After several spy shots and lots of speculation, BMW took the wraps off the facelifted 7 Series some time in May this year. And with the time fast approaching that this car will head to Indian shores, we thought we’d preview it for you. The update to the 7 Series is fairly thorough, touching on everything from the looks, interiors and chassis right down to the powertrain options as well.
One of the most significant changes is the new 8-speed automatic gearbox, which is now standard across the range. Courtesy this gearbox, the 7 Series is now up to 20 per cent more efficient than the outgoing model. Mated to that gearbox are a variety of engine options. A 3.0-litre V6, 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 and a 6.0-litre V12 hold fort in the petrol category, while a new 375 bhp 3.0-litre tri-turbo diesel does duty in the 750d. That’s the top-of-the-line diesel though, with two other, more sane, engine options available in the form of the 307 bhp 740d and the 253 bhp 730d. We’re not sure about the 750Ld, but the 730Ld, 740Ld and the 730Li seem to be the most likely candidates to make it here.
On the outside, changes are more evolutionary rather than revolutionary, so this car can still be easily recognised as a 7 Series, but subtle changes, like reducing the number of slats on the grille and the addition of chrome embellishments here and there make the car still look fresh. New active cornering LED headlamps on the top-level variant make sure you can see through the corner, even at night.
Of course, being the flagship sedan of the BMW line-up, every surface within reach on the inside is covered with either leather, wood or soft-touch plastics. There’s also a standard Bang and Olufsen audio system available to drown out the outside world, if need be.
Of course, you don’t refresh your flagship model without loading it up with the latest technology. The rear seat passengers now get their own iDrive controller to control everything from the music to the dynamics of the car. For the driver, there’s a dynamics mode selector that has an EcoPro mode available, which aims to maximise the fuel efficiency of the car using various techniques like regenerative braking, coasting and active steering. In the wake of the Audi A8 and the upcoming Mercedes-Benz S-Class, this Bavarian beast sure looks strong.
We can’t wait to get our hands on it.
