Transcript
Page 1: CAR Middle East - BMW 7-Series

THE STATEMENT

NEW BMW 7SERIES

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CAR Middle EastRegistered at Dubai Media City

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Published by ITP Consumer Publishing, a division of ITP Publishing Group Ltd.

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WE CAN LOOK BACK AT ���� AS ANOTHER YEAR of great success for AGMC, with many achievements to be proud of. In addition to being the highest volume seller of BMW vehicles in the Middle East region in 2008, we achieved sales growth of 17 percent over 2007 and launched many successful new models, including the BMW M3, BMW 1 Series, remodelled BMW 3 Series, MINI Clubman and BMW X6. The end of last year also saw the launch of our fl agship model, the all new BMW 7 Series, with the latest in automotive innovation and technological developments delivering unrivalled performance, luxury and style.

We know that 2009 will be a challenging year, but are confi dent that we will be able to face these challenges and continue with the growth of our business. We can assure that we will do our best to provide you with fi rst-class service and will protect the BMW brand at all times.

Stathis I. StathisGeneral Manager – AGMC

Welcome

Inside02 INNOVATIONS The new BMW 7 Series is overfl owing with the latest technology, inside and out

06 DESIGN FEATURES What marks the 7 Series out from other luxury executive saloons

08 DRIVING THE 750Li With a twin-turbo V8, the fl agship model has plenty of performance to match the luxury inside

16 HISTORY OF THE BMW 7 SERIES Five generations of a trend-setting car have been built since 1977

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A LL TOO OFTEN A CAR’S specification is judged on the amount of equipment you can see. Leather seats, alloy wheels and a raft of entertainment systems may improve the aesthetic and aural

qualities of the car, but it’s actually what you can’t see that makes the difference. And there’s a lot of equipment in the 7 Series that’s working hard to make this car not just one of the most technologically advanced, but also one of the most refined.

In this, the fifth generation of the car, BMW’s engineers have worked tirelessly to endow it with the latest developments in regards to driver enjoyment, passenger comfort plus adressed the all-important issue of efficiency.

You might be surprised to learn just how much technology lies where the eye cannot see.

Hidden tech n

Beneath the long bonnet of the BMW 750Li is a 4.4-litre V8 with 407bhp and 600NM of torque. It’s the fi rst petrol engine of its kind to place the twin turbochargers within the V-section of the block. This helps to keep the size of the engine compact, while also optimising weight distribution. The engine features high precision injection to ensure the most effi cient usage fuel, helping fuel economy and improving the long distance range. The 750Li is capable of hitting 100kph in just 5.3secs with a 250kph top speed.

TWIN TURBO4.4-LITRE V8

Even though the 7 Series is a large executive saloon, that doesn’t mean BMW hasn’t worked hard to make it as effi cient as possible. The car has been engineered to be as lightweight as it can. For example, the aluminium roof saves 8.4kg compared to the old steel roof plus using the ligher material in the doors saves another 22kg. In addition, all electrical ancilleries have been optimised in their energy usage and energy is regenerated under braking to top up the battery on the move.

BMW EFFICIENTDYNAMICS

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h nology Beneath the confident exterior of the BMW 7 Series lies a veritable assortment of kit

LIMO-LIKEThe BMW 7 Series comes in long wheelbase form as standard in the Middle East. This offers greater interior space and a more planted drive.

To help manoeuvrability at low speeds, the rear wheels of the 7 Series actually turn against the angle of the front wheels. This reduces the overall turning circle by around 70cm – a signifi cant amount for a car that measures in at over 5.2metres in length. At higher speeds, the rear wheels turn with the front wheels to improve the agility of the car. This in turn also helps to improve the comfort for any passengers on board. Active steering also helps to reduce the effort required to turn the steering wheel.

INTEGRALACTIVE STEERING

Another unique feature of the 7 Series is Dynamic Driving Control. Activated via a button on the centre console, the car’s setup can be varied between comfort, normal, sport and sport+ settings. This tweaks the suspension, stability control, gearshift times, throttle response and steering to match the selected mode. Each of these changes gives the driver a perceptible change in behaviour.Dynamic Damping Control can adjust the suspension setup on the move depending on the road conditions in just 2.5 milliseconds.

DYNAMICDRIVING

In order to provide supreme comfort to all passengers, plus to keep lateral body movement at a minimum the air suspension at the rear of the 7 Series maintains a constant ride height, regardless of load or driving conditions. In addition, the multi-arm rear aluminium suspension features anti-dive and anti-squat to keep the body as close to level as possible even under hard acceleration or braking. BMW’s Integrated Chassis Management ensures the perfect harmony of comfort and agility of the 7 Series.

