BMW has officially announced its redesigned 7-series flagship with improved fuel economy and reduced emissions and claimed world-first technology developments: a night vision system with individual pedestrian recognition and a front side view camera system.
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The fifth-generation flagship model line goes on sale here in the UK (the key right-hand-drive market) in November, initially with a choice of one diesel and two petrol engines plus a long wheelbase body option with each petrol engine.
All three engines produce more power yet use less fuel and produce less emissions than those they replace.
BMW said the 245hp 730d turbodiesel has the lowest ever CO2 output of any 7 series to date (192g/km) and is also the most economical, achieving 39.2mpg combined consumption on the EU test cycle. It can accelerate from zero to 62mph in 7.2 seconds and has a 153mph top speed.
The automaker said that is about the same as the Mercedes C320CDi – a car two market segments below the 7 series, and smaller and lighter. The new six-cylinder diesel is also 5kg lighter than its predecessor.
The 730d is expected to be the biggest seller in the UK, accounting for approximately 85% of volume.
The 750i and 750Li have the 407hp 4,395cc twin turbo, direct injection petrol V8 launched with the X6 SUV and the 740i and 740Li have a 2,979cc I6, also with twin turbochargers, developing 326hp.
All come with a six-speed automatic gearbox as standard; some reports last week had suggested the model would arrive with a new eight-speed ZF unit.
The redesigned 7 has also gained the EfficientDynamics technologies BMW has gradually been introducing as standard across its range to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
Aluminium is used for the new flaghsip’s roof, doors, bonnet [hood] and side panels, and the 7 also has brake energy regeneration and an alternator and air-conditioning compressor that disengage when necessary to improve performance.
BMW has claimed the 7 is the world’s first car available with a side view camera system though Nissan last year introduced Around View Monitor on a Japanese-market minivan that has a camera in each corner.
BMW’s system had two forward facing cameras in the front bumper to show traffic conditions on the iDrive display, allowing the driver to negotiate a partially obscured junction, leave a car park or drive through a narrow gate “with absolute confidence”.
An updated night vision system now includes a pedestrian recognition system in another claimed world first.
A control unit analyses video data of human behaviour as part of the camera’s reach and can subsequently alert the driver if it detects a human is moving into the path of the vehicle.
The 7 is also the first BMW to feature lane change warning combined with lane departure warning. The latter first appeared on the smaller 5 and 6 series models and uses a camera to monitor road markings. Should the driver start to stray out of lane, a gentle vibration of the steering wheel provides an alert. Lane change warning adds two radars at either side of the rear bumper which constantly scan the blind spot either side of the vehicle, up to a distance of 60 metres, and alert the driver to the presence of another vehicle with a triangular symbol in the door mirror housing.
Cars with the optional head-up display and lane departure warning also get a speed limit warning system that uses the lane departure warning system camera to scan road signs to alert the driver of any speed restriction. The current speed limit is then displayed in the head-up display.
BMW claimed this is the first time a production car has been offered with a speed warning system that can read road signs. GM Europe recently announced its new Insignia model will be offered with a system that combines lane departure warning with a camera that can ‘read’ speed limit and no-overtaking signs, but it won’t be available until next year.
Speed-related integral active steering is another new 7 series option. This allows the rear wheels to turn by up to three degrees. At slow speeds it is highly manoeuvrable, while at faster speeds it offers enhanced composure and driving dynamics, BMW said.
The latest 7 also had a new variable damping control can be set in various modes (comfort, sport, etc) and, for the first time, are infinitely variable depending on driving style and road surface. The selected mode also now alters the throttle response, gear change speed and steering feel.
The redesigned 7 is also the first BMW car to feature double wishbone front suspension. The five-link rear suspension can be supplemented by adaptive air suspension.
Other features include hill-start assistant, brake drying, brake pre-tensioning, soft-stop and brake fade compensation and dynamic traction control.
The restyled cabin includes a new iDrive controller and larger 10.2-inch screen and, for the first time on a BMW, an instrument cluster with high-resolution colour display and black panel technology.
Other new cabin features include an 8Gb hard drive for music storage, four-zone automatic air-conditioning and a rear seat ventilation system combined with massage function.
