Sevenupmanship by BMW
The new sixthgeneration 7-series is now able to add to its expected poise, balance and performance a level of luxury that will even take a swipe at the traditional marketleader. You know, the one with a big silver star in its nose. This, BMW’s flagship sedan has always made great technological leaps, being the BMW model through its six generations to pioneer important advances in the car industry. It was the first BMW to use a modern V8, in-car telephony, satellite navigation, lighter materials, twin-power engine technology and now a level of luxury communication and entertainment support that probably puts the car at the top of the tree technologically, in a segment that isn’t exactly short of it already.
it looks wider and more hunkered than the previous model 7-series, as the new car now frontsup with a new linked grille-toheadlamp design, that ties the car’s ‘eyes’ and ‘nostrils’ elegantly together to give it a much more serious stance than before. This style was introduced on the current 3-series sedan and it conspires with a new integrated exhaust tip surround at the rear to make the car look wider than before, though it’s just about the same size.
The visual suggestion of extra width comes from having the car’s rubber pushed further out and a muscle and bone like styling crease that is not merely a ridge but more a ribbon that works with a hockey stick-like lower side garnish (black in M-sport cars and chromed in others) to toughen-up the whole stance of the car. A subtle curve is worked into the body over the rear wheelarch that is barely perceptible in paler colours – even when you look for it – to contain the wider rear track.
The car’s new Carbon Core platform cuts up to 40 kilos from the body-in-white alone, and with the 7-Series’ doors and bonnet being made of aluminium, they conspire with aluminum-intensive lighter weight suspension components to remove 15 per cent of its unsprung weight to help maintain a 50:50 weight distribution.
Inside, designer Oliver Heimler explains that the 7-series takes the same themes established for the 3 and 5-series cars, with the instrument panel and dash reinforcing the exterior’s widerset look, and decorating it with satin-like metallised finishes.
It’s brighter, even in darker colours, than the current 7-Series, though BMW has managed to give it a soothingly formal appeal eliminating any suggestion of painted metal with leather and alcantara flourishes that even link the side rails above the windows and the inner surfaces of the C-pillars so there are neither convex of concave corners to break the cabin design’s softly executed lines.
BMW also imbues some of its minor controls with satin metallics and the car has all the glimmer and sophistication of a stately-home but without the fustiness. By cleverly widening the dash fascia and elogating some of its elements like the vents and perimeter brightwork, BMW makes the cabin seem even more capacious than it is and while New Zealand will have shorter wheelbase cars only, those who fancy a longer wheelbase will probably be catered for if they wish. However, it hardly seems like many will need the extra space, firstly because most Kiwi 7-series owners would most of the time like to drive themselves. When they don’t the rear seat area, is what you might call "business-premium" with well-
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