REAR AXLEAIR SUSPENSION

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T HE BMW � SERIES HAS ALWAYS been at the forefront of equipment and technology for the comfort and pleasure of those lucky enough to be travelling aboard, and the latest version is no exception.

There’s not one, but two iDrive controllers to fully take control of the myriad entertainment and information systems – with the rear-mounted controller able to take control of each, or all, the screens onboard at will.

It’s the fi rst time that unrestricted access to the internet has been made available in a car – using EDGE technology to bring fast downloads direct to the screen in the back of the seat.

In addition to the technologies available onboard the new 7 Series, you are also able to connect a variety of devices – including the latest Apple iPhone.

Inside innov

There are a whole host of electronic systems in the 7 Series to help out behind the wheel. Firstly, there’s a lane change warning system which uses a small light in the side mirrors to warn of any cars in your blind spot. In addition, BMW’s night vision system can actually pick out individual pedestrians on the road and alert you to their presence. Plus, the active cruise control can bring the 7 Series to a complete halt in traffi c then start moving again once the jam begins to move.

DRIVERASSISTANCE

A 10.25-inch full-colour widescreen sits proudly in the middle of the dashboard, ideally positioned for easy viewing by driver and passenger. With a high-resolution 1280x480 pixel display, you’ll fi nd it easy-to-read on the move and it provides fi ngertip access to the built-in user manual plus control over the myriad of infotainment systems in the BMW 7 Series. In addition, hard-drive based satellite navigation is displayed on full-screen maps with voice commands helping you to fi nd your way.

CONTROLDISPLAY

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v ations Spending a lot of time inside the BMW 7 Series needn’t be a chore with all this technology

CONNECTEDWith individual screens for those in the rear, there’s no excuse for being out of touch. E-mails can be read and replied to on the move via iDrive

Two iDrive controllers are available in the latest 7 Series, one for the driver and an additional controller situated between the individual rear seats. This gives access to the large 9.2-inch full-colour screen mounted on the backs of the front seats. Through iDrive, rear-seated passengers can control the variety of entertainment systems available including the standard-fi t DVD player and the optional TV tuner, meaning you needn’t miss out on the latest news or your favourite show on the move.

iDRIVECONTROLLER

BMW is the world’s fi rst car maker to allow unrestricted use ofthe internet in the car via the built-in screens and iDrive controllers. Passengers in the rear can browse websites and access their e-mails at any time. For safety reasons, those in the front can only access these functions when the car is parked. In addition to the wider world wide web, BMW Online brings the specifi c news, business and weather information direct to the 7 Series via an exclusive internet-based portal.

BMWONLINE

The BMW 7 Series will seat four adults in supreme comfort – each in their own individually temperature-controlled area, even in the height of summer. An additional air-conditioner is fi tted in the boot area to provide suffi cient cooling to those in the rear via extra roof vents. To further improve the comfort of those onboard, the individual rear seats can be specifi ed with climate and massage functions, plus electronically-controlled position adjustment. Think of it like business class on wheels.

FOUR-ZONEAIR CONDITIONING

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A CAR LIKE THE BMW � SERIES has to fulfil many roles and its design has to reflect this. Its exterior must be both elegant and sporty to match the comfortable and dynamic nature of its drive.

Inside, it must give focus to the driver whilst offering ample space for the occupants in the rear.

The new 7 Series interprets the classic shape and lines of a saloon with a dynamic twist. It has hallmarks of BMW design such as the upright, low-slung kidney grille, the Hofmeister Kink at the rear window and the defined shoulder line that runs the full length of the car’s flanks from the headlight through the door handles to the rear lights.

The sides are pinched in at the edge of the window-line, then extend with a natural concave shape – which in turn improves space for those inside.

A unique ch a

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h aracter The BMW 7 Series has natural presence from every angle – a true BMW ambassador.

Even though it’s a saloon that measures in at over five-metres long, viewed in profile, you could be forgiven for thinking the 7 Series is a coupe. The stretched out bonnet flows into the low sweeping roofline, which then tapers at the rear without encroaching on the exemplary headroom.

From the driving seat you can feel that the 7 Series has been designed around you as the centre console is angled towards the steering wheel. The dashboard stretches across the cabin in an uninterrupted flash of wood.

This is a theme that’s also picked up at the rear where a chrome strip runs across the width of the bootlid bringing together the two individual L-shaped lights – themselves a BMW trademark. LEDs are used here and in the headlights to create a striking visual memory for other drivers, plus at the same time provide excellent visibility.

