at 326 hp and 500 Nm.

Important figures include a zero to 100 km/h sprint time of 5.7 seconds, combined fuel consumption of 2.3 litres per 100 km and combined carbon dioxide emissions of 53 grams per kilometre. With the battery under the rear seats, boot space is down from 515 litres to 420 litres.

With most of the Malaysian-spec G12 BMW 740Le iPerformance now a known quantity, the only question now is price – BMW Malaysia has already confirmed that it will assemble the 7 Series for export markets such as Vietnam and the Philippines, so a CKD offering for the local market is a definite possibility.

If so, the car will almost certainly come with full tax breaks afforded under the Energy Efficient Vehicle (EEV) scheme. That should put it within the ballpark of the Mercedes-Benz S 400 h, which retails at RM598,888 on-the-road without insurance.

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Jonathan Lee

After trying to pursue a career in product design, Jonathan Lee decided to make the sideways jump into the world of car journalism instead. He therefore appreciates the aesthetic appeal of a car, but for him, the driving experience is still second to none.

 

Comments

  • Perdana copycat

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 27
    • Only real fools would buy this over the new Perdana. Our Perdana is 1000x better than this BMW.

      Why pay RM600k when you can get a better car like Perdana for RM120k?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 32
      • Auto bavarian service.......OMG on Apr 17, 2017 at 11:06 pm

        Good in doing sales, service is lousy. Service advisor always break the promise , promise to follow up or call back, but, most of the time we got to chase them to feedback.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 1
    • let us support our Perdana. Belilah barang buatan Malaysia…oh wai!

      bodoh betul support kereta Jerman!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 22
      • Mikey on Apr 17, 2017 at 6:51 pm

        Sekejap sepot BMW sekejap sepot Perdana/Accord. john dah kelam kabut ke ?! Hehehe.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 0
        • Jangan merepek. Mana saya sapot BMW?

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
          • Mikey on Apr 18, 2017 at 10:01 am

            Yg hang kata/sapot MRT ride like a BMW itu apa ?!

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
          • tarakbaca on Apr 18, 2017 at 11:53 am

            Read back “kereta jerman” is not “MRT jerman”!

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
          • Zaff1964 on Apr 18, 2017 at 3:34 pm

            BMW dibawah SIME DARBY. Ayah sapott GLC..

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
        • 4damacai on Apr 17, 2017 at 10:14 pm

          Got many johns here

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 2
          • Mikey on Apr 18, 2017 at 10:39 am

            The No1 john have a specific DNA. He always use Oh Wai, Hate Sushi/Jepunis especially Toyota, support MRT(BMW), P1 supporter but use Bezza as his defense, Tax the rich, deswai(that’s why), gib(give) & not enough space 2 list here.

            Most importantly support our Gov through & through & he called himself “Patriotic”.

            In short, he hates anything & everything good. If U read enough here, U will know/understand more.

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 3
      • Betui…

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
  • RV of current 730li and 740li gonna drop so badly. Overnight maybe RM200k wiped off.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 5
  • BMW MY to Loyal Customers = Screw You on Apr 17, 2017 at 6:31 pm

    They really do not care for their loyal customers and early adopters. Doing this to their early X5 user base, and now to their early 7 series user base.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 1
  • Mikey on Apr 17, 2017 at 6:36 pm

    After all has been said/show/done(740le vs S-400h), the S-class will still outsell the 7 series. Some say bcos of the number of cylinders that make the difference but i say the S-class is still the benchmark every car manufacturer will NEED to emulate. Hands down.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 6
  • Leafable on Apr 17, 2017 at 6:58 pm

    Guestamation of RM450k?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 3
  • Jimmy on Apr 17, 2017 at 10:35 pm

    Exciting for those who are salivating for her, mostly those who can’t afford.

    I hope one day, you will find Rolex not interesting to you anymore; you want something even more prestigeous/exciting. Best wishes.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 2
  • TheDean on Apr 18, 2017 at 7:57 am

    Am a big bmw design fan, but this iteration of the 7 is very bland. Same front as the others, and the wide chrome tailpipe fitting looks like a MacDonalds’ happy meal stick-on piece.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 3
  • Gaviny on Apr 18, 2017 at 12:42 pm

    Brand new 1.2 million , year 2 – 800 k, year 3 – 450 k, year 4 – 320 k , year 5 – 120 k, year 6 – 80 k,

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • it is Xdrive = 4 wheel drive

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • Louis Siah on Apr 20, 2017 at 9:40 pm

      Ya. And if you read it on the day the author posted this article, i was said to be misleading people with my video title that it is in fact a xDrive variant. Wuwu sad. But i know my info was 100% right and they eventually removed that paragraph that said my title was misleading.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • sick&tired on Apr 18, 2017 at 4:32 pm

    why not msport!!!???

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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