BMW seven Series
The BMW seven Series is a full-size luxury sedan produced by the German automaker BMW since 1977. It is the successor to the BMW E3 “Fresh Six” sedan and is presently in its sixth generation.
The seven Series is BMW’s flagship car and is only available as a sedan (including long wheelbase and limousine models). It traditionally introduces technologies and exterior design themes before they trickle down to other models in BMW’s lineup. [1]
The very first generation seven Series was powered by straight-6 petrol engines, and following generations have been powered by inline-4, straight-6, V8 and V12 engines with both natural aspiration and turbocharging. Since 1995, diesel engines have been included in the seven Series range.
Unlike the three Series and five Series sedans, BMW has not produced an M model for the seven Series (ie an “M7”). However, in two thousand fourteen an “M Spectacle” option became available for the seven Series.
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The E23 is the very first generation seven Series, and was produced from one thousand nine hundred seventy seven to 1987. It was built in a 4-door sedan bod style with 6-cylinder engines, to substitute the E3 sedans. From one thousand nine hundred eighty three to 1986, a turbocharged 6-cylinder engine was available.
The E23 introduced many electronic features for the very first time in a BMW, including an on-board computer, service interval indicator, a “check control panel” (warning lights to indicate system faults to the driver), a dictaphone and elaborate climate control systems. It was also the very first BMW to suggest an anti-lock braking system (Six pack), a driver’s airbag and double-link front suspension.
The E32 is the 2nd generation of seven Series, which was produced from one thousand nine hundred eighty six to 1994. It was originally available with a straight-six or V12 engine. In 1992, V8 engines became available.
The E32 introduced the following features for the very first time in a BMW: Electronic Damper Control, [Two] V12 and V8 engines, dual glazing, the CAN bus electronic protocol, [Trio] Xenon headlamps, [Four] traction control [Five] and dual-zone climate control. [6] The E32 750i was the very first car adhering to BMW’s self-imposed speed limit of two hundred fifty km/h (155 mph). [7] The ‘iL’ models were the very first time that a long-wheelbase option was suggested by BMW.
The E38 is the third generation of the seven Series, which was produced from one thousand nine hundred ninety five to 2001. The model range consisted of standard length and long wheelbase (“iL” models) sedans.
The petrol engines available consisted of straight-six, V8 and V12 engines. The E38 was the very first seven Series to be available with a diesel engine; primarily a turbo straight-six, which was joined by a turbo V8 in 1998.
The E38 was the very first car available with curtain airbags. It was also the very first European car to suggest satellite navigation [8] and the very first BMW to suggest an in-built television.
The E65/E66/E67/E68 is the fourth generation seven Series, which was produced from two thousand one to 2008. The model range consisted of standard length and long wheelbase (“Li” models) sedans.
The E65/E66/E67/E68 was the very first BMW to include iDrive, “flame-surfacing” exterior styling, active anti-roll bars, a 6-speed automatic transmission, an electronic Brainy Key (dispensing with the traditional metallic key) and night vision. The 760i model was the world’s very first production V12 engine to use direct injection. [9] [Ten]
The F01/F02/F03/F04 is the fifth-generation seven Series, which was produced from two thousand eight to 2015. The model range consisted of standard length and long wheelbase (“Li” models) sedans.
The F01 was the very first BMW to be available with a hybrid drivetrain (“ActiveHybrid 7”), an 8-speed automatic transmission and a turbocharged V12 engine. It was also the very first seven Series to be available with a turbocharged petrol engine and all-wheel drive (xDrive).
The G11/G12 is the sixth generation of seven Series, which has been in production since 2015. It was exposed on June Ten, two thousand fifteen at BMW’s headquarters in Munich. [11] An official public expose took place at the two thousand fifteen International Motor Showcase Germany.
G11 is the codename for the short-wheelbase model, the extended wheelbase model is codenamed G12 and designated with an extra L letter.
The G11/G12 is the very first car lineup of BMW Group to be based on the modular OKL platform (Oberklasse, German for luxury class). [12] The OKL platform adopts technology very first introduced in BMW i models, namely the introduction of carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer as structural chassis components.
As part of BMW’s strategy of introducing plug-in hybrid variants for all future car models, [13] both, the brief and long-wheelbase models will be available with hybrid powertrains under the designations 740e and 740Le in 2016. [14]