Within the lights there are small details which add to the character of the car. Defined ‘eyelids’ sit above the individual round headlights with a corona ring bordering each, creating a point of focus. The front air intake runs the width of the 7 Series, finished at either end with small fog lights.

At the rear, two polished exhaust tips are placed directly below the defined rear fog lights. The high visibility centre brakelight is positioned at the tip of the rear screen so as to not distract from the coherent design of the boot.

Each of the highly stylised alloy wheels sit within a defined arch that’s visible from whatever angle you view the car from. Numerous wheel designs are available to further augment the overall look of the 7 Series. It is strong and poised, demonstrating the car’s dynamic capabilities, whilst also hinting at the inherent comfortable nature of the car.

DRAWN OUTEarly sketches of by Lebanese designer Karim Habib show that the fi nal production vehicle remained true to his initial design vision.

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Luxury of driving

The BMW 7 Series will tempt you out of the opulent rear cabin and

back into the driver’s seat

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A DRIAN VAN HOOYDANK, Director Design at BMW, explains: ‘our clear intention with the new 7 Series was to ensure a perfect balance of elegance, presence and sportiness all in one.’ Essentially this

sums up the new fl agship saloon found in these pages. With the two versions of the 7 Series on sale in the

UAE both ‘Li’ editions, it is easy to dismiss the range as one that relegates the driving duties strictly to your chauff eur, but to do that entirely would be a gross injustice both to yourself and the astounding work of BMW engineers.

This may appear to be long-legged luxury barge that caters only to your comfort and provides merely an adequate motive function, but where it holds the trump card is in the way it will tempt owners out of the reclining, cosseting splendour of the rear, and into the side-hugging front seats.

In being fi rst and foremost a driver’s car, this fi fth generation 7 carries forward in spectacular fashion the inherited traits of sporty fl air embedded within its predecessors.

The BMW 501 from 1952, known as the ‘Baroque Angel’ came with a six-cylinder engine, but was later joined by the 502 featuring a V8. It set new standards in comfort, but it also maintained and reinforced the marque’s reputation for making sporting saloons.

BMW’s E3 saloon from 1968-77, also of this lineage, developed a reputation for being more sporty than its competition from Mercedes. The second generation 7 Series was so fast it had to have its speed electronically limited to 250kph, and the third took on successful starring roles on celluloid convincingly out-pacing all manner of baddies. Sleek, sexy and potent, it looked like it had the moves and the pace to back up its presence, much like the heroes behind the wheel.

Not that either you, or your driver-cum-man Friday have to be going full bore on every occasion behind the wheel. The brilliance of the 7 is that it serves up a multitude of personalities, fi ne tuned to your immediate requirements and priorities.

Much of the intimacy proff ered by the 7 to a master who is keen to indulge in the depth of sporting ability, comes from the way it appears to connect to the road. Despite the many layers of electro-wizardry that interjects between tactile reality and the pilot’s natural senses – it’s remarkable how feelsome this car can be, even though it’s implied that a luxury express should isolate its occupants from everything external.

For the fi rst time in a BMW passenger car, up front is a multilink double-wishbone setup, and the long-wheelbase editions we get all come with rear air-suspension. All this is mated to an electronic super-brain that runs the Driving Dynamics Control. This allows the driver to select between four modes

– Comfort, Normal, Sport (which itself provides the option of having fi rmer suspension or better engine response, or both together) and Sport+ which turns the dial up to 10 for grunt and handling and kicks in dynamic mode for the traction control.

Whilst two of the modes will attempt to smother the road into submission for a sublime ride, the others will tighten everything up. Sure, it introduces a smidgen of harshness to the ride and refi nement, but it compensates by reminding you what all BMWs do best – attack apexes and put a smile on your face.

Faced with roads that would see most limousines squeal in submission, begging for mercy and the safety of a quite cruise to a gala evening event, the 7 comes alive and surprises with its eagerness to shrink-wrap itself around you. The rear-wheels hook-up with assurance and the car keeps the pace hot when the going gets tortuous.

This is partly thanks to the application of the fi nest iteration yet of the standard Active Steering that has had mixed reviews in other models. In this guise it’s barely perceptible. And that’s despite the fact that as well as varying the steering ratio and assist level depending on the speed, it goes a step further and introduces some rear-wheel steer into the action.

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INTUITIVEBMW’s mastery of ergonomics is back with a user-friendly dash full of delightful features. The iDrive is also back, but it’s vastly improved

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With BMW Individual owners can select quality extras like Merino fi ne grain leather. With its soft-grain surface the leather always retains its natural open-pore structure, ensures a lasting active breasting effect, and offers supreme comfort.

