Photos by Star Sabroso
Asian Carmakers Corporation (ACC), the authorized importer and distributor of BMW in the Philippines, recently unveiled the all-new BMW 7 Series at a gala event held at the Grand Ballroom of the new Shangri-La at the Fort in Bonifacio Global City. Heralded as the most innovative in the series, luxury car aficionados definitely welcomed this milestone that showcased BMW’s technical evolution that combined groundbreaking features in design, functionality, efficient dynamics, and the utmost in comfort that is set to redefine the future of contemporary automotive luxury.
“Since 1977, BMW has been delivering ground-breaking innovations and setting new standards with our flagship BMW 7 Series. From the electronic speedometer, to Park Distance Control, to the revolutionary iDrive operating system, all of which have become an industry benchmark for modern cars. Today, this sixth-generation BMW 7 Series has made yet another breakthrough by introducing new technologies such as carbon core that reduces overall weight by up to 130kg, and a full suite of innovations like Touch Command, Gesture control, Sky Lounge with Panorama Glass Roof, just to name a few,” said ACC president Maricar Parco. “This all-new BMW 7 Series embodies our quest for modern mobility, the highest quality and absolute precision. This is truly a masterpiece from BMW, and probably the best car we have ever built,” the executive added.
The main variant of the series to be offered in the Philippine market is the all-new BMW 740Li while only a limited number of the range-topping BMW 750Li will be readily made available.
A six-cylinder engine with TwinPower Turbo technology powers the BMW 740Li, with the crankcase, cylinder head and oil sump all made from aluminium. The all-new BMW 740Li can produce an output of 326-hp and can accelerate from xero to 100kph in just 5.6 seconds. Its average fuel consumption of 6.6 liters per 100-km is an increase of up to 16 percent from its predecessor – and green conscious car owners will welcome the improved average CO2 emission of 154 g/km.
Now if you think the BMW 7 series was already the ultimate in luxury, wait till you get your hands on the all-new 2016 BMW 750Li that boasts a V8 unit that has undergone extensive redevelopment. It features a displacement of 4.4 liters and BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, TwinScroll turbochargers featuring flow-separated, bank-specific exhaust manifolds made from thin-wall castings that promote greater engine efficiency. All these modifications enable the all-new BMW 750Li to produce an output of 450hp, and the need for speed is certainly answered as it can accelerate from zero to 100-kph in just 4.7 seconds. Its average fuel consumption has also improved by eight percent.
The weight of the all-new BMW 7 Series models has been reduced by up to 130 kilograms despite all the added innovations like a new chassis technology that would have increased the weight – thanks in large part to “intelligent lightweight engineering.”
The highly sophisticated, precision-honed chassis technology offers both sharper driving dynamics and superior ride comfort, with drivers having more choices in configuring their ideal set-up, whether to go for more sportier handling or greater ride comfort via the standard Driving Experience Control switch. The level control can be operated manually, allowing the ride height to be raised by 20 millimeters when driving along a rough stretch of road or in multi-storey car parks with particularly steep ramps for example.
Executive Drive Pro also incorporates an anticipatory chassis control function. The advance information for regulating the combination of chassis systems is gleaned from the driving style analysis readings, the data from the navigation system and a stereo camera, and helps to considerably enhance ride comfort and driving safety.
Another groundbreaking technology is the iDrive operating system’s Control Display that comes in the form of a touch display for the first time in the all-new BMW 7 Series that presents numerous functions that can alternatively be selected and activated by simply touching the screen’s surface. This adds a highly intuitive input method to the iDrive system’s control logic, ensuring supreme ease of operation in any situation. This is especially useful, for instance, when the driver is selecting the venue he wishes to navigate to by instinctively pointing to the exact location on the map as displayed on the Control Display.
The iDrive system furthermore comes with the standard BMW gesture control, which is being premiered in the all-new BMW 7 Series. By making specific hand movements in the vicinity of the centre console, where they are registered by a 3D sensor, commonly used infotainment system functions can be controlled very intuitively and conveniently. The various gestures serve, for instance, to adjust the audio volume, control the 3D surround view display and accept or reject incoming phone calls.
The strain of driving will become a thing of the past with the massage function for the driver and front passenger seats that can be activated via the iDrive controller, with a choice of eight different massage functions in the backrest and seat surface in order to stimulate or relax muscles to help lessen pressure on the spinal discs.
There are three settings that come with the eight massage programs: mobilization, relaxation and vitalization. The mobilization function not only massages individual body parts such as the pelvis or the upper back, but also the entire body. The spinal column is also relieved with the help of specified active exercises. The back, shoulders and lumbar region are gently massaged by the relaxation function. The vitalization function leads to a noticeable relaxation and invigoration of the body, which is particularly beneficial on long journeys.
For sure, it’s not only the driver who gets to enjoy the revolutionary features as a new dimension in travel comfort await rear passengers, with generous levels of space accentuated by its horizontal surfaces and lines, the driver-focused cockpit design, the fusion of exquisite materials and precision craftsmanship and the sophisticated functionality of the control and display elements. The Design Pure Excellence interior package lends the cabin an elegant and choice ambience through the use of Exclusive Dakota leather trim for the 740Li and Exclusive Nappa leather trim for the 750Li. What’s more, the same massage options are also available for rear passenger seats equipped with the Vitality Programme and Rear Seat Entertainment, controlled via the BMW Touch Command.