BMW sells a lot of 3-Series (and now 4-Series) cars, but when it comes to large luxury flagship sedans, Mercedes-Benz is the king with the S-Class. To try to win over some customers from Mercedes, BMW takes another crack at the large sedan segment with the “all-new” 2016 7-Series sedan.
I put “all-new” in quotation marks because the car is technically all-new, it still looks very similar to the outgoing F01/F02 model and I highly doubt this car will be much of a challenge to the S-Class or even the Audi A8.
From the outside the new BMW 7-Series, codenamed G11 and G12 (for the long wheelbase), looks very similar to the outgoing car. But there are new design elements that make it look a little different, particularly the new more stretched out headlights, giving the car’s front a wider appearance. These lights are similar to what we see on the new 3 and 4-Series cars, but in this application, the lights are laser-based, like the BMW i8.
The interior is also very similar looking to the old car, with added technology like gesture control and scent-releasing mechanism, first seen on the S-Class. The interior looks clean and modern, but when compared with the S-Class, it looks pedestrian.
In North America, BMW will initially be offering a 740i and 750i xDrive models. The 740i is powered by a turbocharged 3.0 liter V6 engine producing 320 horsepower and the 750i xDrive is powered by a turbocharged 4.4 liter V8 engine producing 445 HP. Both engines are mated to 8-speed automatic transmissions. BMW will also introduce the 740e xDrive plug-in hybrid in 2016, powered by a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with an electric motor. The 740e will be able to run on battery power alone for up to 23 miles at speeds of up to 75 mph. This car will also be equipped with an 8-speed automatic transmission; no word on fuel economy, power output, or price at this time.
In the United States, the 2016 BMW 740i will have a starting price of $81,300 and the 750i xDrive will start at $97,400, before taxes, PDI, etc.
