2011 BMW 7 Series

First Look

Not many people in the world get a chance to date a supermodel, and if you count the number of people who not only dates the supermodel, but also gets a chance to choose the one of their taste, the list will end on your finger tips only. The same is applicable for choosing among the super luxurious sedans. The worst that can happen to you in such scenario is that you will end up with “Panamera” rather than “S-Class”, but is it right to use the word “worst” here. We say no, because whichever sedan you gets, you simply wont loose, but flaunting contradictory style, driving dynamics and character, they definitely does makes choosing tough. One such car is the 2011 BMW 7 Series, this is the latest entry in the luxurious sedan segment, and at the same time is also the sportiest one. The 2011 BMW 7 Series emphasizes on dynamic driving experience, while still remains rather practical.

Body Styling and Features

The 2011 BMW 7 Series comes in five trims: 740i, 750i, 740Li, 750Li and 760Li. The “Li” in the trim level indicates the extended-wheelbase body style, while the “750” models are the ones that can be equipped with xDrive all-wheel drive.
The standard equipments on BMW 740i includes 18-inch wheels, a sunroof, front and rear parking sensors, adaptive xenon headlights, auto-dimming mirrors, automatic wipers, Foglights, driver memory functions, power front seats, four-zone climate control, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, keyless ignition and leather upholstery. The entry in the car is still done by pressing the button given on the key fob.

Some other contemporary electronic features includes the a hard-drive based navigation system, iDrive multimedia interface, BMW Assist emergency telematics, real-time traffic updates, a 10-speaker sound system along with two subwoofers, Bluetooth, digital music storage of 12 GB and an auxiliary audio jack, and HD radio.

Moving up to the 750i trim level gets a power trunk lid, complete keyless entry/ignition, 14-way “multicontour” front seats having adaptable lumbar and side bolsters, soft-close automatic doors and upgraded leather. All these features can be availed on 740, and both the xDrive and Li models have a self-leveling air suspension.

Under The Hood

The 2011 BMW 7 Series’ 740i and 740Li models have a 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-6 engine pumping under their hoods. It is capable of churning maximum power of 315 hp and maximum torque of 330 pound-feet. The power here is transmitted through a six-speed automatic transmission along with the driver-adjustable settings for the throttle, steering, transmission programming, stability and suspension control interference. The standard drive option here is the rear-wheel drive.

Powering the 2011 BMW 750Li and 750i is a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, capable of churning maximum power of 400 hp and maximum torque of 450 lb-ft. the standard transmission here is six-speed automatic. In our sprint test the car sprinted from zero to 60 mph in 5 seconds.

Lastly, the 2011 BMW 760Li is powered by a 6.0 liter twin-turbo V12 engine, capable of churning maximum power of 535 hp and maximum torque of 550 lb-ft. The standard transmission here is an eight-speed automatic, while the only drive option here is the rear-wheel drive.

Safety Equipments

The 2011 BMW 7 Series comes with standard safety equipments like antilock brakes with brake fade compensation, brake assist, a brake standby feature and brake drying, there also is traction and stability control, front knee airbags, front-seat side airbags, active front head restraints and side curtain airbags. The car got decent crash scores in our performance testing.

For the extra safety conscious people we have the features like adaptive cruise control, side and rear view cameras and infrared night vision with walker detection, which displays the video either on the main display or the head up display.

Verdict

The 2011 BMW 7 Series has become even more appealing with its all new six cylinder engine, and this sporty sedan is the latest entry in the hard to decide flagship luxury sedan segment.