The sum of all parts.
High Precision Injection and Twin Turbo in the BMW 740i.
Two milligrams of petrol - that's how precise the High Precision Injection (HPI) controls the fuel-air mix. The dosage of the fuel injected is precisely ensured by the piezo injectors with only part of the combustion chamber being filled under lower partial loads. Thanks to the Twin Turbo, it is now possible for the straight six-cylinder engine to provide a supreme standard of power and performance previously only conceivable with far larger engines. Engine weight is also much lower, inter alia on account of the all-aluminium crankcase, which naturally benefits the agility of the entire car and offers more power on less fuel.
Fuel consumption / CO2 emissions
Combined fuel consumption: 9.9 to 10.0 l/100 km
Combined CO2 emissions: 232 to 235 g/km
Further information about the official fuel consumption and the official specific CO2 emissions for new passenger automobiles can be obtained from "The Passenger Car (Fuel Consumption and CO2 Emissions Information) Regulations", which are available free of charge at all sales outlets and at DAT Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH, Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern, Germany.
BMW EfficientDynamics.
Extracting maximum driving pleasure from every drop of fuel: this is the aim of BMW EfficientDynamics. With an array of intelligent technologies, BMW is able to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions while simultaneously enhancing your vehicle's dynamic performance.
The array of leading-edge technologies that are part of the BMW EfficientDynamics philosophy are as diverse as they are innovative. From new fuel combustion technologies to lighter construction materials, low-friction components and improved aerodynamics all the way to comprehensive and highly sophisticated energy management. However, the aim of each of these innovations is the same: to deliver maximum driving pleasure from a minimum of fuel.
To achieve this aim, new engines have been developed: petrol engines with lean-burn technology and High Precision Injection . Diesel engines with third-generation common rail injection and light-weight materials that lead to a 20 kg reduction in weight.
The Auto Start Stop function and Brake Energy Regeneration make more of every drop of fuel. Improved aerodynamics - such as the innovative air vent control - together with tyres with reduced rolling resistance and a range of efficiency-enhancing modifications to the drivetrain all lead to the same result: more dynamic performance from less fuel.
How effective are these innovations? The figures speak for themselves: for every 100 km, the new BMW 120i (five-door) consumes one litre of fuel less than its predecessor, yet it can sprint from zero to 100 km/h one second faster.
Auto Start Stop function.
A clever way to save fuel: the Auto Start Stop function turns off the engine each time the vehicle comes to a complete halt - such as at traffic lights - and restarts it automatically. A reduction in fuel consumption is the result.
The principle is simple: if the engine is not running, it cannot consume fuel. The Auto Start Stop function turns off the engine whenever it is not needed. In a traffic jam or in stop-and-go traffic, simply putting your BMW into neutral and taking your foot from the clutch will activate the function. "Start Stop" on the Info Display signals that the engine has been turned off.
To set off again, just put your BMW back into gear: the moment you depress the clutch, the engine immediately springs back to life and you can drive on without a moment's delay.
Driving comfort and driving safety are not affected by the Auto Start Stop function. The function is not activated, for example, until the engine has reached the ideal running temperature. The same applies if the air conditioner has not yet brought the cabin to the desired temperature, if the battery is not adequately charged or if the driver moves the steering wheel.
The Auto Start Stop function is coordinated by a central control unit that monitors data from all relevant sensors, the starter motor and the alternator. If necessary for comfort or safety, the control unit will automatically restart the engine: for example, if the vehicle begins to roll, the battery charge falls too low or condensation forms on the windscreen.
Furthermore, the system also recognises the difference between a temporary stop and the end of the trip. It will not restart the engine if driver's seatbelt is undone, or if the door or bonnet is open. If desired, the Auto Start Stop function can be completely deactivated with the press of a button.
When used consistently, the Auto Start Stop function delivers significant reductions in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
Brake Energy Regeneration.
Make use of every Watt: by charging the battery only when your BMW is braking, coasting or decelerating, Brake Energy Regeneration improves fuel efficiency by up to three percent and ensures that the full power of your engine is available for acceleration.
Today's vehicles require much more electrical energy than older models, due to the much wider array of electric and electronic on-board comfort and safety systems. This energy is created by the generator (also known as the alternator) which converts the engine's power output into electricity. In conventional systems, the generator is permanently driven by a belt connected to the engine.
BMW's Brake Energy Regeneration operates differently: the generator is activated only when you take your foot from the accelerator or apply the brake. The kinetic energy that would otherwise go to waste is now used efficiently, converted into electricity by the generator and stored in the battery.
Producing electricity in this highly efficient way delivers an additional advantage: when you apply the accelerator, the generator is deactivated - so the full power of the engine can be directed to the drive wheels. Brake Energy Efficiency thus increases fuel efficiency while simultaneously enhancing driving dynamics. As a safety precaution, the Brake Energy Regeneration system monitors the level of battery charge and will, if necessary, continue to charge the battery even during acceleration to prevent a complete discharging of the battery.
High Precision Injection.
