New Series 7 boasts next-level luxury and world-first technology features

BMW hopes to raise the bar with Autumn release

BMW's all-new flagship sedan, which boasts a new level of the luxury and digital features, will showcase a couple of world-first technologies when presented to customers this Autumn, according to the automaker.

The sixth generation of the BMW 7 series made its world premiere in Munich on June 10, inherits the brand's vision from the Future Luxury concept car that debuted a year ago at Auto China 2014 and benefits from BMW i technology.

BMW expects the model to set new standards for lightweight design, driving dynamics, comfort, intelligent connectivity and operating systems, as it offers customers added value with more interior ambience and innovative functionality.

Harald Kruger, chairman of the board of management of BMW AG, said, "We are presenting another technological leap forward, with unique innovations. And we are inventing automotive luxury for the 21st century.

"With each generation of the 7 Series, we have brought our customers' needs to the road, adapting accordingly as time moved on. Each generation has defined, changed and advanced mobility. Each generation has delivered ground-breaking innovations and set new standards."

Every BMW 7 Series is tailor-made to customers' demands. Drivers can choose from a huge range of possibilities and customize their 7 Series to suit their own personal preferences, according to the automaker.

"Every 7 Series is just as unique as its owner's personality. That is also modern luxury," said Kruger.

According to the carmaker, the new BMW 7 is the first vehicle with a body structure built using carbon fiber reinforced plastic, steel and aluminum, namely Carbon Core, making it lighter and more concrete. The carbon-fiber-intensive light-weight structure technology, initially applied in the BMW i8 hybrid sports car, has cut the BMW 7's weight by 130 kilograms compared with the previous model and hopes to cut fuel consumption by 0.6 liter per 100 kilometers.

Although much lighter than its 8-year-old predecessor, the new 7 Series is heavy in electronics. It is the luxury carmaker's first series production car that responds to hand gestures. It also features wireless inductive charging for mobile phones and a removable seven-inch tablet computer controls infotainment functions.

The luxury car's gesture control system and remote control parking function is expected to be the world's first of its kind to meet customers in early Autumn, months ahead of Volkswagen's new Golf R, which is equipped with similar technologies and is due to launch in 2016.

The gesture control system marks the start of a new era of car function control. Instead of pressing a button or using voice commands, drivers can wave to reject an incoming phone call for example. The remote control parking system is achieved through the use of the intelligent BMW Display Key, with an embedded color display. The BMW Display Key can also show the driving mileage, car locking status and other useful information like notices for maintenance.

Features

The new BMW 7 Series also boasts Driving Assistance Plus including a Steering and Directional Control Assistant, Lane Departure Warning Assistant with active side collision protection and rear collision prevention and cross-traffic warning functions.

Within the 210 km/h range, the all-new BMW 7 Series can be used in semi-automated driving mode with a Traffic-Jam Assistant. The Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function now only requires drivers to press a button to incorporate speed restrictions detected by the Speed Limit Info function.

In terms of power output, the new model features the new generation of straight six-cylinder engine and upgraded V8 engine. The all-new BMW 7 Series PHEV with BMW eDrive will also enter the GKL+ segment for the first time.

Steven Althaus, head of brand management and marketing services at BMW Group, said: "The new BMW 7 Series brings positive new aspects to the BMW brand. BMW M represents the 'Future of Performance' and BMW i the 'Future of Mobility'. The BMW 7 Series stands for the 'Future of Luxury'. Just as ground-breaking as the new BMW 7 Series itself, are the creative partners, settings and innovative approach we have chosen."

The six generation BMW 7 Series has been in production from July 1 at the Dingolfing plant in Munich, in which the group has invested 500 million euros ($563.4 million) to upgrade the facilities to implement the latest new technologies.

Since 2008, 370,000 models of the previous generation 7 Series were built in Dingolfing and shipped to customers in more than 100 countries worldwide.

Contact the writers at gongzhengzheng@chinadaily.com.cn and haoyan@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 06/15/2015 page19)