2013 BMW 7 Series revealed

The BMW 7 series has undergone a facelift, and the changes are subtle; so subtle, in fact, that there is slim chance of anyone but anoraks noticing the differences on the outside. There are fewer vertical slats in the kidney grille and a thicker chrome surround, more chrome accents in the form of two horizontal bars in the lower intake, reshaped wing mirrors that now have LED indicators integrated into them and finally, the tail lamps have a new shade of red.

On the inside, the 7 gets reshaped front seats, better soundproofing, a new design for the ambient lighting, an updated iDrive controller and 'floating' LCD screens for the rear occupants as part of the optional rear seat entertainment package. There is also an optional Bang & Olufson audio system, which we've seen on Audis so far. Among other new features are a new menu, displays and 3D elements for the satellite navigation. Attention Assist lets the driver know when it's time for a coffee break. The steering is now electrically assisted, to help with fuel economy. India will get the long-wheelbase versions, which adds 140mm to the rear legroom and 10mm extra headroom for the rear occupants.

Performance has been enhanced by the eight-speed steptronic gearbox. It channels power to the rear wheels from a range of engines, beginning from the 315bhp six-cylinder from the 740i which now has a 20 per cent increase in fuel efficiency. The 750i's 4.4-litre V8 now gets valvetronic variable valve timing, which nets it a 45bhp bump in power, bringing it to 445bhp. That means a 4.7 second run to 100kmph combined with 25 per cent better fuel economy. This is, of course, with the new Eco Pro driving mode turned on, which enables coasting between 50kmph and 160kmph. For the eco-conscious 7 Series buyers, the ActiveHybrid now is powered by the six-cylinder engine mated to a 55bhp electric motor. It is rated at a combined 349bhp but is 14 per cent more efficient than the 740i. The 730d, which will no doubt be the most popular variant here by far, It generated 254bhp and promises 21.5kmpl on the EU driving cycle.

The suspension includes Dynamic Damper Control that controls each shock individually, and self-levelling rear suspension that is now standard across the range. xDrive, BMW's all-wheel drive system, will be available on the 740i for those who prefer to drive their luxury sedan even in adverse weather.

The new 7 will go on sale late this year, and we're expecting it to go on sale in India in the first half of 2013.