The 2016 BMW 7 Series slims down, adds tech

2016 BMW 7 Series

BMW has unveiled the sixth-generation 7 series and from the looks and specs, the premium sedan should appease Beamer enthusiasts. Aboard the flagship BMW is a bevy of tech features that could only be expected for comfort-discerning passengers and drivers. The 2016 BMW 7 Series will be available in 740i and 750i xDrive variants, while a hybrid model will join the line-up next year.

This incarnation is also 200 pounds lighter than its predecessor primarily because BMW adapted Carbon Core construction from the i vehicles, which is a mix of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic and high-strength steel. Combined with an aluminum doors and trunk, the 7 manages to keep a fifty-fifty weight distribution – quite a feat since this is the largest sedan from BMW, measuring in at 206.6 inches with the wheelbase an inch longer than the previous model.

Nothing says comfort like rear legroom and the 7 touts a best-in-class 44.4 inches in this category, with the front passenger seat foldable into a pop-out footrest and an optional 42.5-degree seat incline as part of the Rear Executive Lounge Seating Package.

For the performance-oriented buyers, 7 Series will be available in a M Sport package. This includes “an M Aerodynamic kit comprising model-specific front/rear aprons and side skirts, plus 19 inch or 20 inch M light- alloy wheels, illuminated door sill plates bearing the M logo and accents in either light or dark chrome. M-specific details also underline the sporting character of the new BMW 7 Series in the interior,” BMW announced in a press release.

The 740i is powered by a 3.0-liter, 320-hp turbocharged six-cylinder engine while the 750i xDrive will feature the 4.4-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 with 445 hp. The 0-60 mph time is 5.4 seconds for the 740i and 4.3 seconds for its sibling. In 2016, the 740e xDrive, the plug-in-hybrid sedan powered by 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder with an electric motor, will be available as well. The hybrid will deliver 23 miles per charge and speeds of up to 75 mph in pure electric mode.

Among the remarkable tech features in the 7 Series are the gesture-control iDrive 5.0, a system that is operated from a new touchscreen and various 3D sensors sensitive to pre-set hand motion. The Display Key, an optional feature, is also pretty nifty (although The Verge calls it a “smartphone without the phone.”) The large key fob packs on all the remote features you can expect in a smartphone app.

The 7 Series will arrive at BMW dealerships across the U.S. this fall. The 740i starts at $81,400 – $3,300 more than the current 740Li – while the new 750i xDrive will start at $97,400.


Photo Credit: BMW

Written By
More from Slav Kandyba
Bentley Continental GT3 live photos: 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed
Bentley showed up and showed out with the Continental GT3 racer at...
Read More
0 replies on “The 2016 BMW 7 Series slims down, adds tech”