Three years after its debut BMW has confirmed the much-rumoured mid-life revision of its controversially-styled flagship 7 Series, due for launch in spring 2005.
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The nose and tail styling has been softened (though the bulky boot lid remains and there are new engines, detail interior revisions (including a simplified iDrive system and some running gear changes.
BMW Great Britain’s managing director, Jim O’Donnell summed it up well: “At its UK launch in 2002, the 7 Series marked a radical departure from traditional, conservative luxury car design. While some in the media questioned the styling [and the overly complex and initially unreliable iDrive system], customers were clearly attracted to its uniqueness and driving dynamics and the car has become the best-selling 7 series ever. I am confident that the new engine range and subtle refinements will ensure the new 7 series continues this success in the years to come.”
The 730d is the biggest seller in the UK, accounting for 56% of total volume. Its engine now has an all-aluminium cylinder block that reduces total engine weight by 25kg. As a result of this weight reduction and new third-generation common rail diesel technology (that includes piezo-injectors), power is increased 12% to 228bhp at 4,000rpm while torque is 4% higher at 520Nm, developed between 2,000 and 2,750rpm.
The petrol 730i gains the new lightweight 3.0-litre magnesium aluminium composite engine recently launched in the 630i and 330i. This delivers 258bhp at 6,600rpm, up 12% compared with its predecessor, and 300Nm of torque at 2,500 – 4,000rpm. As a consequence, the new 730i is claimed to have the best power-to-weight ratio and highest output per litre of any car in its class.
A new 740i variant replaces the previous 735i with a 4,000cc V8 engine developing 302bhp at 6,300rpm and 390Nm of torque at 3,500rpm. This is up 13% and 8% respectively over the 735i but, with a combined consumption of 25.2, the new 740i still benefits from a 0.9% improvement in economy.
The 745i, the world’s best selling 7 series model is now the 750i, with an all-new 4,799cc engine. Delivering 362bhp at 6,300rpm and 490Nm at 3,400, the zero to 62mph sprint is dispatched in just 5.9 seconds. Despite this power hike, the 750i achieves 24.8mpg on the EC combined cycle.
The V12 760i continues with no changes to its engine.
The 7 series chassis has been updated with a 14mm wider track to improve stability and BMW now offers two optional suspension settings, depending on buyers’ ride comfort preferences.
External changes include new headlamps, grille, bumpers, bonnet pressing and larger side sills. At the rear there are new tail lamps and a chrome strip running the width of the boot lid which have the effect of narrowing the car when viewed from behind. and ensure it looks planted firmly on the road.
There are also four new paint colours, three leather upholstery finishes and a range of new 18 and 19-inch alloy wheels.
The iDrive system has been slightly revised to make it more user friendly and to assist navigation with improved menu guidance to move between the eight areas of the control display. However, it remains a more sophisticated – and more complex – system than the ‘four-way’ iDrive in other BMW models.
Standard equipment has also been increased across the range. All UK-market cars now feature xenon headlamps and a headlamp cleaning system. Cars with navigation and telephone now get the BMW Assist emergency service as standard.
Since 2001, BMW has sold almost 160,000 of the fourth generation 7 worldwide and it leads it segment at home in Germany.
That could, however, change once rival Mercedes-Benz rolls out its long awaited fully redesigned S-class.
