BMW Series 7 : A review

Ever the technology showcase the latest BMW series 7 does not disappoint its fans. The US lineup of the series 7 has two versions, 750i and 750Li. The "L" versions of BMW's flagship sedan ride on a wheelbase that is 5.5-inches longer than that of the 750i. Both the versions feature the new twin-turbo, direct-injection 4.4L V-8 under the hood, which recently made its debut in the X6. The V8 makes 400 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque. Mated to a six-speed automatic, the new 7 Series offers an improvement of 40 hp and 90 lb-ft over its predecessor.

Building up on the regular steering-linked headlights, front and rear obstacle detection, and BMW Assist emergency and concierge service, the new series 7 has blind-spot alert, lane-departure warning, a head-up display, sideview and rearview cameras, and high beams that automatically dim when oncoming traffic is detected. The construction has been made lightweight with an aluminum roof, doors, hood and fenders, and an entirely new multilink double-wishbone front suspension.

On the inside, the 7 is an electronics powerhouse. Drivers will now make use of BMW's console-mounted joystick gear selector which replaces the electronic column-mounted shifter of the previous-generation car. Manual shifting can be accomplished once the joystick-style selector is tilted to the left. The improved iDrive controller is located next to the gear selector, and with it comes a revised interface that is more intuitive with a larger (10.2 inches vs. 8.8 inches), higher-definition central display. Also new is a 40-gigabyte hard drive for the audio and navigation systems, which allows for storage of up to whopping 13-gigabytes of music files. Also available are a night-vision system, adaptive cruise control, and DVD entertainment.

The 7 includes a new Driving Dynamics Control that allows the driver to choose four settings of shock absorber firmness, transmission shift characteristics, and engine-throttle response. The new Driving Dynamics Control selector is located on the center console and allows drivers to select between Comfort, Normal, Sport and Sport Plus modes.

Beyond power and luxury, 7 Series also includes all the latest and greatest safety technology. Apart from the usual array of airbags, the car includes extras such as active cruise control, lane-departure warning, night vision with pedestrian detection, and sideview and backup cameras with head-up display available as an option. For quick reference, specific subjects can also be stored on the programmable memory keys, provided you can figure out how to store them.

Overall the latest is a power packed dynamo and if the company's claims are to be believed, the most fuel efficient in its class as well.