The new 2006 7 Series

[+The Jesal+]

Three and a half years after its introduction, the fourth-generation BMW 7 Series is getting a makeover, one that leaves it better looking and better equipped, with a new, more powerful V8 and a host of chassis upgrades. Even better news? BMW promises to accomplish all this without a significant price increase in North America.

The new 2006 7 Series makes its world premiere in Geneva in March; the U.S. debut is scheduled for the New York show later that month.

The 6.0-liter V12 producing 438 hp and 444 lb-ft of torque in the top-of-the-line 760i and long-wheelbase 760Li will carryover. For the North American market the big V12 is joined by one additional engine, the new 4.8-liter V8 (replacing the 4.4-liter V8) in the 750i and 750Li. The new V8 produces 360 hp, up 35 hp from the old V8. Torque is rated at 360 lb-ft, up 30 lb-ft. As before, the engines are mated exclusively to a six-speed automatic gearbox.

Stay tuned for the complete AutoWeek report on the refreshed 7 Series.

Below is the official release from BMW:

THE 2006 BMW 7 SERIES

The most successful BMW 7 Series in history is now better than ever.
Driving dynamics and sporting performance are substantially enhanced.
Luxury and presence are further refined.

- All-new V8 engine
- Improved performance
- Refinement of the outstanding chassis and suspension
- Refinement in design
- New equipment and features

Woodcliff Lake, NJ - January 27, 2005... The most successful 7 Series in the history of BMW will set a new standard in the luxury performance class once again as it enters the 2006 model year. A significant improvement in performance along with enhancements to the chassis and suspension reaffirm the BMW 7 Series as the driver's car in the segment. Refinement in design, in turn, expresses the car's enhanced driving dynamics and sportiness at very first glance while retaining the unmistakable presence that gives the BMW 7 Series its elegant and charismatic character.

BMW 750i and 750Li: Powered by an all-new VALVETRONIC V8.

The 2006 750i and 750Li will feature a new 4.8 liter VALVETRONIC V8 engine capable of 360 horsepower (SAE net) and 360 lb-ft of torque. The new models are even more responsive than their predecessors, with a 0-60 mph time of just 5.8 seconds.

BMW 760i and 760Li: Twelve-cylinder engine with a unique combination of direct fuel injection and VALVETRONIC.

Launched in 2003, the BMW 760i/Li V12 remains unchanged, with engine output of 438 horsepower (SAE net) and maximum torque of 444 lb-ft. With its combination of four-valve technology, VALVETRONIC, double-VANOS and direct fuel injection, the BMW 760i/Li remains unique in the marketplace. VALVETRONIC ensures the engine?s very high level of fuel economy under partial load. Direct fuel injection, in turn, serves to increase both torque and output.

New engines reflect BMW's ongoing commitment to the ultimate driving experience: More power, greater efficiency, lower emissions.

Together with its ongoing model initiative, BMW's recent engine initiative ensures that BMW will continue to deliver the ultimate driving machine.

Recent examples of this commitment include the new 3.0-liter inline-six with its composite magnesium/aluminum crankcase, and, of course, the 5.0-liter V10 high-speed power unit in the BMW M5.

In the development of new engines, BMW's engineers carefully consider all parameters and components for their potential, at the same time questioning virtually all conventional principles. The result is innovative materials, new machining processes and optimized procedures in production.

The BMW customer, in turn, receives far more powerful, lighter and cleaner engines that offer a significantly higher standard of fuel economy.

Efficient Dynamics: Overcoming conventional conflicts of interest.

Increasing engine output and torque while reducing fuel consumption, enhancing agility and nimble performance, and intensifying the experience of driving dynamics enjoyed by the customer: This is what BMW refers to as "Efficient Dynamics", the guiding principle underlying all of BMW's development and innovation. This applies equally to engine construction as it does to chassis development.

In a nutshell, Efficient Dynamics means consistently solving and eliminating conflicts of interest. In conventional terms, more power also means more fuel, more comfort means more weight, which again means more fuel, and so on. Particularly in the case of large luxury-performance sedans like the BMW 7 Series, solving such conflicts of interest is an especially great and demanding challenge.

BMW is able to escape this continuous loop through the use of intelligent materials and systems - for example, aluminum helps give the chassis and suspension of the 7 Series its light-footed, nimble behavior.

Chassis and suspension have been refined to improve both handling response and ride comfort.

The BMW 7 Series features an aluminum suspension which offers outstanding steering precision, exceptional agility and well-balanced driving characteristics. As a result, the chassis and suspension of the 7 Series combine superior agility and sporting performance on the one hand, with superior comfort on the other. In other words, it offers the best of both worlds.

