BMW’S SEVENTH HEAVEN LEGENDARY PERFORMANCE, CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY

There’s a lot about this year’s models that remind drivers why BMW has always been, and remains, the “Ultimate Driving Machine.” A drive in one of the latest iterations of refined luxury and high performance vehicles, and you know the more things change for the German carmaker, the more things stay the same.

But there’s also much to signal the iconic brand’s evolution, which embraces the needs and wants of modern driving enthusiasts. Nowhere do these two worlds blend together more seamlessly than in the 2023 BMW 7 Series.

“I like to say BMW is an engineering company that stumbled upon making cars, and they make a darn good one,” said Mark Deegan, client advisor with Onyx Automotive. “The 7 Series has always had a very elegant, very defined presence, especially this new one. I sometimes refer to it as the limousine of BMWs.”

The 740i features a turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine while the 760i xDrive beefs it up to a twin-turbo V-8—but the ride may surprise you. Despite its larger size, the handling feels quite nimble while changes to the chassis and suspension allow it to float down the road. Various modes allow the driver to customize the car’s feel to match driving conditions.

None of which comes at the price of power, of course. The 760i commands attention with 536 horsepower and peak torque of 553 lb-ft that will get one from 0 to 60 mph in around 4.2 seconds. The 740i boasts 375 hp, peak torque of 383 lb-ft, and standing-to-60 in 5 seconds flat.

Both models are linked to a 48-volt mild hybrid starter-generator system offering regenerative braking, which boosts horsepower and torque and also feeds the car’s 12-volt electrical system.

“That mild hybrid system helps drive more power and more economy, and it really helps the transition when it comes to a stop,” Deegan said. “It’s very subtle.”

While the heart of the new models will feel very familiar, the face of it is decidedly different. The 7 Series offers completely reimagined body design styling, particularly up front. Split headlights and large illuminated kidney grilles announce the vehicles with authority. Some purists may scoff at the look, but such reactions are getting fainter as the public warms to this new embodiment of the brand. After all, few people invest in a machine of this caliber for its subtlety.

“It’s the ultimate head-turner,” Deegan said. At 212.2 inches long, 76.8 inches wide, and 60.8 inches tall, the new 7 is the biggest BMW ever built. The company uses all that space to create a sumptuously comfortable and appointed cabin, including four-zone climate control, heated and ventilated massage seats in the front and the rear, and an almost entirely new infotainment system.

Without question, the biggest advancement in the new BMW 7 Series is the level of technology smartly incorporated into the cabin. The driver’s instruments have been integrated into iDrive 8 and the curved dash display, which minimizes physical buttons and knobs. Intuitive and beautiful, the system features BMW’s Intelligent Personal Assistant (IPA), incorporating voice commands to help the driver navigate and adjust to the expansive system.

Things are even more impressive for passengers, thanks to an available 31.3-inch 8K resolution touchscreen display that folds up into the roof of the rear passenger area. The show-stopping feature is equipped with Amazon Fire TV and other streaming applications that can be accessed through various user profiles.

“If you had told me a few years ago that they’d be putting TVs into the back of a 7, I’d have laughed at you,” Deegan said, “but it really is so well-engineered and refined. Many of the people buying these aren’t driving them; they’re in the back [seat]...with that technology, they can do a Zoom call just as easily as in an office. For the person riding in the back of the car, those amenities are definitely very sought after.”

BMW has pushed the technology and engineering envelope in another major way: by building a full electric version of the 7 Series, which is getting rave reviews from the automotive press. BMW is no stranger to the EV space, but as with the gasoline models, the i7 takes the concept and turns it up to 11 in performance, comfort, and features.

The i7 features two electric motors (neither of which contain any rare-earth minerals), delivering 536 horsepower and around 300 miles of driving range per charge. The 101.7 kWh lithium-ion battery is heavy, but also represents a big step forward in EV battery technology. For example, charging the beast from 10 to 80% takes just 34 minutes thanks to a 350kW DC fast charger. The company also claims just 10 minutes of charge will yield about 80 miles.

Charging, range, and power (BMW puts the car’s straight-line 0-to-60 time at 4.5 seconds) are impressive enough, but when one considers the creature comforts, the powerplant is supporting on top of the powertrain, the genius behind the i7 really starts to come into focus. From the aforementioned instrument display and TV to the sound system and ambient lighting, the i7 demands few concessions neither from the driver nor their passengers.

It’s as hard to comprehend what the 7 Series could have possibly overlooked as it is to imagine what they will come up with next. But as the 2023 lineup proves, even a luxury standard-bearer like BMW is capable of shaking things up with the right balance of engineering and imagination.

“When you get up into the 7 Series, they definitely are the pinnacle,” Deegan said. “They’re bold statement pieces.”

For more information on BMW’s 7 series, visit onyxautomotive.com.

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