All-new 2016 BMW 7 Series unveiled

BMW has unveiled an all-new 7 Series, codenamed the G11 (for short wheelbase) and G12 (for long wheelbase). The new BMW 7 Series will make its way to India only in the G12 long wheelbase specification and will be on sale either later this year or early next year with the choice of both petrol and diesel motors. The eDrive hybrid version of the car is unlikely to make it to India anytime soon.

Exterior changes include a raked rear window and a heavily sloped bootlid that gives it a sleeker and more aggressive stance. Other details include a reworked kidney grille with flaps that help increase airflow to the engine, large LED headlamps with optional laser lighting options like the i8 and an integrated LED fog lamp. The BMW 7 Series also gets a taller glasshouse and a chrome highlight that runs from the air breather behind the front wheel arches and along the lower edges of the doors. The rear gets a set of traditional L-shaped tail-lights joined by a chrome strip and twin tail pipes adorn the lower half of the bumper. The new BMW 7 Series also gets four styling packages to choose from: Standard, M-Sport, Pure Excellence and of course, Individual.

As with the exterior, the interior receives an evolutionary design update with a newly designed dashboard, controls and trims. Among the highlights for the interior are new digital instrument graphics that light up in either white, blue or red depending on the driving mode, a redesigned multi-function steering wheel and new front seats with ventilation and massage functions. The new BMW 7 series also gets a brand new iDrive with a new touch screen infotainment system. The new screen allows you to operate the various functions in a similar style to that of a smart phone with familiar pinch, point and swipe commands, or alternatively in a traditional manner via an updated rotary dial mounted on the car’s broad centre console.

In right hand drive markets, BMW will initially offer just two engines, both with 3.0-litre capacities and both with straight six configurations. The diesel will make 265PS of peak power while the petrol makes 325PS of peak power. Both engines will be mated to BMW’s 8-speed gearbox. BMW will also launch a new 4.4-litre V8 petrol engine that will offer 450PS of peak power with all-wheel-drive.