Meet the new BMW 7-series

 

BMW’s flagship 740i and 750i sedans go high-tech with carbon fiber, infotainment; plug-in hybrid comes next

   The new-for-2016 BMW 7-series has arrived, and the company says its flagship luxury sedan, now in its sixth generation, sets benchmarks for weight savings, driving dynamics, comfort, intelligent connectivity and intuitive operation.

   Indeed, the changes are many: Carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) is used in the passenger cell, and the car boasts high-tech gizmos such as gesture control, wireless charging and an active kidney grille.

   The new 7 is 206.6 inches long; BMW says it’s the roomiest sedan it has ever created. 

 

   The exterior looks much like the outgoing model, but, according to BMW, the changes are many. For starters, the car is a bit curvier, and that active grille only opens when under-hood and/or brake temps heat up. BMW says this helps aero and makes the front end look better coupled with the wider low air intake. The headlamps now extend up as far as the grille, the hood is more sculpted and tail lamps are LED.

 

   Like the exterior, the new interior design is more evolution than revolution. It has a configurable instrument cluster, altering the graphics and color scheme depending on drive mode. Major buttons and knobs are now chrome, and there’s a choice of aluminum or wood trim.

   The iDrive system can now be controlled via a touchscreen or by using voice activation for the navigation system. Gesture control also arrives, using 3-D sensors to take hand movements in the center console’s vicinity and turn them into commands. You can adjust the stereo volume and accept or reject phone calls with a turn, point or wave, respectively.

   Reclining rear seats are an option (hello, China), and rear-seat passengers can also get a removable tablet -- it controls things such as seat adjustment, interior lighting and air conditioning, as well as infotainment and nav. The tablet can also play music and videos, and you can use it to surf the net.

   The optional Bowers & Wilkins Diamond surround-sound system features a 10-channel amp with an output of 1,400 watts and 16 separate speakers, including Kevlar-cone midrange drivers.

   

   Architecture changes result in a 7-series that’s nearly 200 pounds lighter thanks to the carbon passenger cell reinforcements and extensive aluminum use (the doors and trunk lid are aluminum, for example). BMW says the cell is derived from its i-series and that the 7 is the first production car to bond carbon fiber with steel and aluminum.

   The U.S. market will get only long-wheelbase 740i and 750i xDrive models. A 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 producing 445 hp and 480 lb-ft powers the 750i xDrive, while the 740i uses a 320-hp, 3.0-liter turbocharged straight six. Both engines are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. In a twist, the trans links to the nav system, so gear selection is adapted to the driving situation and route, adjusting shifting characteristics accordingly.

 

   A plug-in hybrid 7-series comes next year with a 2.0-liter turbo under hood mated to an electric motor. A lithium-ion battery is stowed under the back seat, chargeable via a wall socket, BMW’s i Wallbox or a public charging station. The eDrive button on the center console allows the driver to adjust the hybrid drive’s operation mode: In auto, the electric drive gooses engine power, while in MAX eDrive the car runs on electricity up to 75 mph for a maximum of 23 miles. 

 

   The new 2016 BMW 7 series has air suspension combined with a double wishbone front and five-link rear. BMW promises the self-leveling suspension makes the new 7’s ride/handling mix superb, and thanks to an early prototype drive we can confirm it’s both luxurious and capable. The body’s height can be adjusted manually, if you wish -- one can raise or lower it almost an inch while sport mode automatically lowers the car almost half an inch. There are also comfort and comfort-plus modes. An active chassis control BMW calls Active Comfort Drive with Road Preview is optional and links with the nav system to read the road ahead and adjust the suspension accordingly.

   An M Sport package adds an aero kit and lighter wheels (19- or 20-inch). 

 

   There’s tons of other equipment, including a new version of the optional parking assist (it maneuvers into both parallel and perpendicular parking spots and can pull the car into/out of a space remotely); rear cross-traffic warning; frontal-collision warning; pedestrian warning; active blind-spot detection; lane-departure warning; and so on.

   The new BMW 7-series arrives this fall, priced from $81,300 to $97,400.