V-Man
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Luxury in evolutionThe race for technical supremacy is in progress, with BMW unleashing a technological marvel that is the all-new 7 Series.HISTORY shows that revolutions can be nasty affairs. It’s a good thing then that BMW’s 7 Series is past that phase.The outgoing E65 model marked something of a revolution in BMW styling, dividing purists with its angular surfaces and prominent boot lid, even if it was a fine car with character and the most successful 7 to date. Leading the way: The styling cues of this tycoon cruiser could find their way into many future BMWs. The latest incarnation of the big four door is rather evolutionary as looks go and seems all the better for it.It is beneath the sheet metal where things get more radical, with a slew of technical innovations that enhance the driving process.It was at BMW’s proving grounds in Miramas, France, that we got to sample the pre-production models of BMW’s new executive express - ahead of its planned world premiere at the coming Paris Motor show.Malaysians will likely see it up close early next year.Body of evidenceLook closely at the styling cues of this tycoon cruiser for they could find their way into many future BMWs.The word "precise elegance" is part of the vocabulary that embodies the design philosophy. It’s edgier and tauter-looking than the old car and not in an unattractive way. Upfront, the larger new kidney grille is more upright than before and really extends forward. The double hump dashboard is no more and the gear shift lever goes back to the centre console where it belongs. The view from the side is sleek and stretched. The roofline is low and there is a shoulder line stretching from the headlight cluster to the rear lights that gives it character.The rear end looks less fussy now with L-shaped rear lights, split by the boot line.There’s no denying the presence the car has and it comes across more gracefully than before.Internet on the goIt’s a big executive car that’s grown slightly longer and lower and a little lighter. Expect it to be very luxurious inside with top-notch materials and plenty of toys to play with.First on the list is Internet with BMW providing what it claims is the first continuous use of this in a car.So top execs can now surf the Net in the armchair comfort at the back, checking what their stocks are worth or sending e-mails during traffic jams. And enjoying the colossal legroom if they are in the long wheelbase version.The simpler-looking cabin dispenses with the double hump dashboard and the gear shift lever moves back from the steering column to the centre console where it belongs.The original i-Drive - BMW’s telematics/infotainment system - gets some favourite buttons around the controller knob that make getting to menus faster. The larger new kidney grille is more upright than before and extends forward. Technological fitments include the latest generation of BMW night vision – which do more than allow you to see beyond the footprint of your headlights through a thermal imaging camera. It can now analyse video data to distinguish pedestrians – who could step out in front of the car – and trigger a symbol or alarm based on the accident risk.That, blind spot and lane change warnings with mild steering wheel vibrations that warn you when you drift off your lane plus an array of parking cameras – leave you less excuse to collide with other things any more.Of course, if you still make a hash of things - setting off the airbags or if sensors detect the car rolling car over – your GPS coordinates are relayed to a centre for assistance or rescue services. It all sounds like German efficiency in progress but there’s more.How often have you driven on a long stretch of road and lost track of what the current speed limit was?BMW is now offering a speed limit indicator that does the job for you.It uses both GPS navigation data plus a camera mounted behind the rear view mirror to monitor road signs whose limits are broadcast in the instrument cluster or head-up display.The big and the Un-BigInto the 750Li we got, and we drove and were driven through sections of the track, which included an oval, slalom, humps and irregularly surfaced areas and a wet handling circuit.One particularly tight corner on our way to the track would normally trouble a big car like this but we eased through quite daintily, thanks to the smaller turning circle afforded by the new optional four-wheel steering system.BMW calls it Integral Active Steering, and in combination with an arsenal of onboard electronic nannies that harmonise the steering, suspension and chassis management, let’s just say that it swept us away. Rest in armchair comfort in the back while surfing the Internet. — Photos courtesy of BMW What it does is make this big wide car feel much smaller and smoother when taking corners or changing lanes - reducing much of the usual sensations of the car fighting the forces of physics.It uses an electric motor to turn the rear wheels by up to three degrees.At low speeds, these turn in the opposite direction to the front with the car’s turning circle reduced by up to 70cm.At higher speeds, they turn in the same direction as the front, improving stability and reducing the amount of yaw in the car’s body."Anybody who has ever manoeuvred a large car in an underground garage or under similar conditions will definitely appreciate this feature as a significant improvement in comfort," Arnold Kistler the 7’s project head explains.Step up the pace and it is amazing how relaxed and natural the car feels going into corners and the crisp way it turns-in. It’s a big car with the agility of something much smaller.That, paired to the well weighted steering which impresses with its precision and response, give sports saloon handling in a limo.There’s genuine absorbency in the suspension and nothing to ruffle the car’s composure within the spectrum of road conditions at the track.And did we say the twin scroll V8 engine is delightfully smooth with no perceptible turbo lag?There may be an army of technology in the new Bimmer flagship but it all comes together fluidly and intuitively.It’s been said that driving dynamics and ride comfort are a little like two awkward bedfellows who often ask compromises of the other.But the 7’s got them sewn up beautifully, looking much in conquering form for the chaufferred and unchauffered classes.Tech CentralTHE 7 will be launched with two new petrol engines and a diesel.The 740i gets the 3.0-litre inline six with 326hp and 450Nm. while the 750 gets the 4.4-litre V-8 with 407hp and 600Nm.Both use high precision direct injection and come with twin turbo technology, which uses an electric motor to adjust the turbine blades based on the load conditions.For the 730d, there’s the new 3.0-litre inline six diesel engine with 245hp and 540Nm.All engines are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.The 750i will do an electronically limited 250kph and 0-100kph in 5.2 seconds and return 11.4 litres/100km.The suspension features fully adaptive dampers and race-car like front double wishbone suspension and an integral V rear axle.Among the mouthful of electronic nannies are Dynamic Damper Control including Dynamic Driving Control.With this new technology, the newly developed dampers adjust infinitely in the inbound and rebound stroke to both road conditions and driving style, preventing unwanted movements of the car caused by bumps or fast lateral acceleration.The dampers, gearshift dynamics as well as the gas pedal and steering assistance control maps are varied by the Dynamic Driving Control button on the centre console, offering the driver the three stages of COMFORT, NORMAL and SPORT.There is also a special traction mode and the SPORT+ setting with reduced intervention by DSC – or the option to switch off DSC altogether for a very sporty driving experience.The car‘s suspension systems are combined with one another through ICM Integrated Chassis Management. This high-performance electronic control system analyses numerous sensor signals to monitor the car‘s driving behaviour and is able to harmonise the drivetrain and suspension functions with one another in fractions of a second.Aerodynamic enhancements include automatically closing flaps in the front grille.
