BMW’s flagship has undergone a mid-cycle facelift that ushers in a host of cosmetic changes and new engines, including an uprated version of the company’s hybrid drivetrain.
Among the changes to the exterior are a revised twin-kidney grille with fewer slats, a new front bumper, extended chrome strips and reflector s at the rear and full-LED headlamps with the signature corona ring details crowning the main beams.The biggest change to the interior has to be the adoption of a virtual dial cluster comprising a colour screen display with 3D display capability. Along with redesigned leather seats, customers can also opt for an uprated entertainment system Bang & Olufsen 16-speaker entertainment system capable of kicking out 1 200 Watts.
The local model line-up will comprise the 740i (3,0-litre turbopetrol developing 235 kW/450 N.m), the 750i in normal and long-wheelbase guises (4,4-litre turbopetrol V8 developing 330 kW/650 N.m) and the 760Li with its 6,0-litre V12 serving up 400 kW and 750 N.m of torque.
The sole diesel offer will take the shape of the 730i: a 3,0-litre straight-six unit developing 190 kW and 310 N.m. Coupled with an 8-speed automatic transmission, this entry-level 7 undercuts its six-speed predecessor’s fuel consumption and emissions figures by returning 8,6 L/100 km and 199 g/km – a 13 per cent improvement over the old model.
An interesting powerplant development on the international front, but not coming to SA, is the introduction of the 750d xDrive – an all-wheel drive model powered by what BMW describes as the world’s most powerful six-cylinder diesel. With 280 kW and 740 N.m of torque on tap, this unit will propel the 750d xDrive from standstill to 100 km/h in just 4,9 seconds. BMW claims a fuel an average consumption of 6,4L/100 km for this model and CO2 emissions of 169 g/km.
While the aforementioned diesel’s performance and efficiency are impressive, the facelift will also see the introduction of an ActiveHybrid model to the 7 Series fold. It will utilize the company’s second-generation hybrid drivetrain comprising a turbocharged 3,0-litre straight-six (235 kW) coupled with a synchronous electric motor (40 kW) fed by a high-performance lithium-ion battery pack and a model-specific 8-speed transmission. The combined outputs of 260 kW and 500 N.m of torque will see the ActiveHybrid 7 crack 0-100 km/h in 5,7 seconds, while such Efficient Dynamics technologies as brake energy recuperation and start/stop help keep the fuel economy down to 5,7L/100 km and CO2 emissions to just 158 g/km.
Much like the hybrid set-up in the ActiveHbrid 5 that we recently drove, the 7’s system can propel the car solely on electric power for 4 km at speeds of up to 60 km/h.
The facelifted 7 Series, including the hybrid model, will arrive in on the local market in September.
