The new 7: Moving boldly into the future of luxury automobiles

The new BMW 7 Series, while remaining true to BMW traditions and philosophy, moves boldly into the future with new design, new engineering and technology, and new solutions to the challenges of contemporary driving. It is a fascinating exercise in the application of original thought to virtually every area of automotive concepts.

In contrast to the somewhat broader line of 7 Series models being introduced to the European market, which include two sizes of V-8 engines (and other engine configurations to come), the initial U.S. offering will consist of two models, both powered by the larger V-8: the 745i (available January 2002) and the long-wheelbase 745Li (March 2002). Both are 2002 models. Standard and optional equipment will also reflect differences between the European and U.S. markets, which will be explained in the course of this text.

There are times when evolution is appropriate, and there are times when bolder steps are justified. Indeed, evolution is more often the appropriate way to proceed in the development of motor vehicles; almost by definition, revolution cannot occur frequently.

For some time now, BMW has been on an evolutionary path, carefully and intelligently refining highly successful basic concepts. With the occasional exception of a conceptually new product such as the Z3 or X5, BMW Series - 7, 5 and 3 being the most established lines - follow an evolutionary line from generation to generation. Each recent new generation - the E38 ~ 7 Series in 1995, E39 5 Series in 1997, E46 3 Series in 1999 - has brought with it new design and technology: an abundance thereof, to be sure, but not the most revolutionary sorts of breakthroughs.

The present E38 7 Series, introduced in 1995 and produced through the 2001 model year, is an excellent performance-luxury design in the BMW tradition. "Tradition" is in fact a keyword for the E38: It was not radical when introduced, and today it is an archetype of conservative luxury-car design. At the same time, for a large luxury car, it has a look that outwardly represents its inner values: performance, agility, quality, elegance. Over its production years, independent experts have confirmed again and again the qualities that make it the BMW of luxury cars: In a November 1999 comparison test, Car and Driver magazine declared the 740iL winner against four key competitors. After praising the big BMW's spacious back seat, the magazine concluded: "But forget the back seat, because that's not where the fun happens. 'Planted, secure, and confident,' wrote one tester. 'No other [car in this test) tells me more clearly what it's doing and where its limits reside.' And that's why we like the 740iL best."

For all the 7 Series' excellence, customers in certain countries - notably North America and Asia - have been telling BMW they would like a 7 Series with more "presence" - a big BMW that looks bigger, more prestigious, more impressive. And of course they want BMW to accomplish this while retaining, even improving, the traditional BMW traits of strong performance and active driving pleasure. This is precisely what the new 7 does.

Christopher Bangle, Director of Design at BMW AG, explains the E65 design philosophy: "The Board of Directors requested that we exercise strong design leadership," says Bangle, who believes that "A leader is someone who takes you where you don't want to go."

"To produce an excellent product and outstanding design," adds Bangle, "you must believe in what you're doing. We believe strongly in this car." Bangle and his design team set a progressive direction for the new look. "The dynamic is all BMW. But the presence is new. The 'greenhouse' - the passenger cabin, that is - is set back, making it clear that there is Power up front. The wheels are big," continues Bangle. In fact, for the U.S., the standard wheels and tires are 18-in., with 245/50 tires. Together with an inch-and-a-half greater height, these underscore the new models' "presence."

At the front, the traditional BMW "kidney" grilles take on a higher, more assertive position and look. The "eyes," also in the BMW tradition with four round headlights, are set relatively low by virtue of carrying the turn indicators (eyebrows) above them. They incorporate new technology:

The outboard beams are Bi-Xenon, with high-intensity-discharge low and high beams (previously only the low beams were Xenon). The inboard lights are conventional halogen high beams. All four beams are outlined by light rings, which function as parking lights and illuminate whenever the parking or headlights are switched on. A high-pressure headlight cleaning system is standard.

Though not the most romantic part of a vehicle, the windshield wiper/washer system is important to safety and driving ease; BMW engineers have devoted a lot of attention to it. The reversing of direction that occurs each wiping cycle is now accomplished by an electronically controlled reversing motor rather than via the wiper linkage; this allows the system to bring the wiper right up to the driver's-side A-pillar at all vehicle and wiping speeds, and with less noise and impact. The actual wiped area is up 10%, improving the driver's field of vision in the rain; in their intermittent setting, the wipers are rain-sensing as before.

In their parked position, every three days or so the wipers move, so that the rubber wiper blades do not get "set" into a distorted position from being stationary. And the washer nozzles are now on the wiper arms themselves, saving washer fluid by applying it right where it is needed.
As before, the windshield itself is of the infrared-reflecting Climate Comfort type to reduce solar heat in the cabin.

From the rear, the new 7 looks (and is) wider than its predecessor. The main taillight units are outboard, and incorporate new 3-dimensional LEDs for their tail and brake lights. Additional taillamps, the backup light, and the newly standard rear foglights are in a light band across the trunklid. A new "world first" feature here is adaptive brakelights, which signal the intensity of the 7 Series driver's braking to following drivers:

• Under normal braking, the outboard and 3rd brakelights illuminate as usual.
• Under hard braking or when the ABS is activated, the taillights and rear foglight join the brake lights (at the same lighting intensity as the brakelights) for a significant increase in visibility of the brakelights.
• In case of burnout of certain exterior bulbs, a nearby blub (one normally used for a different function) is "commandeered" automatically until the defective bulb is replaced. The Check Control monitor system alerts the driver to the burned-out bulb.

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