You can also choose different seams and sewing patterns on the seats, the instrument panel, and the door linings and add the same trim to the pillars and roof lining.

Fine-grain, honey-coloured trim strips in Satin Walnut Brown as well as reddish-brown plane wood add a further touch of exclusivity or you can opt for the Black Piano. In both

cases the BMW Individual leather steering wheel adds a distinctive matching wooden ring inlay.

Citrin Black is a new colour and special effect pigments are produced in an elaborate crystallisation process that is said to shimmer like gold.

There is also a new fully integrated cooling box that fi ts two bottles and cans.

Finally you can go for the new 20-inch BMW Individual light-alloy wheels in V-spoke design as featured on the car in these pictures.

BMWINDIVIDUAL

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At slow speeds the back wheels turn opposite to the fronts by up to three degrees for a sharper turning circle. Hasten the pace and they’ll do the reverse by the same amount to enhance the directional stability. The best of these systems are those that improve the car’s handling without the driver realising what is going on. That’s what you get here.

The version tested for the purpose of this review was the 750Li, and there is an astounding factoid that may appear a bit crude in this context, but is utterly necessary to bring in at this point. The 0-100kph time of this car is 5.3 seconds. Mull that over for a bit because that is only half a second slower than an M3, and as quick as a Porsche Boxster S.

Even that doesn’t relate the full story of the performance marvel that is the compact 4.4-litre twin-turbo 402bhp V8 nestling under that extravagantly long bonnet. What should be a lazy, lusty motor actually leaves you agog at its zeal, enthusiastically spinning its rev needle – not that it needs to.

Despite its 2055kg bulk, the 750Li will surge forward dramatically thanks to a broad unrelenting wave of 443lb ft of torque that remains constant throughout the real world driving zone from 1750rpm to 4500rpm. It’s smooth, creamy, fl uid and eff ortless.

And of course part of the credit there goes to the six-speed automatic which, whilst not entirely revolutionary or well-endowed enough to batter contemporaries, has been massaged to be faster, smoother and more economical. Moving the lever back to where it belongs on the centre console is also a good move, and allows some drivers – if they really must – to sequential manual shift.

Sitting right next to the newly repositioned gear lever is the all-new vastly improved iDrive controller – an object no longer to be feared, but to be embraced with enthusiasm, fascination and a newfound sense of empowerment.

Frankly it’s a giant leap forward. Not only is the smaller, handier knob more logically able to rotate to move up and down the new menu options and tilt to move from one menu to the next, but it is now accompanied be a selection of shortcut buttons, and with the exception of maybe one switch that is obscured from the driver’s view, this feature adds a whole new level of useability.

It is mated to one of the largest front monitors ever seen in a car, a 10.2-inch high resolution 1280 by 480 pixels screen. The new iDrive is also much more rewarding to master as it opens up a gateway into a dazzling array of features, settings and possibilities. You can even access the entire contents of the owner’s manual from here (which you will need to!) in a searchable and handy format. If you can work a computer mouse, you can use iDrive.

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THE REAR WHEELS CAN TURN UP TO THREE DEGREES

EITHER WAY

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The user-friendly nature and intuitive layout and presentation of controls is prevalent throughout the cabin which, as you would expect and indeed rightfully demand, is heavily laden with clever gadgetry and extraordinary techno-trickery that leaves you corrupt with power and absolute control over your dominion.

They are the sort of things you never knew you needed, but once accustomed to them, you can never be without: rear and sideview cameras, lane departure warning, active cruise control with stop and go function for coping with traffi c, a separate rear air conditioning system, night vision, head-up display, 7.6GB of storage space for music fi les, six DVD autochanger, an excellent

sat-nav that features a new terrain view with topographical mapping and... frankly, we could go on and on for a very long time.

Exuding quality and opulence the cabin style is open and inviting. It’s less stark with warmer fi nishes. There’s a crisply presented dashboard and a very intelligent and confi gurable instrument panel featuring four analogue needles backed by a full LCD digital display: neat, aesthetic and providing a uniqueness that adds to the sense that you are in something really rather special.

Move into the back and to use the word palatial would not be overstating the abundance of space and privileged lavishness. The individual rear passengers get fully adjustable seats, their own vanity mirrors,

DVD screens, footrests, vanity mirrors, and even their own unique air condition controls and vents. There’s also an additional iDrive system in the back.

