The new BMW 7 Series now available in South Africa

BMW is sharpening the profile of its flagship models in the luxury segment. The new edition of the BMW 7 Series makes a clear statement of intent with its confident presence, sophisticated elegance and strikingly innovative control/operation, driver assistance and connectivity technology. The new exterior design of the luxury sedan showcases its prestige and status more vividly than ever. And on the inside, sumptuous leather trim with extended quilting and optimised acoustic comfort, not to mention the digital display grouping of instrument cluster and Control Display, the BMW Operating System 7.0 and the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, set new benchmarks in wellbeing and comfort on the move.

The line-up of power units for the new BMW 7 Series has also been updated and includes a new eight-cylinder engine, a six-cylinder in-line unit and plug-in hybrid systems offering extended electric range. All of the model variants already meet the stipulations of the Euro 6d-Temp emissions standard. And the driver assistance systems now boast a broader range of functionality. The latest advances towards automated driving are highlighted by technology such as the new Reversing Assistant.

Exterior design: more muscular presence and precise elegance.

The new BMW 7 Series will again be offered in two body variants, the longer of which translates its extra 14 centimetres of wheelbase into a similar on-board space gain for the rear-seat passengers. The standard 7 Series (5,120 mm) and its long-wheelbase twin (5,260 mm) are both 22 millimetres longer than their respective predecessors. The new model’s width (1,902 mm) and height (1,467 mm / long-wheelbase version: 1,479 mm) remain unchanged.

The extensive design refresh at the front end – which now rises 50 millimetres taller at its foremost point – plays a particularly prominent role in giving the new BMW 7 Series its more powerful visual presence. The new bonnet has more sharply cut contour lines and a larger BMW roundel. The dominant force of the reworked front end is the BMW kidney grille, with its single-piece surround, whose surface area has grown by some 40 per cent. The grille teams up with the slimmer headlights to create a stylistically appealing contrast and add a new strand to the character of BMW’s luxury-class models. BMW Laserlight with a high-beam range of up to 560 metres can be specified as an alternative to the standard Adaptive LED Headlights.

The outer air intakes in the lower section of the front apron are now overlaid with large air deflectors. These guide the onrushing air efficiently to the brake air ducts and the Air Curtains, which help to minimise turbulence around the wheel arches. These plates – painted in body colour – and the newly designed decorative chrome strips lend the bumper trim a sense of sophisticated elegance, imbuing the car’s nose with additional visual impact.

The Air Breathers, in newly upright form, also exude precision, clarity and solidity. Integrated into the side panels of the refreshed 7 Series, these air outlets now extend much further upwards and their trim strips form a 90-degree angle with the side trim elements, which reach all the way into the rear apron.

The modified rear apron adopts the design language of the air intake trim at the front of the car. The integrated exhaust tailpipes have broader chrome surrounds, while the three-dimensional rear lights of the new BMW 7 Series are around 35 millimetres slimmer than on the outgoing car and cut a sophisticated, precise figure. Their LED light sources are positioned behind red and black surfaces arranged to emphasise their L-shaped contour. Other new features include a sharply defined and very slim light strip (it measures just six millimetres in width) sited below the chrome bar, which extends across the full width of the tailgate and connects the rear lights with one other.

The M Sport package, Design Pure Excellence line and new additions to the selection of exterior paint finishes and light-alloy wheels provide fresh scope for individualisation. Added to which, extended BMW Individual high-gloss Shadow Line is now available as an option in conjunction with the M Sport package.

The interior: luxurious ambience exudes style and sophistication.

Inside the new BMW 7 Series, generous levels of space, choice materials, harmoniously coordinated design details and exclusive workmanship combine to create a luxurious ambience refined in every respect. Exclusive Nappa leather with extended quilting has been added to the options list. The three-dimensional surface structure – encompassing large expanses of the front and rear seat cushions and backrests, the armrests integrated in the door trim and the centre console – gives the interior an expressive feel. New to the range of optional interior trim strips are the fine wood variants American Oak Dark with metal inlay and Poplar Grain Metallic Grey high-gloss.

Optimised acoustic comfort – achieved via carefully executed refinements around the rear wheel arches, B-pillars and seatbelt outlet covers in the rear of in the new BMW 7 Series – help to enhance on-board comfort over long distances. Added to which, the side windows and rear window have thicker glass, either as standard or as part of the Comfort Glass option (depending on the model).

A stand-out feature of the newly designed standard leather steering wheel is the modified arrangement of the multifunction buttons. The likewise standard wireless charging tray for compatible mobile phones is now located just ahead of the cupholders. With its classy smoked-glass look, the optional Ambient highlight in the B-pillars blends into the new BMW 7 Series sedan’s interior ambience even more harmoniously. The latest version of the BMW Touch Command rear-seat control unit stands out with its updated hardware and BMW Operating System 7.0 software. The optional Rear-seat entertainment system now comes with a pair of 10-inch, full-HD touchscreen displays including Blu-ray player.

