By Otsile Kadiege

BMW has lifted the veil off the latest iteration of their luxo-barge – the 7 Series. The new luxury limousine boasts a daring new look, top-shelve technologies and a luxurious cabin fit for a modern king. The new 7 also gets powerful new engines, including an all-electric drivetrain and a raft of new active and passive safety systems including.

Exterior design

The exterior design of the new BMW 7 Series set the internet abuzz with many denouncing the polarizing look of the new 7. The main talking-point was its bold-looking front-end which boasts a large kidney grille with illuminated grille surrounds and flanked by split Crystal headlights with BMW’s optional Iconic Glow feature. As standard, the new 7 Series is fitted with Adaptive LED headlights including cornering lights, plus Matrix high beam and BMW Selective non-dazzling high beam assistant. Upfront the all-electric i7 sets itself apart from the rest of the range with a minimalist bumper with blue rings on the BMW logo and blue accents on the lower section of the bumper. The M Sport and M Performance derivatives feature black accents on the front bumper and air curtains.

Its side profile design is uncluttered thanks to minimal use of sharp body creases. New to the 7 Series are flush door handles with optional automatically closing and opening doors, as well as BMW’s signature Hoffmeister Knik that’s now detached from the rear doors. As standard, the new 7 Series is fitted with 19-inch alloys. Customers can opt for larger alloys up to 21-inches.

Its rear-end is less controversial thanks to slim LED taillights with patterned effects. The all-electric i7 gets chrome detailing with blue accents. Again the M Sport versions get black detailing with a rear diffuser. The high-performance derivatives add quad exhaust tips. The length has been increased by 130mm, width by 48mm and height by 51mm. Its wheelbase has been increased to 3215mm. It will be available in one non-metallic colour and nine metallic colours. For those who want a touch of exclusivity, a two-tone paint will be available at cost.

Interior design and technology

Like the exterior design, the interior of the new 7 Series has been extensively redesigned and now features ground-breaking technologies. New to the latest 7 Series are newly designed flat-bottom multifunction steering wheels, a large curved display running on BMW’s latest iDrive 8 infotainment system with exclusive My Modes Expressive, Relax, Theatre Mode, Digital Art Mode features and YouTube streaming capability. The system also features 5G mobile technology and Personal eSIM and wireless Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. It also gets a new gear selector and a crystal rotary dial for the infotainment control.

Newly developed multi-contour seats are standard in the new 7-Series. They are said to offer wider seat surfaces than the outgoing model, as well as extensive electric adjustment, seat heating and lumbar support for the driver and front passenger. Multifunction rear seats are standard on the i7 xDrive60, optional on the other models, while active seat ventilation and a massage function for the rear seats may be specified on every new 7-Series. Here, the seats are adjusted from the digital touch-control panels integrated into the door trim.

The Executive Lounge option includes a reclining function with integrated leg rest for the space behind the front passenger seat, plus an optionally quilted and heated armrest with high-quality glass insert and integrated smartphone tray for inductive charging. Standard equipment for the new BMW 7-Series includes four-zone automatic climate control with further developed control logic. The Panoramic Sky Lounge LED roof is standard on the new BMW 7-Series.

One of the highlights of the options available for the new BMW 7-Series is the BMW Theater Screen with built-in Amazon Fire TV. This system includes a 31.3-inch 8K touchscreen display with Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound system with optional in-seat bass drivers, built-in touch screen remotes in the door panels (BMW Touch Command), and an automated rear shade system that closes when the BMW Theater Screen is turned on.

Performance

Powering the new BMW 7 Series is a range of newly developed petrol engines with 48V mild-hybrid technology and an all-electric powertrain. However, the local line-up will consist of the i7 xDrive60 and the 740i derivatives. The former is powered by BMW’s fifth-generation eDrive technology which comprises of highly integrated drive units at the front and rear axles. Its total system output is 400kW/745Nm. Power is fed to all wheels via BMW’s xDrive AWD system and 0 to 100km/h takes 4.7 seconds, and its top speed is electronically limited to 240km/h.

The electric motors source their energy from a 101.7 kWh battery pack. According to the WLTP, the i7 has an estimated electric driving range between 590 – 625km. Charging the i7 with a standard 11 kW AC wallbox takes 9.5 hours to charge from 10 to 100% whilst the 195 kW DC fast charger takes 34 minutes to charge from 10 to 80%. The claimed electric power consumption is rated at 19.6 – 18.4kWh (WLTP).

The 740i is powered by a 3.0-litre straight-six engine with 48V mild-hybrid technology. It delivers 280kW/540Nm and the electric motor adds an additional 13kW/200Nm. The rear-wheel drive model takes 5.4 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100km/h and has a top speed of 250km/h. It has a combined fuel consumption of 8.0 – 7.0-litres/100km (WLTP).

Safety

As standard, the BMW 7 Series range is equipped with DSC including ABS, ASC, DTC (Dynamic Traction Control), ARB technology, CBC (Cornering Brake Control), DBC (Dynamic Brake Control) active roll stabilisation, airbags for driver and front passenger, side airbags upfront, head airbags for front and rear seats, three-point inertia-reel seatbelts on all seats with belt stopper, crash sensors, and tyre pressure indicator to name a few.

The newcomer is also equipped with a host of driver assistance systems like the new Highway Assistant, the enhanced Parking Assistant Professional and level 3 autonomous driving to list a few.

Availability

Like its predecessor the new BMW 7 Series will be built at the automaker’s Dingolfing plant and its global market launch will start in November 2022.