BMW gives 7 Series 300kW quad-turbo diesel

BMW has introduced a new range-topping diesel for its 7 Series limousine.

The new 3.0-litre inline six generates its mighty 294kW/760Nm thanks to four turbocharges and common-rail direct-injection that can inject fuel into the combustion chamber at up to 2500bar of pressure.

To cope with the muscular torque peak that’s delivered from just 2000rpm (450Nm comes on line at just 1000rpm), the new diesel is combined with BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive system.

The added traction benefit of AWD, BMW claims, allows the powerful 750d xDrive to sprint to 100km/h in just 4.6 seconds. Top speed, meanwhile, is limited to 250km/h.

Despite producing a healthy 14kW/20Nm more than the old tri-turbo 3.0-litre it replaces in the 7 Series range, the new engine is also said to be 11 per cent more efficient with fuel consumption dropping to just 5.7lL100km and CO2 emissions of just 149g/km.

It’s been rumoured that new quad-turbo 3.0-litre could, in the future, produce well in excess of 350kW but currently the ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic is right at the limit for the amount of torque it can handle.

As well as the powerful new diesel, BMW has also released details of its new plug-in hybrid 7 Series.

Called the 740e iPerformance, the new plug-in hybrid is available with either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.

Powered by a 240kW 2.0-litre diesel assisted by an electric motor, the new plug-in hybrid limousine is claimed to cover up to 48km on pure-electric power alone and average just 2.1L/100km while emitting just 45g/km of CO2.

Despite its small thirst, BMW claims the all-wheel drive 740Le xDrive iPerformance can hit 100km/h in just 5.3 seconds. Without all-wheel drive, the 740e short-wheelbase takes a still-rapid 5.5 seconds to reach the 100km/h benchmark.

In Europe both new variants of the luxurious 7 Series are available to order now, but neither model is confirmed for Australia yet. Currently the 7 Series plug-in is being evaluated for Australian import, but if it does come here the German car-maker say it will only import 15-20 cars.