The new plug-in-hybrid version of BMW’s 7 Series flagship will cost from £68,330 OTR.

That’s for the 740e, while the 740 xDrive starts at £74,880 OTR. Described as a true flagship, the 7 Series blends ‘comfort, style, dynamic ability and cutting edge technology in equal measure’, according to the German brand. To complete the range, BMW has borrowed technology from the BMW i sub-brand to follow in the footsteps of the BMW X5 eDrive40e, BMW 225xe and the BMW 330e to create the new BMW 740e and 740Le xDrive.

Both models sit within the brand's iPerformance range and benefit from BMW eDrive and the Carbon Core body structure with which are rooted in ‘know-how’ from the company's 'i' division. The interaction between the combustion engine and the electric drive, which together generate a total system output of 326hp, endows the BMW 740e and 740 xDrive with strong acceleration while also realising a ‘substantial reduction’ in fuel consumption and emissions. The immediate response of the accelerator and sustained delivery of dynamic power allows the 740e to accelerate from zero to 62mph in 5.4 seconds and the BMW 740Le xDrive to complete the same sprint in 5.3 seconds. The 740e records a combined fuel consumption of 134.5mpg whilst the 740Le xDrive achieves 117.7mpg. The CO2 emissions associated with petrol consumption are 49g/km and 54g/km respectively while an all-electric, emission-free driving range comes in at 29 miles.

The electric motor is fully integrated into the eight-speed Steptronic transmission. This ensures that during pure-electric driving, the dynamics-enhancing electric boost function and the recuperation of braking energy are able to operate efficiently.

The high-voltage lithium-ion battery is stored underneath the rear seat bench in a space-saving position that also provides optimum crash safety. In line with the BMW 7 Series models, the BMW 740e and BMW 740Le xDrive features a boot capacity of 420 litres.

Bespoke design touches on the exterior identify the plug-in-hybrid, most noticeably the charging connection for the battery located in the left front wing. In addition to this, “eDrive” badges can be seen on the C-pillars, there are BMW i Blue elements within the kidney grille and the BMW i logo is featured on the front side panels.

Standard spec for the 740e / 40Le xDrive includes LED headlights, the BMW Display Key, the ConnectedDrive navigation package, smartphone integration with an inductive charging facility for the phone battery, and an iDrive operating system expanded to include a touchscreen function for the Control Display with gesture control feature.

Both the BMW 740e and 740 xDrive are on sale now.