First look: BMW’s potent new 7 Series flagship

BMW has revealed the first photos and technical specifications of its new fifth-generation 7 Series flagship ahead of an expected public debut at the Paris motor show in October.

Expected to arrive in Australia in around the second quarter of 2009, the new 7 Series will introduce a number of new technologies and features, widespread use of aluminium to keep weight in check and the stonking twin-turbocharged V8 engine with direct fuel-injection that will soon debut in the X6.

The all-new body design is quite conservative and a clear development of the current car that debuted in 2001, but is less polarising, doing away with the controversial ‘duck-tail’ boot.

An extended nose culminates with a bigger (for cooling purposes) and rounder variation of the familiar BMW kidney-shaped grille while a pronounced horizontal edge defines the waist from the headlights to the tail-lights.

Inside, the distinctive mini-gearshift of the fourth-generation 7 Series, which was located up high just behind the steering wheel, has been replaced by a more conventional selector located in the centre console.

Once again, though, BMW’s model numbering regime is quite misleading because the 750i will be powered by the 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 while the 740i gets the highly acclaimed 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six that has been installed into just about every other model in the BMW range (usually with a ‘35’ model name).

This will be the first six-cylinder engine offered in the big BMW saloon for more than a decade and in this guise produces 240kW of power at 5800rpm and 450Nm of torque from 1500 to 4500rpm.

The turbo six will replace the 225kW/390Nm 4.0-litre normally-aspirated V8 in the current 740i.

BMW has made no mention of a V12 variant, but expect one in due course to match Mercedes-Benz and to keep the important Middle East market happy.

But anyone who really thinks they need a V12 need only check the stats for BMW’s first turbocharged V8 – 300kW between 5500 and 6400rpm, and some 600Nm from 1750 to 4500rpm – enough to launch the 750i from 0-100km/h in just 5.2 seconds (5.3 seconds for the heavier long-wheelbase 750Li).

The twin-turbo V8 punches out 30kW/110Nm more than the outgoing 4.8-litre normally-aspirated V8 and it matches the 760Li’s 6.0-litre V12 for torque while falling just 27kW short on power.

The six-cylinder version does the sprint in 5.9s and, despite producing 15kW more power and 50Nm more torque, returns a Euro combined cycle fuel consumption figure of just 9.9L/100km, which is about the same as in the 3 Series.

That says something about both the efficiency of the award-winning twin-turbo six, and perhaps the gearing of the 7 Series, because the new car is no lightweight.

Although it employs weight-saving measures such as aluminium suspension components and final drive housing, and extensive aluminium body panels (roof, doors, bonnet and side panels) on top of the all-alloy engines, the new 7 Series still comes in about 30kg above the current model.

Of course, fuel consumption is higher with the V8, but still quite reasonable at 11.4L/100km, while CO2 emissions are rated at only 266g/km (compared with 232g/km for the six-cylinder model).

All variants come with a standard six-speed automatic transmission with improved shift speed and comfort, linked to a three-setting Dynamic Driving Control system (with a button in the centre console) that also alters the suspension damper settings, throttle response and steering assistance map according to whether the driver wants Comfort, Normal or Sport.

Both the 740i and 750i will be available from launch in both normal wheelbase and 140mm extended wheelbase form.

BMW’s controversial iDrive has also been further refined to make it more intuitive and easier to use, with direct selection buttons and favourites, and is coupled to a new, larger 10.2-inch display with higher-resolution graphics and a new menu structure.

As well as employing cast-aluminium suspension supports front and rear, the new 7 Series features the first double-arm front suspension in a BMW sedan. The ‘integral V’ rear end features an aluminium axle and, in the long-wheelbase models, air suspension.

BMW says the suspension has been developed with a particular accent on ride comfort, but still specifies run-flat tyres so we reserve judgement until our first drive on home roads.

Another new technology on the 7 Series is speed-related rear-wheel-steering, which will be available as an option and can be linked with the front steering by an ‘Integral Active Steering’ system, more details of which we await with interest.

The normal steering system is a hydraulically controlled rack-and-pinion with on-demand pump assistance.

Among the electronic systems available as options are stop-and-go cruise control (for bumper-to-bumper traffic as well as highways), lane keep assist and warning, head-up display, high-beam assist, night vision (now with the ability to detect individual people) and side view and reversing cameras.

On-board entertainment features include a hard-disc memory, an iPod sleeve, USB port, rear DVD system and a separate rear-seat iDrive controller so passengers in the back can operate the various entertainment, phone and navigation functions. Good for when you are being chauffeured but hopefully switchable for when the kids are on board… Safety is looked after with the usual array of airbags and other passenger protection devices you would expect on an expensive limo, plus standard features such as adaptive dual bi-Xenon headlights with daylight running function and two-stage brake lights.

Other features will include four-zone automatic climate control, active seat ventilation, massage seats and a “contoured sliding roof optimised for noise control and design”. Oh, and an integrated owner’s manual.

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