BMW has launched the new 7 Series at a sticker of Rs 1.22 crore for base 730Ld diesel and Rs 1.34 crore for the 740Li petrol, both of which will be locally assembled. Additionally, there will also be two CBU variants coming in: the 745Le xDrive (which will be a petrol hybrid) priced at Rs 1.65 crore and the 760Li xDrive, priced at Rs 2.42 crore.
The German marquee has updated the powermills of the sedan. The six-litre twelve-cylinder M Performance petrol engine of the BMW M760Li xDrive produces an output of 600bhp and a maximum torque of 850 Nm at 1,550 – 5,000 rpm. Additionally, the xDrive in the name means it is now an all-wheel drive car. The petrol hybrid 745Le, meanwhile, gets an inline six petrol engine which makes 283bhp and 450Nm of torque, while the electric motor has a rated output of 111bhp and 264Nm of torque working in conjunction with an electric motor for a combined output of 394bhp and with an electric-only range of 50-58km that propels the car from 0-100 in 5.1 seconds.
The two low-powered variants, 730Ld, with its three-litre inline-six diesel engine making 261bhp and the 740Li with the inline-six petrol making 335bhp remain unchanged.
The Design Pure Excellence package for the exterior trims sets brilliant accents. Chrome high-gloss elements in exterior and other interior finishes underline the contemporary, luxurious and aesthetic character with unique craftsmanship.
In M Sport, a distinctive sporty exterior and powerful engine produce an adrenalin-rich combination to set the hearts of motorsport fans pounding.
BMW has claimed the new 7 Series now has a 40 per cent bigger kidney grille and sits 50mm taller. The headlights now look sharper, and BMW also offers laser headlights as an option. The bigger front air intakes too compliment the car’s solidity. The side trim now extends to the heavily redesigned rear end. The tail lights too receive an overhaul with a full-width light-strip complementing the wider exhaust tailpipe trim.
The interior of the new BMW 7 Series is luxurious, with generous levels of space with four-zone automatic climate control, electrically adjustable comfort seats, massage function and active seat ventilation coupled with bespoke leather upholstery. The panoramic glass roof Sky Lounge with LED light graphics are few among the long list of features that create the perfect ambience, with improved sound insulation.
The new 7 Series now gets adaptive suspension with two-axle air suspension as standard, while the new camera-based chassis control system is also integrated into the system that adjusts the suspension for bumps, pothole or speed bumpers. The company has also worked to minimise vibration and enhance the sound insulation.
Rear seat passengers now get 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 integrated into the centre armrest and connected to the vehicle systems, can also be used outside the vehicle.
The spread of driver assistance systems is more extensive than ever. Parking Assistant Plus with Surround View Camera makes parking in tight spots easier by taking over acceleration, braking and steering. The new Reversing Assistant provides unmatched support in reversing out of parking or through narrow driveways, keeping a track of the last 50 metres driven and even assists by taking over the steering. With the BMW Remote Control Parking, a driver can park his car into a tight parking space without being inside the car.
The 7 Series include six airbags, Attentiveness Assistance (a system that recommends the driver take a break from driving in case of signs of fatigue, such as inconsistent throttle imputs), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) including Cornering Brake Control (CBC), Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), electric parking brake with auto hold, side-impact protection, electronic vehicle immobiliser and crash sensor, ISOFIX child seat mounting and integrated emergency spare wheel under the load floor.
In India, the BMW 7 Series competes for space with the Mercedes Benz S-Class, Volvo V90, Jaguar XJ and the Audi A8.
The full list of prices are as under
BMW 730Ld Design Pure Excellence - INR 1,22,40,000
BMW 730Ld Design Pure Excellence Signature - INR 1,31,50,000
BMW 730Ld M Sport - INR 1,34,60,000
BMW 740Li Design Pure Excellence - INR 1,34,60,000
BMW 745Le xDrive (CBU) - INR 1,65,00,000
BMW M760Li xDrive (CBU) - INR 2,42,50,000