New BMW 7 Series: First Drive

  • Oct 31, 2012
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Five generations down, the BMW 7 Series continues to be the ultimate sporty luxury sedan, a juxtaposition of terms that only BMW has managed to marry together with perfect poise

New BMW 7 Series drive

Set your eyes on the all new BMW 7 Series and it is almost as though the world is willing you into bowing your head in respect. This luxury barge makes a solid style statement and gets your heart yearning for the keys almost immediately, but you already knew that and for most of us, that feeling has happened one too many times! Such is the presence of this finely crafted machine that you just can’t get enough of it. 

Keeping with the ever changing market trends and fulfilling customer sentiments the formidable Seven has undergone a midlife facelift. Most noticeable is the reworked front end and what catch’s your attention first are the new LED headlights which boast of the hallmark BMW corona rings and a neatly integrated accent strip. These new lights ensure that the 7 Series is unmistakable even at night thanks to the distinctive appearance that these lights offer. Flanked by the headlight cluster is the new BMW kidney grille.

New BMW 7 Series side profile

Designed to look more prominent, the grille now features only nine slats as opposed to twelve on its predecessor. Other exterior changes include the incorporation of side indicators to the bottom of the outside rearview mirrors and a thin chrome strip connecting the two slim reflectors in the rear apron. Apart from that, the magnificent Seven retains its quintessential chiseled styling and proportions including the long hood and set back passenger cabin riding on large 245/55 R17 rubber.

The car is sleek, classy and offers a subtle hint of aggression, which, to sum it up simply, makes the new 7 Series a strikingly good looking machine. For India, the 7 Series will be available only in its extended wheelbase avatar and a single engine option, namely the 730Ld.

New BMW 7 Series front cabin

Inside the BMW 7 Series, the changes are rather subtle. The newly designed leather seats have been crafted for optimum comfort; however the front seats are slightly narrower than those available in the outgoing model. This change has been justified by the need to offer a more airy cabin.

The only other major change to be found inside is the new 1,200 watt Bang and Olufsen high end surround sound system featuring 16 speakers including a retractable center speaker located on top of the instrument panel. Apart from that, the 7 Series retains its familiar sophisticated look and feel. The materials used are top notch and the fit and finish is exquisite. As is the norm, the 7 Series is offered with a high amount of personalization and customers have a plethora of choices to opt for. 

New BMW 7 Series engine
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The new 7 Series destined for Indian shores will initially be offered with a single engine option, namely a 2993cc, in line 6 cylinder diesel unit. The engine itself is not new; however it has been tweaked for overall performance and enhanced efficiency. Fitted with a turbocharger, variable intake geometry and piezo injectors, this common rail diesel unit stands as testimony towards true blue German engineering and refinement.

The engine now delivers 258Hp @ 4000 rpm as opposed to 231 horses earlier, and torque has also gone up from 520Nm to 560Nm which kicks in as low as 1500rpm. Unlike the earlier car, the new car is now mated to an all new eight speed automatic with steptronic. With all these changes in the drivetrain, the new 730Ld is capable of going from 0-100km/h in 6.2 seconds, shaving close to 1.7 seconds off its predecessor! The agility of this machine is serious business and despite its girth, the 7 Series retains the DNA of being a true blue driver’s car.

New BMW 7 Series rear passenger seating

Ensuring you get the best out of the machine, BMW has managed to strike an elusive balance between comfort and performance. The front axle retains the now familiar aluminum double wishbone construction, while the rear employs the patent protected integral V rear axle. In order to optimize the suspension, BMW has modified the ball joints, added stiffer hydraulic dampers and new rubber bearings which have allowed the engineers to further reduce vibrations.

Incidentally, all new BMW 7 Series models will now come with automatically controlled rear air suspension, which maintains the ride height regardless of load and driving conditions. Complimenting the chassis is the Electric Power Steering which is light to use but does take away in terms of absolute feedback to the driver. On the whole, the car, despite its length, drives like a sportscar and the handling is impeccable for such a car without having to compromise on ride quality.

New BMW 7 Series review

It goes without saying the being onboard the new 7 Series would be an extremely safe way to travel. Apart from its tank like construction, the car boasts of just about every safety feature available today. For starters it comes with the Dynamic Stability Control package (DSC), which incorporates the ABS, Automatic Stability Control (ASC), Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), Dynamic Brake Control (DBC) and Cornering Brake Control (CBC), which all work together to assist in the dynamic performance and active safety of the 7 Series. Other standard features include a plethora of airbags for both front and rear seat passengers, seatbelts with pretensioners and active head restraints.

New BMW 7 Series drive

The 7 Series also comes with a night vision system and early pedestrian detection which utilizes an infrared thermal imaging camera integrated into the kidney grille. This system provides a live video image of any object giving off heat, despite being beyond the range of the high beam and if the vehicle senses that it is on a collision course with that object, a warning is signaled to the driver through the heads up display unit. The 7 Series has always been rather tech savvy and this particular addition to the driver information aid highlights that fact.

New BMW 7 Series rear profile

The 7 Series is a statement amongst luxury cars. It is the perfect marriage between drive dynamics, performance and luxury that one could strive for and that has always been its forte. Quintessentially pinned against the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the 7 Series will now have to battle it out against the Audi A8 and Jaguar XJ which have been finding a growing popularity amongst the rich and famous in India and it would be wrong to say that those cars aren’t as accomplished as the 7.

On a personal note however, I find that there is an aura that this luxury sedan possesses that manages to make it stand out from the lot. It’s a feeling that you get when you have been truly rewarded with an amazing drive experience that only the 7 Series can boast of.

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