BMW 7 Series (G11)

BMW 7 Series (G11, G12)
2016 BMW 740e eDrive
Overview
Manufacturer	BMW
Production	July 2015-present
Assembly	Germany: Dingolfing
Designer	Nader Faghihzadeh[1]
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size luxury car
Body style	4-door saloon
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive Front-engine, all-wheel-drive
Platform	BMW OKL platform
Powertrain
Engine	Petrol: 3.0 L Turbocharger B58 I6 4.4 L Twin-turbo N63 V8 Diesel: 3.0 L Turbocharger B57 I6
Transmission	8-speed Steptronic automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	3,070 mm (120.9 in) (G11) 3,210 mm (126.4 in) (G12)
Length	5,098 mm (200.7 in) (G11) 5,238 mm (206.2 in) (G12)
Width	1,902 mm (74.9 in) (G11) 1,902 mm (74.9 in) (G12)
Height	1,467 mm (57.8 in) (G11) 1,479 mm (58.2 in) (G12)
Kerb weight	G11: 1,755 kg (3,869.1 lb) - 1,980 kg (4,365.2 lb) G12: 1,795 kg (3,957.3 lb) - 2,070 kg (4,563.6 lb)[2]
Chronology
Predecessor	BMW 7 Series (F01)

The BMW 7 Series (G11) is a full-size luxury car manufactured by German automaker BMW. Succeeding the 2008 to 2015 produced BMW F01, it is the sixth model generation of the BMW 7 Series. An official public reveal took place at the 2015 International Motor Show Germany.

G11 is the codename for the short-wheelbase model, the extended wheelbase model is codenamed G12 and designated with an additional L letter. This 7 Series generation is the first car lineup of BMW Group to be based on the modular OKL platform (Oberklasse, German for luxury class), the rear-wheel drive counterpart to BMW's front-wheel drive UKL platform.^[3] The OKL platform adopts technology first introduced in BMW i models, namely the introduction of carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer as structural chassis components.

As part of BMW's strategy of introducing plug-in hybrid variants for all future car models,^[4] both, the short and long-wheelbase models will be available with hybrid powertrains under the designations 740e and 740Le in 2016.^[5]

Launch

The 7 Series was launched at the Auto Expo in Delhi, India.^[6]

Production was launched in July 2015 at the Dingolfing manufacturing plant in Germany,^[7] with global vehicle sales starting in October 2015.^[8]

Engineering

The passenger cell of the 7 Series is made of carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP), tensile steel and aluminium, resulting in a lower kerb weight, lower center of gravity and maintaining a 50/50 axle load distribution. The usage of CFRP allows for weight reduction due to being lighter than steel and aluminium. CFRP also increases structural strength in areas exposed to high steering forces, as it is capable of diverting impact forces to prevent deformations of the material, resulting in higher torsional rigidity.^[9] Aluminium has been applied to the doors, bootlid, brake system, wheel hubs and rear suspension arms, further reducing weight and unsprung masses. The G11 body weighs overall 40 kg less than that of its predecessor.^[10]

The front is fitted with grille shutters that will only open when an increase of air flow to the engine bay is required, decreasing aerodynamic drag in the process. Along with air openings behind the front wheel arches that reduce turbulence in the wheel housings, the drag coefficient has been reduced to 0,24.^[11]

The standard equipment self-levelling air suspension of the previous model has been reworked, featuring air springs at both axles with electronically-controlled shock absorbers that can automatically adjust damping to the environment. The active anti-roll system is optionally available with an electro-hydraulic actuator that improves damper reaction times. For the first time, four-wheel steering, marketed as Integral Active Steering, has also become available for all-wheel drive models.^[12]

Equipment

The iDrive operating system for secondary car controls receives user input from a conventional control wheel, touchscreen, voice commands^[13] and is capable of recognizing gestures through a 3D scanner. It is also possible to save a gesture movement with an individual function.

A number of advanced driver assistance systems for the BMW 7 Series have been reworked to work autonomously or partly so—the parking system utilises a number of radar sensors and a stereo camera at the rear, allowing it to execute parking maneuvres independently and can be operated with a digital key fob. The cruise control driver assist is able to recognize speed limits and will adjust the vehicle's speed accordingly. The lane driving assist warns the driver of possible side or rear collisions. In addition, it is able to detect lane markings and traffic, as well as alter the steering responsiveness to improve driving comfort.^[14]

Engines

The powertrain line-up consists of a 4.4 litre V8 and three engines from BMW's modular B-series engine architecture—two 3.0 litre inline-six engines in petrol and diesel form, as well a 2.0 litre inline-four engine including the hybrid model designated as 740e/740Le, or 730i/730Li for the petrol version. Initially, each model can be equipped with all-wheel drive and is mated to an 8-speed Steptronic automatic transmission. The 750i/750Li and 740d/740Ld models are optionally available with the all-wheel drive option xDrive. The transmission can be optionally linked with the satellite navigation system that provides the transmission with geographical data to adjust shift timing in relation to current driving conditions.

The Alpina B7 was unveiled on 8 February 2016 with sales starting in September 2016. With a top speed of 310 km/h and a 0–100 km/h of 3.7 seconds and a sportier setup, it is the sportiest 7-Series but is sold by BMW only in North America.^[15] The B7 Biturbo will be sold in other countries by Alpina.

740e/740Le iPerformance

In February 2016, BMW announced the introduction of the "iPerformance" model designation, which will be given to all BMW plug-in hybrid vehicles from July 2016. The aim is to provide a visible indicator of the transfer of technology from BMW i to the BMW core brand. The new designation will be used first on the plug-in hybrid variants of the latest BMW 7 Series, the BMW 740e iPerformance being the first of such plug-in hybrids.^[17]

The 740e iPerformance will be unveiled at the 2016 Geneva International Motor Show, together with the new BMW M760Li xDrive and the BMW i8 Protonic Red Edition special-edition model.^[17] Sales of the 740e iPerformance are scheduled to begin by mid-2016.^[18]

The 740e iPerformance features the same drivetrain as the already launched BMW X5 xDrive40e plug-in hybrid, and has an all-electric range is 25 mi (40 km) (dropping to 23 mi (37 km) in the xDrive version). BMW’s Auto eDrive function allows drivers to choose how the 740e operates and features modes for pure electric driving and performance. Drivers can also select from the usual Eco Pro, Comfort and Sport modes too. The 740e can be charged in less than four hours from a domestic socket, or in under three hours from a wall charger.^[18]

The 740e iPerformance mates a turbocharged 254bhp 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor, resulting in a combined power output of 322bhp and 369lb ft of torque. Official fuel economy figures are 134.5 mpg_-imp (2.100 L/100 km; 112.0 mpg_-US), with CO₂ emissions of 49g/km. The 740e will be available in both standard and long-wheelbase forms, and also as an all-wheel drive xDrive variant. In this form, the 740e returns 122.8 mpg_-imp (2.300 L/100 km; 102.3 mpg_-US) and emits 53g/km of CO₂. All models get an eight-speed automatic transmission as standard. The 740e can sprint to 62mph in 5.6sec - the long-wheelbase version is 0.1sec slower while the xDrive variant is 0.1sec faster.^[18]

M760LI

On 12 February 2016, BMW announced a M760Li. It is the first 7 series to be a M performance model. The M760iL’s twin-turbocharged 6.6 litres V-12 engine makes 600 horsepower, available at 5500 rpm. Maximum torque is rated at 800 N.m, served up at 1500 rpm. It arrives in US showrooms in 2017.^{[19][20][21][22]}

References