The new 2016 BMW 7 Series is finally here. With sales scheduled to launch in the next few days, the flagship sedan just went through a series of test drives at the hands of journalists from around the world. In Porto, Portugal and New York City, the new 7er aims to impress all of us with its latest technology, design and luxury.
The flagship model, until the rumored 760Li arrives, is the 750Li, the long-wheelbase version powered by an V8 engine under the hood. The all-new BMW 7 Series will be introduced in the US as a 740i and a 750i xDrive model; the company has yet to say if other models will follow. The European market will also get at launch time the 730d and 730Ld models, both with a rear-wheel drive setup or all-wheel drive. A hybrid 740e and 740Le is also scheduled for the European market.
The 750Li is fitted with a revised 4.4 liter TwinPower twin-turbocharged V8, with the turbos mounted in between the v-shaped cylinder bank, and will develop 445 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque which will be available at 1,800 rpm. This revised V8 is also a ULEV (Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle) and is far more efficient than the outgoing model’s. BMW managed to do this by changing the compression ratio, from 10:0:1 to 10:5:1 and the addition of the latest Valvetronic and Double Vanos systems. This engine also marks the first time in a production car that the intake manifold has been partially integrated into the cylinder head, allowing for less airflow resistance and smaller exterior dimensions.
In the U.S., BMW offers the 7 Series with the following exterior colors: Alpine White, Jet Black, Carbon Black Metallic, Black Sapphire Black, Cashmere Silver Metallic, Glacier Silver Metallic, Imperial Blue Metallic, Dark Graphite Metallic, Mineral White Metallic, Singapore Gray Metallic, Jatoba Brown Metallic, Magellan Gray Metallic and Arctic Gray Metallic.
The following packages are also offered to U.S. customers: Autobahn Package, Cold Weather Package, Driver Assistance Package, Executive Package, Interior Design Package, Luxury Rear Seating Package, M Sport Package and Rear Executive Lounge Seating Package. These are likely the most packages ever offered for a BMW.
In the wheels department, BMW customers can choose from a combination of 18, 19 and 20 inch wheels.
The 2016 BMW 750i xDrive (which is in fact the long-wheelbase model under a different badge) will be $97,400 (prices do not include Destination and Handling).
BMW 750i xDrive (BMW 750Li xDrive):
V8 petrol engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology (two TwinScroll turbochargers, direct injection, VALVETRONIC, Double-VANOS).
Capacity: 4,395cc, output: 330 kW/450 hp at 5,500–6,000 rpm,
torque: 650 Nm / 479 lb-ft at 1,800–4,500 rpm.
Acceleration [0–100 km/h / 62 mph]: 4.4 seconds (4.5 seconds),
top speed: 250 km/h /155 mph.
Average fuel consumption*: 8.3–8.1 (8.5–8.3) litres per 100 kilometres / 34.0–34.9 (33.2–34.0) mpg imp,
CO2 emissions*: 194–189 (197–192) g/km, exhaust standard: EU6.
