BMW 7-Series |
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Trend-setting new 7-Series sparks debate |
 The question is, has BMW done it again, or has BMW really done it this
time? This very serious car maker has established a legendary reputation
for continually striving for perfection, and coming ever closer to
achieving it. The all-new and radical E65 7-Series however is
the first car they have produced that is truly controversial. Have BMW
actually gone overboard this time?This car is a first in many respects, but not everybody likes it. Older buyers (the intended target market) seem more than slightly resistant to the high tech, while the styling elicits a confused mixture of responses. However, it is one of those designs which may grow on one as time goes by, and it does look better in the metal than on paper. In real life, there appears to be more proportion and dimension than the photographs portray. In the final analysis, only time and the way it ages, will tell. BMW calls its new luxury flagship "a major step forward" in automotive design. It certainly marks a new design direction for the company, lead by thirty-something Dutch industrial designer Adrian van Hooydonk, new head of the BMW Group's DesignworksUSA studio in California. The off-beat front and rear ends appeals (or revolts) instantly, while the roofline and door design is akin to the more traditional BMW designs we have become accustomed to. But while the exterior may be a shocker to some, it is actually under the skin and inside the roomy cabin where most of the trendsetting stuff can be found, mostly in the form of electronics that would seem more at home in the "Battlestar Galactica". And speaking of the battlestars, this Beemer  is big!. Compared with the old
model, which already had barge-like proportions, it gains 45 mm in
length, 40 mm around the hips and has grown 57 mm taller, yet only 20 kg
heavier. While it's most likely owners may not care much about fuel
consumption, BMW's claimed figures of 10,7 litres/100 km for the 735i and
10,9 litres/100 km for the 745i are remarkable. Interior room is more than
abundant, while the luggage area consumes a gluttonous 500 litres -
in other words, four full golf bags would fit with ease.Probably the most radical technology incorporated in the new 7 is the iDrive concept, BMW's solution for the myriad of automotive functions becoming increasingly common in cars today. It does away with countless knobs, buttons and switches on the dashboards, instead featuring a single controller button with information display screen which makes use of the same basic principles as a computer mouse and monitor. For the driver, vehicle control is split into two main areas and control functions - the driving area (immediately in front of the driver) and the comfort area (running up the centre console and the middle of the dash). All the primary controls needed to drive the car are directly in front of the driver. The gearshift is controlled by a stalk on the steering column and the parking brake is operated by a button on the dashboard, within easy reach. The rest of the dashboard is almost devoid of switches and buttons, giving the interior clean lines and a feeling of light and space. Exceptions are the primary heater controls and the sound system on/off knob. All remaining secondary controls are operated via the Controller - a large circular knob positioned on the centre console. Control areas are selected via a menu-driven display at the top of the dashboard and is surprisingly easy to use. Driver or passenger can control the sound system, suspension setting, climate control,  navigation and all other auxiliary functions on
the 7-Series. Optionally, iDrive controls can also be installed in the
rear of a 745Li giving rear passengers similar access to all functions,
and future developments will see the system providing access to services
like email, the Yellow Pages, news and local guidesAnd then there is the abundant luxury - it goes without saying that BMW will have utilized finest materials available to ensure an air of opulence in a supremely comfortable environment. The standard spec includes satellite navigation, Dynamic Drive active anti-roll system, telephone and leather upholstery, while the option list is endless. Owners can truly customise their cars. Both models are powered by some of the most refined and advanced V8 engines in the world. According to BMW, both power and economy have been improved by around 14 per cent. The 735i now produces 200 kW and 350 Nm of torque, yielding a 0 to 100 km/h time of 7.7 seconds while the 745i delivers 245 kW and 450 Nm of torque and sprints through the 100km/h mark in a mere 6.5 seconds. As always, the engines are governed to prevent the vehicles from exceeding (a rather irrelevant) 250km/h . Both engines have 32-valves and use BMW's double-VANOS variable valve timing and new variable valve lift technology called VALVETRONIC. The latter system improves combustion efficiency by allowing the inlet valves to regulate the fuel/air mixture entering the cylinders, thus negating the need for a throttle butterfly. Mated to both engines is another world first for a series production
car - a 6-speed automatic gearbox. This has three modes - drive, sport and
manual. In manual mode, gears are shifted by using the Steptronic buttons
on the steering wheel. |
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airbags as you have fingers, while
the standard spec includes the Dynamic Drive active anti-roll system.
Sensors detect when the car begins to corner and hydraulic actuators
rotate the asymmetric roll bars to lift the car on the outside of the
bend, significantly reducing body roll. All the usual BMW acronyms are
there: DSC (Dynamic Stability Control), DTC (Dynamic Traction
Control ) and CBC (Cornering Braking Control), not to mention a new one
called FBC (Fading Brake Support) which employs temperature sensors in the
brake discs to detect excessive heat build-up and apply extra force to the
discs to compensate for any fade if necessary. Under really extreme
driving conditions, when disc temperatures exceed 600șC, engine torque is
electronically reduced by 25 per cent to allow the brakes to cool.