New BMW 7-series previewed

BMW previewed its new 7-series luxury limousine at a private event in Goa. The new 7-series made its global debut at the Frankfurt motor show and is expected to replace the older generation model in India sometime next year.

Based on an all-new lightweight platform, the new 7-series is larger than the outgoing model, but weighs around 130kg less owing to the use of carbon fibre, high-strength steel and aluminium. The styling of the new car is more evolutionary in nature with a more prominent grille with active louvers, LED or optional laser headlamps, LED tail-lamps, more pronounced shoulders, a taller glasshouse, a high-set boot and tweaked rear bumper.

Inside, the new 7-series gets a newly designed dashboard, controls, updated digital instrument graphics that light up in white, blue or red depending on the driving mode selected, a redesigned multi-function steering wheel and new front seats with ventilation and massage functions.

Technological additions include a new iDrive software with touch and gesture control, heads-up display, night vision, drive select function and engine start/stop function. The car is also equipped with radar-based safety functions, but it remains to be seen if these systems will come to India.

The new car is expected to be powered by a choice of a 3.0-litre in-line six-cylinder turbo-diesel engine developing 261bhp or a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol motor developing 444bhp.

To be available in long-wheelbase guise only, the new 7-series will take on the likes of the Mercedes S-class and the Audi A8 when it launches in the Indian market in 2016.