The chassis and suspension of the 2006 BMW 7 Series has been updated and enhanced. The rear track is wider by 14 millimeters or 0.55 inches. Combined with enhanced suspension kinematics and BMW's revolutionary Active Roll Stabilization, the 7 Series will continue to offer an unparalleled driving experience. For those seeking an even sharper edge, the Sport Package will again be offered with its unique suspension calibrations.

As a result, BMW offers the widest choice of suspension control systems in the luxury sedan segment, naturally also including enhanced brakes reflecting the higher level of power and performance.

Refinement in design: Even more sporting and dynamic,but with unmistakable presence and elegance.

The enhanced performance and dynamic qualities of the BMW 7 Series ensured by the new engines are appropriately reflected by suitable refinements in design. Apart from the new, striking powerdome in the hood, the kidney grille, headlights and front air dam have all been discreetly revised. The rear, in turn, is characterized by surfaces and body panels with even clearer contours, a new chrome trim strip, modified tail lights and the redesigned rear air dam. At the side, the more pronounced light contour in the sills emphasizes the enhanced sportiness and dynamic character of the BMW 7 Series.

In all, BMW's luxury performance sedan preserves its powerful presence and clearly stands out on the road through its charismatic, elegant and truly unique appearance.

Inside the car, the unique feeling of luxury and peaceful tranquility has been further refined by the choice of materials and colors, with the control elements following the main lines of the instrument panel. So again, the interior of the 7 Series is now even more luxurious and sophisticated than before.

The iDrive control concept: Refined in its details, even more user-friendly.

BMW's iDrive control concept, the ergonomically sensible combination of single-button control and display monitor introduced in 2001 and much copied since then, has now been further refined.

Optimized menu guidance in the Control Display, the upgraded presentation of menus, and direct access to the various entertainment functions - for example, one can now directly select audio source and radio frequency band ? are essential elements of the updated iDrive system in the BMW 7 Series.

New features for extra safety, comfort, and individual style.

As of spring 2005, the BMW 7 Series is available with an even higher standard of series equipment and individual options for customizing the car:

- All BMW 7 Series now feature BMW's two-stage Adaptive Brakelights: Whenever the driver applies the brakes harder than usual, motorists following behind are warned by the larger brake light area.
- The optional CD changer is now MP3 CD-capable.
- The standard BMW Assist telematics service now includes Bluetooth hands-free phone capability.
- Last but not least, the updated BMW 7 Series offers the customer a choice of four new paint colors, four new upholstery colors, as well as new 18-inch wheels on the 750i and 750Li.

The most successful BMW 7 Series ever.

Accounting for almost 160,000 units delivered to customers worldwide, the fourth-generation 7 Series is the most successful prestige luxury performance sedan in BMW's history. Since its introduction to the world in 2001, the current 7 Series has already outsold the former model by almost 8 per cent. And with customer deliveries of 57,899 units worldwide in its most successful year so far, 2003, the current BMW 7 Series outperformed its predecessor in that model's best year (1997) by almost 14 per cent.

In Germany, the BMW 7 Series became the sales leader in the luxury sedan market in 2004. Sales have shown impressive growth in Asia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Oceania and Africa where, compared with the former model, sales of the current 7 Series have more than doubled after 38 months in the market. Sales volumes in those regions are catching up with the markets where, by tradition, the BMW 7 Series has always had a strong position - in particular, Europe and North America.

In the United States, the success of the current 7 Series is unparalleled. In its first three years, it outsold its predecessor's three best years by a significant seven percent.

Accounting for more than 50 per cent of total sales, the BMW 745i/Li with its large V8 power unit has been the best-selling model worldwide. The long-wheelbase version, in turn, accounts for more than half of all BMW 7 Series sold.

The BMW 7 Series combines two cars in one: On one hand, it is a genuine BMW offering those typical BMW virtues such as driving pleasure, agility and nimble handling for the customer who enjoys driving. On the other hand, it is a highly prestigious luxury sedan offering generous space and comfort for the driver and passengers.

More than any other car on the market, the BMW 7 Series offers that Sheer Driving Pleasure so typical of BMW not only in the classic sense, but also in the extended sense of being driven. It is indeed this perfect combination of two worlds that the BMW customer opting for this luxury performance sedan appreciates so much, making this model the most successful 7 Series ever.

The J.D. Power & Associates 2004 APEAL Study (Most Appealing Premium Luxury Car) and the Strategic Vision Total Delight Index (Best Luxury Car, two years in a row) affirm that 7 Series owners love their cars. The 2006 BMW 7 Series will give them more to love.

