On April 20, BMW's new generation 7 Series (chassis code G70) will usher in the world premiere, and Beijing is also on the starting list. No one knows that the Chinese market has contributed greatly to the sales of BMW 7 Series. The G series chassis codename of the BMW 7 Series for sale, the pragmatism to the end, more than 600,000 to buy a 2.0-displacement D-class car, domestic rich people have expressed why not. The new generation of the 7 Series will focus on "intelligence/electrification", and at the same time, the BMW i7 will be released, and how these two cars will establish the new flagship definition of the BMW brand is worth our expectations. While looking forward to it, I may as well use this article to summarize the known information of the new generation 7 Series/BMW i7 in detail.
First ask a question, the development of five generations of BMW 7 series, which generation of BMW 7 series do you think is the most classic in your mind? Personally, I still like the chassis code E66 generation (the fourth generation model). Looking back, the BMW models of the Bangor period are classics, such as the well-known E90 BMW 3 Series, the E60 BMW 5 Series and the E66 BMW 7 Series. Bangor led the BMW design team in 2001 to launch the fourth-generation BMW 7 Series, experimenting with an unprecedented bold design, simplifying a large number of in-car buttons and replacing it with a central control LCD screen and operation knob. It can be said that the fourth generation of the 7 Series completely subverted people's understanding of BMW style, because it completely broke the design tradition of BMW.
This generation of 7 series appearance on the body line is very rounded atmosphere, it looks like the body is very wide, long, it seems more commercial, this car is also a large number of imported domestic market. And there have been good improvements in power, and the top version of the 760Li is equipped with a V12 engine.
The BMW 7 Series design developed in the next two generations has not been too brilliant, and has been evolving according to the rules. The development direction of industrial design is inseparable from the designer's thinking, and under the leadership of the current design director Domagoj Dukec, BMW's design direction has become more and more radical in the past two years. We can see exaggerated big-mouthed designs such as the BMW 4 Series beginning to appear on BMW's new generation of models. Born in Frankfurt, Germany, he graduated from the Pforzheim School of Design in 1989, joined the Volkswagen Group after graduation, and then joined PSA Peugeot Citroen to lead the design. Joining the BMW Group in 2010, the pursuit of boldness, electrification, digitalization and sustainability is his main theme. Aesthetics are very subjective, but the design of new-age BMW models needs to show new trends and avant-garde technology.
● In terms of appearance, the new generation of 7 series split headlights has no suspense
The BMW X7, which was revamped in the medium term, used split headlights
Why is there no suspense in the split headlights? From BMW's new generation of 7 series spy photos can also be seen, first of all, the change in the front face of the new car is huge, there is no open corner design, the shape of the light group has become thick, coupled with the previous report bmw X7 mid-term redesign on the use of split headlights and the same model of the Horse 7 series to further confirm this information. The LED light groups that glow on both sides of the front are actually just part of the new split headlights, which are composed of crystal elements inside, of course, functionally assume the role of LED daytime running lights, and there is another light group below that really has projection lighting.
A hypothetical diagram of the new generation of the 7 series drawn by foreign media
According to the new generation of 7 series hypothetical drawings drawn by foreign media, we can see that its classic double kidney network design features will be further enlarged, the line outline will also be raised to 8 edges, and it will also be equipped with a BMW ring-shaped glow grille similar to the BMW 8 Series model, which interprets the classic design elements of BMW and has a high degree of recognition.
BMW i7
In the same way, the BMW i7 also has elements that inherit the classic BMW brand. The double kidney grille is not as stingy as the iX, but tends to be stretched square, and the inside is a vertical straight waterfall trim, similar to the BMW fuel car we are familiar with. In addition, the i7's grille frame is made of crystal glass, and the lighting elements are embedded inside, which adds a conspicuous recognition at night.
Judging from the exposed domestic road attempts, the waist line of the new generation 7 series side is very simple, and the smart lines outline the huge and dignified aura of the whole car, especially the C-pillar area at the rear of the car is very thick, and the corners of the rear door triangle window have also become sharp. The wheel hub has a two-tone banner design that looks very atmospheric, with an expected wheelbase of more than 3.2 meters. The BMW i7 still continues the mature and stable silhouette of the 7 Series as a large executive sedan.