High Precision Injection, the innovative petrol direct injection system from BMW, makes the combustion process more efficient. The engine delivers greater performance and a significant reduction in fuel consumption.
High Precision Injection is part of BMW EfficientDynamics, BMW's package of innovations that unite dynamic performance and fuel efficiency.
The core element of High Precision Injection technology is the piezo injector positioned between the valves and the spark plug. Inside the injector are multiple layers of piezo crystals which expand instantly when electricity is passed through them.
This forces a dose of the fuel/air mix out the injector needle and through the outlet (which is no wider than a human hair) and into the combustion chamber under a pressure of 200 bar. The cone-shaped cloud, the size of a thumb nail, is precisely injected onto the spark and combusts with an excess of oxygen. In contrast to conventional injection systems, BMW's High Precision Injection requires very little fuel and eliminates the waste caused by unburned fuel being sprayed on the walls of the combustion chamber.
Thanks to the piezo injectors, fuel can injected in just 0.14 milliseconds, making it possible to introduce multiple injections of fuel within one single combustion process. The high-performance, flexible electronic control system adjusts the timing and dose of the injected fuel according to the engine power demand, operating temperature and cylinder pressure. This ensures that combustion is precisely controlled, extremely clean and outstandingly efficient combustion - in every driving situation.
Diesel engines.
The small letter "d" in the BMW model names stands for a difference with big results: every BMW diesel engine - whether four-, six- or eight-cylinder - delivers refined power and superb fuel efficiency.
The diesel engine transforms the chemical energy contained in the highly combustible fuel, diesel, into mechanical energy, and it does so with excellent efficiency and low emissions. It offers the advantages of lower fuel consumption, generous torque at low engine speeds and a very long service life, especially when used for multiple short trips.
BMW diesel engines combine the BMW characteristics of dynamic performance and sporting agility with excellent smoothness and refined engine acoustics. The four-cylinder diesel in the BMW 5 Series Sedan 520d, for example, produces a powerful 130 kW (177 hp) and 350 Nm of torque, while still offering exceptional fuel economy - just 5.1 litres for 100 km combined driving on average. Thanks to common rail injection technology, its power development is smooth and refined.
As the top diesel model in the BMW 5 Series, the BMW 535d possesses a six-cylinder diesel powerplant that produces a mighty 210 kW (286 hp), making it the most powerful diesel engine in its class. Immediately after leaving idle, the engine's Variable Twin Turbo technology can effortlessly propel the BMW 5 Series to its electronically-controlled top speed of 250 km/h.
Fuel consumption / CO2 emissions
Combined fuel consumption: 5.1 to 9.0 l/100 km
Combined CO2 emissions: 136 to 239 g/km
Further information about the official fuel consumption and the official specific CO2 emissions for new passenger automobiles can be obtained from the "The Passenger Car (Fuel Consumption and CO2 Emissions Information) Regulations", which are available free of charge at all sales outlets and from this address: DAT Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH, Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern, Germany.
Info Display.
Everything you need to know about your vehicle and your trip is clearly presented on the Info Display.
The Info Display meets all regulatory requirements, presents information in a way that is clear and easy to understand, and actively supports the driver by dynamically providing relevant, timely information.
Every detail of its design is oriented to the needs of the driver.
The brightness of the display adjusts itself automatically to suit the ambient light conditions. The speedometer and rev counter are both presented as an analogue needle on a dial - because this can be read faster and more intuitively than a numeric display.
For other elements, the Info Display uses a high-quality light emitting diode (LED) and warning lights. Your cruising speed and distance settings for Active Cruise Control (ACC) are displayed within the speedometer. The fuel gauge also provides information about the range remaining from the current fuel level, and the navigation system's directions and traffic reports appear within the rev counter.
Warning and control lights provide the driver with an overview of the functioning of the on-board systems and the selected gear.
Active Cruise Control.
Driving on busy highways and freeways is more relaxing with Active Cruise Control. It maintains the desired speed when possible, while also keeping a pre-defined distance to any vehicles in the lane ahead.
Radar sensors at the front of the vehicle permanently scan the road ahead. As your BMW approaches a slower vehicle, Active Cruise Control automatically reduces power output from the engine and gently applies the brakes, holding your BMW at a pre-defined distance to the vehicle ahead.
This distance is set as a number of seconds, not of metres, so that a safe reaction time is always available, relative to the current speed. When the lane ahead becomes clear, Active Cruise Control automatically increases your vehicle's speed to your preferred cruising speed. Up to four different cruising speeds can be pre-programmed. A touch on the accelerator or brake pedal deactivates the system.
On curves, Active Cruise Control uses data from the DSC and navigation systems to calculate whether the cruise speed needs to be adjusted, and to determine whether vehicles in the radar's field are in the same or a neighbouring lane.
The high-performance radar sensor is heated in cold weather, ensuring year-round operation. Active Cruise Control is functional at speeds above 30 km/h and below 180 km/h. The system is not intended to serve as an autopilot: outside these speeds, and if sudden deceleration is required, the driver is alerted by a warning sound and visual message.