[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he full-size 7-Series sedan is the largest and most luxurious model in the BMW lineup.
It’s fast and handles amazingly agile for a big luxury car.
The BMW7 Series is powered by a choice of three turbocharged engines — six, eight or twelve cylinders — and a diesel-powered, all-wheeldrive, extended-wheelbase model is an option.
There is little change in the 7 Series for 2015, though subtle design adjustments were made to the front end.
The signature twin kidney grilles were redesigned with nine slats and wrapped in larger chrome surrounds, while the headlights were given LED units as an option.
The lower front fascia air intake was also redesigned to house new fog lights.
Navigation and electronics
The navigation system was revised with crisper graphics and new 3D elements, and an enhanced voice recognition system lets the driver dictate and send emails without removing your hands from the wheel.
Other electronics include Remote Services, which lets you use a smartphone to remotely start the car, turn on the air conditioning or beep the horn and flash the headlights. New app technology allows access to Facebook, Twitter, Web radio services through iDrive, while BMW Online gives access to Google local search, restaurant and hotels guides, and telephone directories.
Under the hood
Power options for the 7-Series include three gas engines and a turbodiesel. Each drivetrain is designated by the model name. The entry-level 740i has a turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-six with 315 hp; the 750i gets a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 with 445 hp; the 760Li has a twin-turbo 6.0- liter V-12 with 535 hp and it clocks 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds.
An eight-speed automatic transmission is the standard gearbox for all engines, and the 740i and 750i can come with BMW’s available xDrive all-wheel-drive system.
Fuel economy is at 19/28 mpg city/highway for the 740i; 750i gets 17/25 mpg; 750i xDrive, 750Li and 750Li xDrive record 16/24 mpg. The big 760Li gets 13/20 mpg.
Features
All 7-Series models have a Driving Dynamics Control system that allows the driver to personalize a wide range of the car’s systems to suit tastes, including accelerator response, engine response, power steering characteristics, stability control thresholds, transmission and damper settings.
Standard in the 7 Series lineup is the electronically controlled damping system with shock absorbers that adjust individually at each wheel based on the road surface condition and the individual driving style.
All 7-Series models come standard with leather upholstery, heated front seats, genuine wood trim, a moonroof, a rear parking camera, dynamic cruise control, a proximity key, a navigation system with voice command, a 10-speaker, 205-watt AM/FM/CD sound system with Sirius Satellite Radio, HD Radio and AUX and USB inputs, a 20 GB hard drive, Bluetooth smartphone connectivity with audio streaming and four-zone automatic climate control.
Pricing
The MSRP on the BMW 7 Series is $74,950.
[author image=”http://www.samaonline.org/Ron.jpg” ]Ron Beasley is the automotive editor for Miami’s Community Newspapers. He may be contacted by calling 305-662-2277, ext. 261, or by addressing email correspondence to LetsTalkCars@aol.com.[/author]
