BMW 7 Series First Look. Last week, BMW of North America invited us to an exclusive preview of the 2. BMW 7 Series. The private show and tell event for the new 7 Series is geared towards VIP customers of the brand. Hosted in a beautiful 1. Series feels at home (no pun intended) with luxury surrounding it. Posing right across from an infinity pool, the new high- end limousine aims to retake the crown from the successful Mercedes- Benz S- Class. ![]() Unfortunately photography was forbidden at the event (for unknown reasons since the car has already been shown in official photos), so we will have to relate our experience through words. Exterior Design. More often than not, official photos don’t do any justice to the car and in the case of this new 7 Series, nothing comes closer to the truth. While in photos the G1. G1. 2 7 Series looks nothing more than a glorified F0. F0. 2 facelift, in reality the BMW design team has done a great job improving upon an already successful design language. The new high- end limousine was penned by no other than Nader Faghihzadeh, a talented and experienced BMW designer who already has some valuable experience designing production cars: BMW 6 Series Coupe and Gran Coupe, and the interior of the previous generation 7 Series.
There is obviously a trend in this segment to create large and dominating front fascias, and the new 7 Series adheres to the same principles. The sedan comes with the largest kidney grille we’ve seen on any BMW in the last decade, a 3. D approach to the famous and iconic grille which now employs active slats for aerodynamic purposes. BMW says that the opening and closing of the aero slats is controlled by the computer to help with the engine cooling. The redesigned LED headlights are slimmer and more attractive than on the previous generation 7 Series, and following the recent BMW design language, they now flow seamlessly into the kidneys. The sculpted front hood is also lower and leaner, a design approach to emphasize sportiness and dynamics. On the side, the one piece Hofmeister Kink flows elegantly across the quarter panel and fits perfectly within the 3. D sculpted model around it. There’s also a new design item, an air breather, now typical of most BMWs, which has a strip of either chrome or black, depending on the Line chosen, which runs the length of the bottom of the doors. It looks a bit tacky at first, but if looked at it from behind, you can see why BMW chose to use the sporty design element on this elegant limousine. In the rear, the trunk of the new 7er now molds perfectly into a new set of taillights which are also slimmer and beautifully sculpted, thanks to the constant improving LED technology. The model also features a lower center of gravity and has a front and rear self- leveling air suspension, both emphasizing the driving dynamics advertised by BMW. Interior Design. But where the new 7 Series really shines is inside the cabin. ![]() Used BMW 7-Series By Price. Browse over 3 millions listings enhanced with The Car Connection's industry leading scores and reviews. Last week, BMW of North America invited us to an exclusive preview of the 2016 BMW 7 Series. Here is the first look at the new 2016 BMW 7 Series. BMW has spared no expense. This is where BMW has taken a revolutionary approach with a design that makes the previous generation look outdated and simplistic, by any standards. The materials, leather and trims used are of the highest quality possible. From the moment you step inside, it becomes hard to ignore the amount of work that went into creating a viable competitor for the S- Class. The leather with ample stitching and unique design resembles the ones found in even higher- end cars and it’s as comfortable as it can get. Save $28,571 on a used BMW 7 Series. Search over 6,000 listings to find the best local deals. CarGurus analyzes over 6 million cars daily.Everything within arms reach is covered in either leather, beautifully finished wood or aluminum. And we mean, a lot of brushed aluminum which makes the cabin look even more luxurious. There is ambient lighting everywhere, on the door trim, in the footwells and under all of the controls, and the optional Panoramic Sky Lounge LED Roof with light emitted by LED modules on the glass surface, it’s the icing on the cake. We’ve looked even deeper into what makes this 7 Series so special and the BMW reps pulled out the “scent cartridges” that can be controlled from the air conditioning control console or i. Drive. There are three levels of intensity and 8 scents to choose from, but only two at a time can be placed in the car. We’ve asked what the replacement cost would be, but BMW of North America has yet to finalize the pricing strategy. The car shown in Chicago had a Luxury Rear Seating package which includes Rear Ventilated and Comfort Seats, Heated Front and Rear Armrests and a 7 inch Touch Command Tablet. The massage function for the comfort seats offers a choice of eight programs. An optional Rear Executive Lounge Seating Package takes the luxury