Powertrain: V12 with gasoline particulate filter, new V8, plug-in hybrid models now with six-cylinder in-line engine.

The choice of power units for the new BMW 7 Series includes petrol and diesel engines with six, eight and twelve cylinders, as well as an all-new plug-in hybrid drive system. Topping the range is the 6.6-litre V12 engine at the heart of the BMW M760Li xDrive, which produces 430 kW (fuel consumption combined: 9.6 – 9.5 l/100 km; CO₂ emissions combined: 285 – 282 g/km*) and now comes with a gasoline particulate filter to minimise emissions. Meanwhile, the BMW 750Li xDrive (fuel consumption combined: 9.6 – 9.5 l/100 km; CO₂ emissions combined: 233 g/km*) features a newly developed V8 engine with 4.4-litre displacement and maximum output raised by 60 kW to 390 kW.

The plug-in hybrid variant of the new BMW 7 Series takes all of the luxury sedan’s sporting prowess, passenger comfort and feel-good ambience and combine them with exceptionally high efficiency and the ability to offer a virtually silent, all-electric driving experience with zero local emissions. The plug-in hybrid system now employs a specially adapted six-cylinder in-line petrol engine and a more advanced high-voltage battery. As a result, the system can unleash a combined output of 290 kW with the Driving Experience Control switch set to SPORT mode. The combined fuel consumption of the BMW 745 Le xDrive is between 2.6 and 2.1 litres per 100 kilometres*, their CO₂ emissions are 59 – 48 grams per kilometre*, and combined electric power consumption is 16.3 – 15.0 kWh per 100 kilometres*. The three models achieve an electric range between 50 and 58 kilometres.

The highly efficient and low-emission six-cylinder in-line diesel engine with a 3.0-litre displacement and up to four turbochargers rounds off the local drive system line-up for the new BMW 7 Series. The 195 kW engine for the BMW 730Ld (fuel consumption combined: 5.5 – 5.3 l/100 km; CO₂ emissions combined: 145 – 139 g/km*) represents the first step on the diesel ladder for the new BMW 7 Series.

Chassis: comfort and dynamism on demand.

An exceptional balance between sumptuous driving comfort and the dynamic flair for which BMW is renowned are the defining features of the driving experience on board the new BMW 7 Series. The construction of the chassis, suspension and damping systems, steering and the braking system are designed to facilitate both relaxed cruising undisturbed by inconsistencies in the road surface and a sporty, active driving style.

All variants of the new BMW 7 Series feature, as standard, adaptive suspension including electronically controlled dampers and two-axle air suspension with automatic self-levelling. Among the options customers can choose from are Integral Active Steering and the Executive Drive Pro chassis system available for all models except the plug-in hybrid variant.

Driver assistance systems: further progress on the road to automated driving.

The new BMW 7 Series underlines its status as one of the luxury segment’s most innovative and progressive models with a comprehensive range of standard and optional driver assistance systems. The Driving Assist Professional provides a comprehensive package of functions aimed at making driving as comfortable and safe as possible. They include Lane Keep Assist with active side collision protection, the evasion aid, the Cross Traffic Alert, Wrong-way warning systems, plus Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function.

The standard-fitted Park Assist helps the driver with parking and manoeuvring. And it now also includes the Reversing Assistant, which can reverse the car for distances of up to 50 metres by steering it along exactly the same line it took when moving forward.

Intuitive operation and supreme connectivity: BMW Operating System 7.0 and BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant.

The new BMW 7 Series comes with the BMW Live Cockpit Professional as standard. This comprises a navigation and multimedia system, together with a fully digital, high-resolution instrument cluster behind the steering wheel with a screen diagonal of 12.3 inches and a Control Display measuring 10.25 inches across. The new BMW Operating System 7.0 stands out with its cutting-edge digital functionality tailored precisely to the needs of the driver. Touchscreen functionality for the Control Display, the iDrive Controller, steering wheel buttons and voice control allow the driver to choose from various forms of intuitive operation.

The BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant is another element of the operating system. The digital companion can be activated with the spoken prompt “Hey BMW” and helps the driver to use various vehicle functions. What’s more, he will keep acquiring new capabilities all the time thanks to the updates transmitted seamlessly by Remote Software Upgrade. The driver and passengers can also use natural voice commands with the help of the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant to activate the Experience Modes and the vitality and relaxation programmes, which offer need-based compositions of various functions – such as interior lighting, air conditioning, fragrancing and shading, not to mention seat massage, heating and ventilation.