IT MAY LOOK THE SAME The new 7 Series sports a subtle evolution of its predecessor's design

LUXURY AND TECH The 7 Series interior takes many design cues from the smaller 3 Series and 5 Series cabins

By Justin Lee

THE FIFTH GENERATION flagship of BMW’s model range will make its world debut at the upcoming Paris Motor Show in September.

Developed from a new platform, the car sports an exterior design that is an evolution of its predecessor. At first glance it looks quite similar to the outgoing model but has a sharper overall look incorporating flatter surfaces and tauter lines than the model it replaces. This latest model also incorporates one of the largest iterations of BMW’s trademark double kidney grille.

The interior follows the design language as seen on the 3 and 5 Series models. It comes with a joystick-type gear lever, a new iDrive controller and a larger 10.2-inch screen. There are also new favourite buttons located on the centre console which can be programmed with frequently selected radio stations or navigation destinations. The entire instrument cluster is comprised of a high-resolution colour display.

The 7 Series will be initially offered with a choice of two petrol powerplants and the option of a short- or long-wheelbase body.

It’s slightly larger than the old 7-series measuring 33mm longer at 5072mm. The short-wheelbase body has been extended by 83mm to 3073mm. The Li models will have a wheelbase extended by 140mm to 3,210mm from the short wheelbase variants.

The top-of-the-line 750Li model comes with a new 4,395cc V8 engine from the recently launched X6 Sports Activity Coupe. This unit produces 407bhp from 5,500rpm to 6,400rpm and features twin turbochargers and direct injection. The car accelerates from 0-100km/h in 5.3 seconds down 0.7 seconds from the old 750Li equipped with the previous 4,799cc V8 engine.

Next in the lineup is the 740Li model which has a 2,979cc in-line six-cylinder twin turbocharged powerplant capable of a maximum of 326bhp. This unit is similar to the one used in some 3 Series models such as the 335i but has an additional 20bhp.

All models come equipped with a six-speed automatic gearbox as standard.

As part of the BMW’s push toward EfficientDynamics technologies which improve engine performance while cutting fuel consumption and emissions, the 7 Series’ roof, doors, bonnet and side panels are all made from lightweight aluminium. It also has brake energy regeneration which uses the engine’s power during decelaration to charge the battery for the car’s electrical circuit. During acceleration, the alternator disengages and all of the engine’s power is channelled towards the car’s performance. The air-con compressor can also disengage to improve the all round performance of the car.

The 7 Series comes with a host of world firsts such as an optional Night Vision system with individual pedestrian recognition as well as an optional front side view camera. The former is an upgraded system where a control unit analyses video data of human behaviour as part of the Night Vision camera’s function and the driver will be alerted if a person is moving into the path of the vehicle.

The latter is a button activated system where two forward facing cameras mounted in the front bumper show an overview of traffic conditions on the iDrive display. The car can also be specified with an Integral Active Steering system which allows the rear wheels to turn by up to three degrees.

A representative from local BMW distributor Performance Motors says the new 7 Series will arrive in the first half of 2009.