Review of the new BMW 7 Series Range

The BMW 7 Series is certainly a technological showcase but even with all the advanced systems stripped away, it's a formidable motor car. Superb engines and a keen focus on driver enjoyment as well as the top level luxury that's a must in this sector are what make the 7 Series so desirable.

Only a select group of people will ever have the money or the inclination to buy a BMW 7 Series but the model that sits at the pinnacle of the Munich manufacturer's range is relevant to every motorist nonetheless. The 7 Series has always represented what BMW considers to be the state of the car maker's art. It serves as a testing bed for the latest technologies and innovations, features that will gradually filter down into less exclusive products. For a glimpse into the near future of automotive technology and design, the latest version of BMW's flagship is never a bad place to start.

Of course, the 7 Series is no concept car. It's designed primarily to sell and generate income for its manufacturer, so its advanced systems need to contribute to the usability and desirability of what must be a top end luxury saloon. BMW is looking to reaffirm connections with its target market after the previous generation 7 Series received a somewhat lukewarm response to aspects of its unorthodox styling and convoluted iDrive control interface. Revisions throughout that car's lifecycle smoothed out most of the sharp edges, allowing the supremely capable car beneath scope to shine through. Now, the latest 7 Series looks to develop that formula with evolutionary design supplemented by a raft of groundbreaking features.

BMW's engines are the envy of the automotive world and being the marque's flagship model, the 7 Series gets the pick of them. The line-up opens with the 730d which is set to account for fully 85 per cent of 7 Series sales in the UK. It seems even the country's business elite have half an eye on their fuel gauges these days. It's a third generation common-rail diesel engine which fires fuel into its six cylinders at a peak pressure of 1,800bar. This helps the unit achieve an amazingly efficient combustion process and with 245bhp plus a massive 540Nm of torque, it's not short of go. The 740d uses a twin-turbo version of the same engine with 306bhp. Next up is the 740i which actually uses a six-cylinder 3.0-litre petrol engine with twin turbochargers to generate its 326bhp and 450Nm torque rating. It's capable of covering the 0-62mph sprint in 5.9s, which isn't a million miles away from the 5.2s of the V8-equipped 750i. This engine is 4.4-litres in capacity and uses a similar twin-turbo direct injection configuration to its smaller counterpart. Here there's 407bhp and a full 600Nm of torque all the way from 1,500rpm to 4,500rpm for effortless progress. The range-topper is the mighty 760Li V12.

"BMW has set new standards for the luxury saloon sector."

BMW's six-speed automatic gearbox is standard fitment on the 7 Series, as is the advanced Dynamic Driving Control system. This allows the driver to adapt the set-up of the car at will by flicking between Comfort, Normal, Sport and Sport + modes as the fancy takes them. Even within these settings, the technology can adapt the car's steering, dampers, throttle response and gear shift speed according to the road conditions and the driver's style. The 7 Series uses double wishbone suspension at the front and a multi-link set-up at the rear, underlining its sporting pretensions. Buyers wanting the ultimate in smoothness can opt for air suspension as well.

There's nothing particularly ground breaking about the way the 7 Series looks. The exterior lines are clearly derived from the previous generation car with elements carried over from BMW's other current products. The kidney grille is more upright and pronounced shoulder lines run the length of the car, forming a raised centre section on the bonnet. Inside there's more of the same with design features that BMW owners will be more than familiar with. Where the 7 Series really moves the game on is in terms of its technology with all kinds of innovations being made available to customers with the money to afford them. Amongst the highlights is night vision system that can detect and warn the driver if a pedestrian moves into the path of the vehicle. There's also a front side view camera system that activates cameras on the nose of the car to give the driver a better view at blind junctions. The Lane Departure Warning system monitors road markings and tells the driver if they wander out of their lane while the Speed Limit Warning System can actually read road signs and warn the driver if they exceed the speed limit.

Any one concerned about parking and manoeuvring the 7 Series in tight situations will be interested in the Integral Active Steering system that allows the rear wheels to steer by as much as 3 degrees. This has a big effect on the car's turning circle and significantly enhances manoeuvrability at low speeds while also improving the driving dynamics when the pace picks up.

The 7 Series is available in standard or long wheelbase form, so buyers can make a decision depending on whether they like to drive themselves or employ a chauffer and sit in the back. There are SE and M-Sport trim levels but all models get the latest iDrive control system with programmable buttons for easier access to regularly used functions and a four-zone air-conditioning system. There's also an optional rear seat ventilation system that feeds cool air through the massaging seats in the back. Music fans can make use of the 8gb music server that has the capacity to store over 100 albums on the car's internal harddrive for instant playback.

BMW's Dynamic Stability Control + system comes as standard on all 7 Series models. Bundled up in this package are innovations such as Hill-Start Assist, Brake drying and pretensioning, Soft-stop and Brake Fade Compensation which are all designed to enhance safety and maximise the smoothness which the 7 Series goes about its business. The Dynamic Traction Control can be activated by the driver to allow greater wheel slippage for sporty driving or to enhance performance on snow and ice.

BMW's EfficientDynamics technology has set the standard in a market where every mainstream manufacturer is taking steps to maximise economy and lower emissions. The 7 Series benefits from the full EfficientDynamics package with key body panels fabricated from aluminium to save weight and Brake Energy Regeneration using energy that would have been lost under braking or on the overrun to recharge the car's battery. The results are genuinely impressive, particularly in the case of the 730d with its 41.5mpg economy and 178g/km emissions being more in line with what you'd expect from a compact executive saloon. Even the V8 750i manages nearly 25mpg and 266g/km emissions.

The technology BMW has levered into the latest 7 Series gives us all a heads up on just how much is possible in motor cars today but the engineering of the car has just as much potential to open people's eyes. The engine range is outstanding in terms of performance and economy with BMW setting new standards for the luxury saloon sector.

TOP 5 7 SERIES DEALS

The results below show the top 7 SERIES deals on buyacar

BMW 7 Series 730Ld SE 4dr Auto Diesel Saloon
Price £54,884 Read 7 Series Reviews	Save £5,746
BMW 7 Series 730d M Sport 4dr Auto Diesel Saloon
Price £56,688 Read 7 Series Reviews	Save £5,992
BMW 7 Series 760Li M Sport 4dr Auto Saloon
Price £91,786 Read 7 Series Reviews	Save £10,689
BMW 7 Series 740i 4dr Auto Saloon
Price £55,427 Read 7 Series Reviews	Save £5,758
BMW 7 Series 740Li 4dr Auto Saloon
Price £58,225 Read 7 Series Reviews	Save £6,140
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