to a new whole new level transforming the car into a mobile office. A high- quality one. With a touch of a button, the rear seat can be slid forward by an extra 9. By pressing another button, a fold- out footrest extends from the back of the front- seat. Even for someone measuring 6 feet 2 inches, the rear setting was more than comfortable. To top it off, a tray table can be pulled out from the rear center console to allow you to do some work on- the- go. For a second, we felt like we were riding in a private jet. One odd thing though was a BMW remote which controls the rear LCD screens rather than offering a touchscreen experience as the large LCD found in the front. Now if you love driving your 7 Series, then this new limo is for you. The driver- oriented setup, the comfortable seats, the thick and sporty steering wheel and the easy- to- access controls were made to enhance the driving experience rather than interfering with it. We haven’t had a chance to drive the car yet, but the weight reduction of around 1. Cabin Tech. Most of our time inside the cabin was spent playing with the new i. Drive system and its gesture controlled infotainment system. Not only BMW offers a touchscreen LCD, it also made it easier for people to operate through gesture controls. The drivers or the passengers can adjust volume controls, accept or reject incoming calls or change music stations through pre- defined gestures. Drivers can also configure a gesture for a function of their choosing, such as navigation to the home address, a deactivation of a screen or a pre- set radio station. BMW says the system operates based on a motion and heat sensors located in the headliner. It’s unclear whether it works with driving gloves, but we’ll make sure to try that next month. It takes a few seconds to get used to the gesture control approach, but once you figure out where the sensors are placed, the experience is seamless and entertaining. While it doesn’t replace the traditional i. Drive controls, the gesture technology can help with driving distractions and easier access to most commonly used features, so we see no reason why people won’t start poking at the screen with two fingers or sweeping their hands in front of the screen. Next on our list was the keyfob gadget that we first reported on last year. The high- tech key can be used to control certain functions of the car (lock/unlock, lights) and to display useful information, like the driving range. Driverless remote- controlled parking via BMW’s Display Key won’t be available at launch in U. S. There’s no word on when (or if) the key will arrive. BMW cites regulatory issues which are stricter on this side of the pond. The new 7 Series also comes with a “regular” keyfob also, similar to the one found in the X5 SUV. The BMW Display Key can be recharged through wireless induction charging found in the center console compartment. Smartphones which employ this charging technology can be “refueled” with inductive electricity as well. There are many other features inside the new 7 Series which will take time to play with and learn their functionality, something we intend to do during a more extensive test drive. But for now, we came back to our office being impressed with what we’ve seen. Launch Models. The market launch in the U. S. If the European models are still labeled with “i” for short- wheelbase and “Li” to denote longer models, the U. S. 7 Series cars will drop the “Li” badge. When asked about the reasons behind this decision, a BMW product manager said that the entire luxury sedans segment is moving towards a simpler naming convention and BMW is following the trend. BMW also says the reason for dropping the short- wheelbase from the U. S. Prices start at $8. A BMW Individual program for the new 7 Series will be available in 2. The M Sport package will come at market launch, but compared to the previous generation, it will only brings visual enhancements to the exterior; the cabin stays the same as the standard model. It’s still out for debate whether the new G1. Series will be able to successfully compete with the Mercedes- Benz S- Class, but it has all the ingredients needed and BMW has given its flagship the best technology possible to succeed. Stay tuned for our track review of the 2. BMW 7 Series, or you can see our test drive of the pre- production 7 Series. BMW 7 Series: Cabin Technology and Luxury. Much like the current segment leader, the Mercedes- Benz S- Class, the new 7 Series’ main priority is the passengers inside of it. The way it looks on the outside is far less important than the way it looks and feels on the inside and for the interior, like Jurassic Park’s John Hammond, BMW has spared no expense. Customers who buy the new 7 Series may never actually drive it, but sit in the rear seats in their driveway. It’s that good. The first thing you notice about the 7 Series cabin is the gauge cluster. Replaced with a 1. It’s very similar to the one used in the S Class, but unlike the S Class it doesn’t look like a couple of screens