The time has come for BMW South Africa to update
its 7 Series range, just to keep
things fresh and interesting for those of us lucky enough to be able to afford
this mega executive sedan. The current-generation 7 was launched in Mzansi in March
2009.
Where changes have been made they are subtle, probably because customers in
this segment are not too crazy about
sudden and/ or radical change. But there are definitely changes, and some are quite notable too.
Like the new full-LED
headlights, the kidney grille which,
instead of the previous 12 slats, now has only 9. I guess less is more on
design as well as in the engine compartment. A thin chrome strip now also runs
at the rear.
The facelift 7 has even shed weight, thanks to a few
initiatives, such as the use of aluminium
for the doors, which save a whole 22kg.
Hey, it may not seem like a lot but when trying to extract the best performance/ lowest fuel consumption
combo, every kilo counts.
So now here come the engines. In their order (cheapest to
most expensive) the models are: 740i,
730d, ActiveHybrid 7, 750i, 750Li, and finally the 760Li. The 740i is moved forward by the
popular 3.0-litre turbo engine doing
the rounds all over the BMW stable. It’s marked by its 235kW and 450Nm, with acceleration of 5.7 seconds from 0 – 100km/h, fuel consumption of 7.9 litres per 100km and 184 g/km in C02 emissions. The only
diesel in this range is the 730d
with another popular 3.0-litre motor worth 190kW
and 560Nm at only 1500rpm. It’s said
to return a remarkable 5.6 litres
per 100km. Next is the new ActiveHybrid
7 with the same petrol 3.0-litre,
surging the exact same amount of power and torque, as well as sprint time as
the 740i, but with a claimed fuel
figure of only 6.8 litres per 100km.
Then out come the roaring V8 750i and 750Li, powered
by the same 4.4-litre twin turbo found in the raukus M5. At 330kW and 650Nm, the engine has been improved power-wise. Acceleration is
quite brisk, said to take 4.8 seconds from
standstill to 100km/h, while returning 8.6
litres per 100km at the pumps. The only difference between the two cars is
that the Li is 14cm longer due to
its catering for those who put the V in VIP.
Last on the list is the 760Li. I really like this car, but I wish it wasn’t this long. Its length
negatively affects its potential as an M7.
Nevertheless, the V12 engine is a
powerhouse of good note. Dishing out 400kW
and 750Nm between 1500rpm and
5000rpm, the 760Li uses its rear
wheels for a 4.6 second 0 – 100km/h
time. That’s not too bad at all, although in Gauteng you’ll get closer to the 5
second mark than 4.6. Still, hauling two tonnes of metal at that rate is mighty
impressive. All the cars run on an 8-speed
automatic gearbox.
BMW has inserted a new
cockpit with plenty of features, such as the new control display with 3D graphics, a 26cm screen, front comfort seats, sunroof, ambient lighting, 4-zone climate control, keyless
start, multifunction leather
steering wheel, a rear electric blind, and a raft of safety systems that
include lane keep assist.
The new facelifted
7 Series is available from your nearest dealership at prices listed below.
7 SERIES PRICING
740i (R975 500)
730d (R998 000)
ActiveHybrid 7 (R1
034 500)
750i (R1 248 000)
750Li (R1 360 000)
760Li (R1 702 000)
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