Seven's Giant Leap

BMW has gone the whole hog and then some more to re-invent its flagship and has hit the ball out of the park by offering the 7 Series with mild-hybrid diesel, mild and plug-in hybrid petrol and battery electric drivetrains. We were in Palm Springs, California to drive the i7 and the 760i as part of the international media launch of the seventh generation of the 7 Series

- Yogendra Pratap

While BMW leads the premium car market globally, it has failed to crack the leadership battle for the top of the premium car market despite many really improved generations of the 7 Series. Its main competition has at times taken a substantial lead in many crucial markets and something had to give.

So, BMW has gone ahead and radically changed the 7 Series inside out, for whatever parameter one may choose to look at. Whether it is the tech or it is the design, whether it is the features or systems, whether it is infotainment or connectivity, whether it is switchgear or it is the knobs and handles, nothing has been just improved; it has all been radically changed, for the better or the worse!

First and foremost is the dimensions of the car. The 7, in its previous generation moved away from its short wheel-base version to have the L as the only option, and now that I wheelbase has been further increased and the length of the car has gone up by 130mm. And not only is it longer but it is wider and taller as well.

It continues to use the cluster architecture that underpins most of the BMW rear wheel drive range and puts it to the full gamut of use that it was intended for an ICE car with a 48V mild hybrid system, a plug-in hybrid as well as a full electric car. Thus the new 7 is powertrain agnostic and offers all mainstream technologies available in the market today.

First is the radical change in looks which gives it a very bold front and a stance reminiscent of its sibling Rolls Royce cars. This monolithic surface design is expected to make its way to all BMW high end vehicles. The front gets split headlamps like the X7 which debuted earlier and the huge kidney grille now gets an illuminated surround while the double tone colour scheme with pin striping along the shoulder line of the car give it a very majestic look and royal presence.