BMW 7 Series launched: Explained in detail

BMW’s flagship car, the 7 Series has been launched in the country at a starting price of Rs 1.22 crore. Interestingly, for the first time in India, the new BMW 7 Series is available in a plug-in-hybrid option - the BMW 745Le xDrive - which combines benefits of an electric motor and a petrol engine. Apart from this, the 730Ld (diesel) is available in three trims – Design Pure Excellence, Design Pure Excellence Signature and the M Sport. The petrol variants include - 740Li Design Pure Excellence trim and the M760Li xDrive. The new BMW 7 Series is locally produced at BMW Group Plant in Chennai, except for the 745Le xDrive and the M760Li xDrive which are sold as completely built-up units (CBU).

Exterior 

Up front, the 7 Series gets enlarged double kidney grille that complements the slender adaptive LED headlights with BMW Laserlight technology. The reduced bodylines give it a powerful and refined charm without losing on its sporty character. The sides look elegant with a coupe-like roofline and a chrome trim at the bottom. The rear is extremely wide and is dominated by powerful horizontal lines. A thin light strip positioned below the chrome band stretches across the entire width seamlessly connecting the taillights. 

Interior 

The new BMW 7 Series gets bespoke leather upholstery and trims, improved sound insulation, ambient lighting, ambient air package and a panoramic glass roof sky lounge with LED light graphics to create that perfect ambience. The comfort-focused premium sedan from the German luxury car manufacturer offers four-zone automatic climate control, electrically adjustable comfort seats, massage function and active seat ventilation.

Rear-seat Entertainment Professional allows users to access the entertainment and navigation functions from the rear seats. It now comprises of two 10.2-inch full-HD touch displays with a Blu-ray player. BMW Touch Command, offers a fully integrated control option for entertainment and comfort functions for the rear. The 7-inch tablet with touch function, which is integrated into the centre armrest and connected to the vehicle systems, can also be used outside the vehicle.

Safety features include six airbags, Attentiveness Assistance, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) including Cornering Brake Control (CBC), Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), electric parking brake with auto hold, side-impact protection, electronic vehicle immobilizer and crash sensor, ISOFIX child seat mounting and integrated emergency spare wheel under the load floor.

Engine 

The BMW 745Le xDrive plug-in hybrid variant is powered by a new lithium-ion battery that produces 108bhp and a maximum torque of 265Nm. The BMW TwinPower Turbo 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine produces 286bhp and a maximum torque of 450Nm at 1,380 – 5,000rpm. The petrol engine combined with the electrical boost of the hybrid system delivers a total of 384bhp and a maximum torque of 600Nm. The vehicle claims to deliver an excellent fuel-efficiency of up to 39.5kmpl. The car accelerates from 0-100kmph in 5.3 seconds and has a top speed of up to 250kmph. Running on battery power alone, the car achieves a top speed of 140kmph with an electric drive range of 53kms. Using a standard charging cable, the car can be charged overnight (8 – 12 hours) by plugging into any conventional 220V main socket. Using the BMW wallbox charger, it can be charged in 4 - 5 hours. The BMW plug-in-hybrid drivetrain charges the battery on the move using energy generated from various components.

The BMW 730Ld is powered by a 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel engine that produces 265bhp and a maximum torque of 620Nm at 2,000 – 2,500 rpm. The car accelerates from 0 – 100kmph in just 6.2 seconds. Meanwhile, the BMW 740Li is powered by a 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine that produces an output of 340bhp and a maximum torque of 450Nm at 1,500 – 5,200 rpm. The car accelerates from 0 – 100kmph in just 5.6 seconds.

The massive six-litre twelve-cylinder M Performance petrol engine of the BMW M760Li xDrive produces an output of 609bhp and a maximum torque of 850Nm at 1,550 – 5,000rpm. The car accelerates from 0 – 100kmph in just 3.8 seconds.