have just been stamped onto the dash. It looks properly integrated into the dashboard and fits seamlessly and elegantly. There will also be a new generation HUD, which is 7. Check Control, Navigation and Warning information in full color graphics. The i. Drive system, now in its fifth generation, has also been updated. Now, it’s been given touchscreen compatibility and Gesture Control to work alongside with the typical i. Drive controller. Gesture Control is an industry first and works by having a few pre selected, and customizable, gestures to control certain features, such as answering a phone call or raising the volume. This way, the driver need not take their eyes off the road to do so, but simply wave their hand to the right or rotate a finger clockwise in front of the i. Drive screen. 3. D Sensors register these motions instantaneously and transmit the commands to the i. Drive system. It’s surprisingly effective and very simple to use. There will also be an all- new optional Night Vision system, with a Surround View, Top View and a new 3. D view mode. The new 7 Series will also come with four- zone climate control as standard with two consoles to control them, one front and one rear. The climate controls now feature touch- sensitive surfaces to control ventilation, cabin and seat climate and even the new fragrance system, which has eight different scents and three intensity settings. There will also be the typical Bluetooth connectivity and streaming as standard, but will now feature a second microphone to optimize hands free connectivity for the front passenger. A universal phone holder is also mounted in the center console, which will feature wireless charging and an LED battery status indicator. New to the G1. 2 7 Series are the Luxury Seating Comfort and Rear Executive Lounge Seating packages. The former gives the 7 Series heated and ventilated rear seats as well as heated front and rear armrests. A removable 7 inch Touch Command Tablet will be mounted in the rear armrest which will control all of the climate, seating, seat massage and lighting controls for the rear passengers. The massaging seats offer 8 programs, each with three different levels of intensity, with one of them being a Vitality Program which engages active training to revitalize the rear passengers over long journeys. The Rear Executive Lounge Seating offers the rear passengers the ability to recline their seats up to 4. To offer even more room, the front seat can be moved forward, the front headrest folded down and a fold- out footrest can be found on the front seatback, all controlled electronically from the Touch Command Tablet. It also comes with a Rear Entertainment System, which features electronically adjustable screens on the front seatbacks, a fold- out table, two cupholders and a storage compartment all in the center armrest. The Touch Command Tablet can also be used to browse the internet, play audio and video files and be used as a game console, all via an internal WIFi connection. The 7 Series also comes with standard Ambient Lighting, providing indirect illumination in the rear of the instrument panel, door beltlines, map pockets, front seatbacks and footwells. There will be six different color options, controllable through the i. Drive system. LED Light Carpets are incorporated into the side skirts to produce graphics on the entrance and exit of the vehicle. With the optional sunblinds for the rear comes an Ambiance Light Pillar, which are vertically arranged lightbars on the interior B Pillars to illuminate the rear compartment. Intensity can be adjusted through contact sensors on the lightbars or through the i. Drive or Touch Command Tablet. The real beauty of the rear of the cabin comes by way of the two- section Panoramic Moonroof. The optional Panoramic Sky Lounge LED Roof creates a night sky effect in the glass by emitting light, from LED Modules along the sides, spread evenly across the glass. There are etchings in the moonroof which, when illuminated at night, create the effect of a starlit sky and is available in six different color schemes. This creates a serene night sky feel as you lounge in your infinitely adjustable and massaging seats, all while listening to the wonderful Bowers & Wilkins Diamond surround sound system. The B& W system features 1. Kevlar midrange speakers, three unique diamond tweeters with Nautilus technology, 1. Rohacell central bass subwoofer. The amount of technology and luxury features in the new 7 Series is dizzying. It’s incredible how BMW was able to fit this much forward thinking and innovation into one vehicle. The computing power in the new 7 Series must be equal to that of NASA’s Mars Rover. It’s simply staggering to behold and beautiful to admire. The interior of the 7 Series is a masterpiece and one befitting of BMW’s flagship car. Only time will tell whether or not it can trump the luxurious interior of the current S Class, but if I were a betting man, I’d place my bet on the Bavarians.
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