New V8 engines combined with numerous other enhancements will ensure that success of the BMW 7 Series will continue with the 2006 model.

The most important facts and figures - an overview:

750i/Li replacing 745i/Li:

* V8 engine with VALVETRONIC, Double-VANOS, and steplessly-variable intake system.
* Engine thoroughly updated and enhanced.
* Displacement: 4,799 cc (745i/Li was 4,398, + 9 per cent).
* Power: 360 hp at 6,300 rpm (was 325 at 6,100, + 11 per cent).
* Torque: 360 lb-ft at 3,400 rpm (was 330 at 3,600, + 9 per cent).
* 0?60 mph in 5.8 seconds (was 5.9)
* Fuel economy, EPA est. MPG, city/highway: No data.

760i/Li:
* V12 engine with VALVETRONIC, Double-VANOS, and direct fuel injection.
* Unchanged from 2005 model.
* Displacement: 5,972 cc.
* Power: 438 hp at 6,000 rpm.
* Torque: 444 lb-ft at 3,950 rpm.
* 0-60 mph in 5.4 seconds.
* Fuel economy, EPA est. MPG, city/highway: 15/23

Chassis and suspension:
* Revised and updated.
* Three suspension variants available straight from the factory:
o Standard suspension with Active Roll Stabilization
o Adaptive Ride Package (standard on 760i/Li; optional on 750i/Li)
o Sports suspension (included in optional Sport Package on 750i/Li)
* Rear track 0.55´´ wider.

Safety:
* Two-stage Adaptive Brakelights are standard.

Design:
* Elegant exterior with unique, unmistakable presence.
* Even greater emphasis of the car's sporting performance and dynamic qualities: Powerdome on the engine compartment lid, revised kidney grille, headlights and front air dam.
* More pronounced contours at the rear with new chrome trim, new tail lights and new rear air dam.
* New light contour on the side-sills.
* Even more sophisticated and painted surfaces inside the car.
* Control elements with similar functions combined in groups for optimum clarity and distinction.

Control, communication, entertainment:
* Detailed optimization of iDrive for even greater user friendliness.
* CD changer with MP3 CD-capability.
* Bluetooth hands-free phone capability.
(autoweek)

[Trianon]

still not happy aboutthey way it looks... And damn, those are huge engines... with todays and tomorrows gas prices I doubt I will get one... unless I win Big Lotto

[piratelife]

The rear end looks better, still not great but it is an improvement.

[O-Ace]

Rear looks a little like a Camry or ES330

[JAlfredPrufrock]

Welcome improvement I say!

[JC_E36]

Originally Posted by Trianon

still not happy aboutthey way it looks... And damn, those are huge engines... with todays and tomorrows gas prices I doubt I will get one... unless I win Big Lotto

If anyone can afford a car like that, gas prices shouldnt be an issue

[JC_E36]

Originally Posted by JAlfredPrufrock

Welcome improvement I say!

I think black leather is better

[JC_E36]

Originally Posted by O-Ace

Rear looks a little like a Camry or ES330

Yes, it does a little...

[Hi Sean]

Well, although the back end looks a lot like a few others I've seen out there, the wider taillights seem to meld the trunklid to the car more. You'll notice on the current 7 that the trunk seems stuck on.

[SPEE]

Originally Posted by JC_E36

If anyone can afford a car like that, gas prices shouldnt be an issue

they aren't that bad... my dad has a 745 , and to fill it up is like the same to fill up my hemi truck. maybe like 50 for a whole tank

[SPEE]

oh one more thing , i dont like the headlights too much look too small for my taste, but i gotta see it in person first

[Tuna]

I don't see much difference besides the new tail lamps... but I totally dig it

[RyanDe680]

Originally Posted by O-Ace

Rear looks a little like a Camry or ES330

The rear trunk lid looks like the ES330 layout a lot...

[Gibbons]

I actually think the old one looks way better. I didn't like it when It first came out but it grew on me. now they made this one look not as edgy. Personally I think the 2001+ with the sport package is the coolest looking 7 they ever made.

[Trianon]

Originally Posted by JC_E36

If anyone can afford a car like that, gas prices shouldnt be an issue

Really? So how come H2 owners bitch about poor mileage on their cars? Well, wait till gas gets to about 5$ a gallon(probably another 3-4 years), and see how happy you will be with HEMI or another gas guzzling engine. I think the same thing will happen that happened in Europe few years ago, when luxury cars with big engines were dirt cheap because nobody wanted to buy those monsters