Of course, the level of kit you get depends on which of the four variations you opt for as the 740Li and 750Li are split into Executive and Exclusive trims with prices starting at 370,000Dhs for the 740Li Executive and rising to 500,000Dhs for the 750Li Exclusive.

We’ve left the best for last though, and that’s the appropriately evolutionary new looks. Although you may be hard pressed to tell this apart from the previous car on fi rst acquaintance (look out for the chrome gill on the side panels, huge front kidneys that dip down into the bumper and a more

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IT’S SLEEKER, MORE COHESIVE, BETTER DEFINED. A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

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NEED TO KNOW

BMW 740Li

Price: 390,000-420,000Dhs

Engine: 2979cc twin-turbo 6-cyl, 326bhp @ 5800rpm, (450NM) 332lb ft @ 1500-4500rpm

Transmission: Six-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive

Performance: 6.0sec 0-100kph, 250kph, 10.0L/100

Weight: 1970kg

Made from: Steel and aluminiumOn sale: Now

NEED TO KNOW

BMW 750Li

Price: 465,000-485,000Dhs

Engine: 4395cc twin-turbo V8, 407bhp @ 5500-6400rpm, (600NM) 443lb ft @ 1750-4500rpm

Transmission: Six-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive

Performance: 5.3sec 0-100kph, 250kph, 11.4L/100

Weight: 2055kg

Made from: Steel and aluminiumOn sale: Now

cohesive and logical tapering of the bootline that’s so much less jarring), you just know this car is a major step in the right direction. It is better defi ned, sleeker and sportier with strong lines presenting a credible illusion of being lower, squatter and more planted especially from the front, and overall it has a better proportioned presence.

Less controversial, more acceptable styling on a fl agship car boasting a huge dose of desirability stemming from the power, performance, dynamics and technological showcase of electronics and engineering excellence, the new 7 Series wins every argument you dare put in its direction.

But where it simply seals the deal is that it remembers and reminds us of the essence of a 7 Series, and allows the owner to revel in what a 7 has always been about: the drive.

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T HE BMW � SERIES ARRIVED �� years ago as a successor to BMW’s ’large class’ which itself started in 1939 with the 335. This six-cylinder sports sedan was the marque’s fi rst move upmarket, but even then set a trend

for innovation being the fi rst car to off er a four-speed gear box with full synchromesh on all ratios.

Just a few months after its launch, BMW’s Chairman of the Board, Eberhard von Kuenheim announced: ‘The volume of orders is so unexpectedly high that the Dingolfing plant can barely keep up with production.’ Company turnover had risen by 32 percent the year before and BMW was turning out 24 percent more cars. The BMW 7 Series was more successful than any previous BMW model series in its class.

The latest 7 Series has some big shoes to fill.

History in the making

The BMW 7 Series has become a byword for innovation

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Features included the world’s fi rst electronic speedometer and anti-dive front suspension. Three models were initially available: the 2.8-litre, 3.0-litre and 3.2-litre with 170, 184 and 197bhp respectively. In 1978 BMW began offering ABS and launched features such as an anti-theft warning system, driver’s vanity mirror and heated door locks, heated seats, onboard computer, cruise control, rear sunblind and automatic air conditioning.

1ST GENERATION 1977-1986

This was the fi rst German saloon to offer a 12-cylinder engine since the 1930s. Luxury features included integrated telephone and fax, a drinks cooler, double-glazed windows and electronic stability control. Whilst the 750iL was said to be capable of 300kph, this car introduced BMW’s self-imposed speed limit of 250kph. And the ’L’ represented the introduction of stretched versions with an extra 11.4cm of leg room for rear seat passengers.

2ND GENERATION 1986-1994

Arguably the best looking of all the 7 Series models, this edition became a regular fi lm star with appearances in the James Bond movie, Tomorrow Never Dies and the fi rst Transporter movie. New features included auto-levelling Xenon headlamps, power moonroof, 14-speaker sound system with four subwoofers and six-CD changer, onboard satellite navigation, automatic front wipers, front side airbags, plus seat and mirror memory for the driver.

3RD GENERATION 1994-2001

This 7 Series lead the way in innovative design as well as technology. The styling’s controversial new direction featured radical ‘fl ame surfacing’ and a tail with an extra layer of metal on the top edge. The car also introduced BMW’s fi rst of a kind iDrive system which featured a control knob on the centre console linked to a monitor on the dashboard and controlling systems including climate, audio, navigation, suspension and communication.

4TH GENERATION 2001-2008

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M I D D L E E A S T E D I T I O N

New BMW 7 Series

in association with

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