The ultimate ‘Ultimate Driving Machine:’ BMW’s new 7 Series
By Michael Binstock
Acorn Automotive Editor

My first reaction: this is a big car! My second reaction: this is a big luxury car––and it should be big. It’s also almost perfect!

The new BMW 7 Series, while remaining true to BMW traditions and philosophy, moves boldly into the future with new design, new engineering and technology, and new solutions to the challenges of contemporary driving. It’s a fascinating exercise in the application of original thought to virtually every area of automotive concepts.

There are times when evolution is appropriate, and there are times when bolder steps are justified.

Christopher Bangle, BMW’s Director of Design explained that, "The board of directors requested that we exercise strong design leadership, to produce an excellent product and outstanding design." Adds Bangle, "You must believe in what you’re doing. We believe strongly in this car."

Bangle and his design team set a progressive direction for the new look. "The dynamic is all BMW. But the presence is new. The "greenhouse"––the passenger cabin––is set back, making it clear that there’s Power up front. The wheels are big," continues Bangle. "In fact, for the U.S., the standard wheels and tires are 18-inch, with 245/50 tires. Together with an inch-and-a-half greater height, these underscore the new model’s presence."

BMW refers to the front view of their cars as "its face." The traditional BMW "kidney" grille takes on a higher, more assertive position and look. The "eyes," also in the BMW tradition with four round headlights, are set relatively low by virtue of carrying the turn indicators (eyebrows) above them.

From the rear, the new 7 looks and is wider than its predecessor. The main taillight units are outboard, and incorporate new 3-dimensional LEDs for their tail and brake lights. Additional taillamps, the backup light and the newly standard rear foglights are in a light band across the trunk lid. A new "world first" feature here is adaptive brakelights, which signal the intensity of the 7 Series driver’s braking to motorists who follow.

With its general lack of decoration and no body-side moldings, the new 7 is stunning to look at. Overhangs, the distances from wheel centers to the ends of the vehicle, are compact (actually shorter than those of the predecessor, though overall length is up slightly); this contributes to the substantial yet sporty look.

The new 7 doesn’t merely look new; it is new, through and through. Under the long aluminum hood, for example, is a brand new engine. While its bore, stroke and displacement are unchanged from the previous motor, the new engine makes dramatic strides in torque, power, accelerator response and efficiency.

Both of the initial U.S. models are powered by an entirely new 4.4 liter V-8 engine that produces almost exactly the same power as the current 750iL V-12 engine, 325 horsepower. Equally remarkably, fuel economy is expected to be maintained at about the same level.

Contemporary automobiles, particularly luxury cars, pose an evergrowing challenge to their designers: how to accommodate the extensive functions that modern technology offers without overwhelming the driver and creating a driving environment cluttered with controls.

iDrive is BMW’s solution to this challenge. By dividing the vehicle’s control environment into two areas, driving and comfort. iDrive separates those functions that pertain directly to vehicle operation from those that relate more to occupants’ comfort and well-being.

As always in BMWs, all primary driving controls are clustered around the steering wheel, now including the automatic-transmission selector, which has been moved from the center console to a position that allows fingertip operation from the steering wheel. The remote control no longer includes a conventional key; instead you insert the remote itself into a slot. A small "reserve key" is carried inside each remote. After inserting the remote into the slot, a button starts the engine.

A single large control is positioned centrally in the center console. Characterized as the Comfort Zone, it controls a wide range of comfort, convenience and informational features and also presents users with some interesting and highly useful choices in how certain features and functions operate. Be aware it takes a little time to get used to this new way of controlling all the functions inside the car. Each time the remote control is inserted into the ignition lock, the monitor displays its start menu. This shows the eight directions in which the controller can be moved to select the control menus.

There’s so much in this car that I’m going to present driving impressions another time.

The BMW 7 series starts at just under $69,000 for a very well equipped car. Options can bring it to the mid $70’s. Deliveries have now started at local dealers.