Brief History of BMW 7 Series
The 7 Series, known as BMW’s flagship car, was first produced in 1977. It is BMW’s full-luxury vehicle available exclusively in a sedan. Now available as a BMW ActiveHybrid!
The 7 Series Today
Merging time-honored design values with forward-looking ideas, the BMW 7 Series is instantly recognizable. Its sweeping profile with set-back passenger cabin reveals artful, sculpted details with every glance, while conveying its confident, muscular power. In front, the signature dual-kidney grille is now rendered higher and wider, channeling more air to BMW’s 400-hp twin-turbo V-8 so it can breathe more deeply. Distinctive Corona headlight-rings in the familiar four-headlight BMW visage serve as Daytime Running Lights. A unique roofline and longer rear doors distinguish the long-wheelbase 750Li, hinting at the greater room to stretch out in the rear cabin.
7-series Models
Alpina B7
740i Sedan
740Li Sedan
750i Sedan
750i xDrive Sedan
ActiveHybrid 750i Sedan
750Li Sedan
750Li xDrive Sedan
ActiveHybrid 750Li Sedan
760Li Sedan
7 Series Engines
Alpina B7
4.4 L, V-8 engine
500 horsepower
0-60mph in 4.5 seconds!
740i Sedan, 740Li Sedan
3.0-liter, TwinPower Turbo inline 6-cylinder engine
315 horsepower
750i, 750i xDrive, 750Li, 750Li xDrive Sedans
4.4-liter, V-8 engine with TwinPower
400 horsepower
22 mpg hwy
760Li Sedan
6.0-liter, V-12 engine, TwinPower Turbo
535 horsepower
21 mpg hwy
ActiveHybrid 750i Sedan, ActiveHybrid 750Li Sedan
ActiveHybrid V-8 engine with TwinPower Turbo Technology
440 horsepower
From the instant you push the Start button in the BMW 7 Series, you know that no drive will ever be ordinary. By using Advanced Turbo technology, BMW helps eliminate the hesitation known as “turbo lag,” so thrust is immediate. You enjoy instant, powerful response in all driving situations–and possibly an involuntary reaction from your grin muscles.
The 4.4-liter engine in the 750i, 750i xDrive, 750Li and 750Li xDrive is equipped with an Advanced Turbo V-8. With a robust 400 horsepower from 5500 to 6400 rpm, it smoothly accelerates the all-wheel-drive 750i xDrive from 0 to 60 mph in 5.0 seconds. You feel the boost from the massive 450 lb-ft of peak torque, which is sustained from 1750 to 4500 rpm. The V-8 finds a willing partner in the 6-speed automatic transmission; a console-mounted E-Shift control offers both Manual and Automatic modes. In Manual mode, tip the lever forward for downshifts, rearward for upshifts. In any mode, you will enjoy quick, smooth shifting.
The 760Li gets its furious muscle from BMW’s formidable 535-hp Advanced Turbo V-12. This new power source whips up 550 lb-ft of torque from as low as 1500 rpm all the way to 5000 rpm, yet it is remarkably quiet-running and free of vibrations. Deftly harnessing this much power requires a special transmission; accordingly, it has been matched with BMW’s first 8-speed automatic. Press the accelerator pedal and the speedometer will read 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds.
Adhering to the EfficientDynamics philosophy, BMW engine technology is designed to extract the most energy from each drop of fuel. The High Precision Direct Injection of BMW’s Advanced Turbo engines delivers precise amounts of fuel into the combustion chamber at very high pressure, enhancing efficiency and unleashing even greater power.
7 Series xDrive, Intelligent All-Wheel-Drive
Unlike other all-wheel0drive systems, we’ve built ours with rear wheel bias for surefooted grip on slick roads, without sacrificing the feel of rear wheel drive. It smartly sends power to the wheel or wheels with the surest footing–and it does so in milliseconds. That means under normal conditions, drive forces are spread out with a rear-wheel bias. But the moment the system senses excessive wheel slip, it subtly shifts torque to meet the changing conditions, offering maximum available traction and superior handing on all surfaces.
7 Series Accolades
“The new 7 Series delivers on the promise that one can have the utter luxury of a plus-size sedan, mixed with the life-arrimming drive characteristics inherent in the rest of BMW’s lineup.”
Winding Road Magazine, January 2009
“The 750Li is a rolling electronics showcase but has developed those systems to assist the driver in, not distract him from, savoring what the 7 has always been about. The way it drives!”
Automobile Magazine, January 2009
“The new 7 is faster, nimbler and more fun than any plus-size sedan has a right to be.”
“The preschool ease with which I linked my Bluetooth phone, address book and iPod was the first omen of a great road trip.”
“The new iDrive, defying expectations, has gone from worst to first in the wacky world of rotary-knob systems controllers.”
“The 7 is still a driver-first car, with basic-yet-gorgeous analog gauges and a serious mien.”
“Yes, this four-wheel McMansion is faster than the much smaller 335i, and quicker than the previous 12-cylinder 760Li, too.
“The car still feels communicative and natural, not an automaton.”
“In normal or comfort mode, the car is cushy, yet seriously sporty. Move up to sport or sport-plus mode, and the BMW hustles with almost indescribable brio.”
“But whether you’re a snowbird or a spring chicken, the car will trim hours off your next Florida getaway.”
“Good things in a big package.”
New York Times, March 2009
“The 2009 7 Series is quite simply one of the finest automobiles made today.”
“BMW’s cabin is an exquisite blend of highest-quality luxury materials and eye-catching design.”
“The 7 Series started to seem like a bargain given its eye-popping performance, car-shrinking handling and a cabin that beautifully blends technology and luxury.”
“The all-new 750i, on the other hand, is well on its way to making a place for itself among our favorite cars. What was once a ragged revolutionary is now an honored statesman.”
Edmunds.com, March 2009
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