The overall shape of the rear of the car has a rather bmw 8 series flavor, the taillight shape is very slender, the upper edge of the tail compartment is also designed with a ducktail design, and with a silver guard plate and a bilateral exhaust layout, the visual effect is more sporty and fashionable.
● Top-of-the-line innovation in the car presents a new digital experience
Today, when judging a car's interior design, the first essential element is the size and quantity of the screen. In the interior part, the all-new Generation 7 Series is expected to be highly similar to the i7. First of all, the center console is equipped with the latest joint screen design of the BMW family, which is composed of a 12.3-inch full LCD instrument and a 14.9-inch touch central control display, and the car system is equipped with the latest iDrive8 system. The new car once again brought the crystal element design to the extreme after the crystal barrier, and the central control part adopted a through-through crystal decorative strip and a through-surface screen. The detailed design will highlight the difference, and the BMW i7 will have a stronger sense of luxury and refinement, such as the armrest decoration of the co-driver, and the BMW i7 is covered with exquisite and high-grade diamond cutting technology.
Matching the through-screen is the wrap-around interactive light strip. BMW designers have proactively laid out the surround interactive light belt throughout the cockpit, with crystal-cut, crystal-clear, multi-functional control elements above it that combine visual and tactile controls such as controlling ventilation and opening storage compartments. Through the latest generation of iDrive operating system, car owners can also set the driving characteristics and atmosphere of the vehicle according to personal needs, switch multiple settings of the carriage, and enjoy a personalized multi-sensory experience. In short, this interactive light belt also has more practical significance in addition to the show.
In addition, the new generation will be equipped with BMW's new Theme Mode (My Modes) and the latest generation of BMW iDrive operating system, bringing users an immersive experience while also meeting their personalized driving needs. BMW's My Modes modes include: Personal, Sport and Efficient. As long as the different driver activates this function, all the settings of the vehicle will become the driver's favorite mode, such as driving mode, interior atmosphere, seat adjustment, etc.
The first car to apply a 31-inch 8K rear giant screen car
In order to take care of the visual feast of the rear row, the car will also be equipped with a Sky Lounge panoramic glass roof made of LED light strips interlaced, and the central control dashboard and door interior panel will have a special atmosphere lighting and functional display, BMW emphasizes that it can create a better texture in terms of vision and touch. In terms of ecological content, BMW cooperates with Amazon Fire TV to provide users with a wealth of cutting-edge entertainment content. In the future, BMW will also work with local Chinese suppliers to provide in-car entertainment experiences that meet the preferences of Chinese users.
The newly designed panoramic star-orbit sky-screen audio and video entertainment system is also the first technology. The rear of the new BMW 7 Series and i7 models will be equipped with a 31-inch 8K giant screen cinema, in which the panoramic display is cleverly integrated into the car's headliner system and extends to the front seat backrest. Among them, the content of the panoramic display can be played in a variety of formats such as 16:9 and 21:9, supplemented by the Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system, bringing users an immersive interactive experience. However, this equipment is not the standard of the whole car system, and it will only appear in high-end or top-end models in the future.
This 31-inch ultra-wide panoramic display with resolutions up to 8K is cleverly integrated into the car's canopy system and extends from the canopy to the front seat backrest. On-screen entertainment can be played in 16:9, 21:9 and 32:9 formats, complemented by the Bowers & Wilkins 4D Diamond surround sound system, providing users with a superior immersive entertainment experience. At the same time, the new car will also provide 5G network connection, high-definition webcam, 128GB internal hard disk, Bluetooth headset and smart remote control and other configurations.
BMW's first L3 autonomous vehicle
Previously, there were news reports that Wei Bofan, director of research and development of BMW Group, said: "In 2022, you will see L3 level autonomous driving on the 7 series." What is the concept of L3 level? Starting from this level, the vehicle can effectively reduce the driver's operating intensity, and the ability to achieve automatic driving in a limited scenario is not a pure automatic driving that does not require manual operation at all, such as driving on congested roads, and can automatically control the acceleration, braking and steering of the vehicle. However, when necessary, the car will prompt the driver to manually control it. It is reported that within this year, BMW will demonstrate the actual use of L3 level autonomous driving. Subsequently, the BMW iX, which already has L3 level hardware standards, will upgrade the system through OTA.
The BMW i7 is still making more efforts for NVH
Without the presence of an internal combustion engine, the noise emitted by electric vehicles when working is itself very small. In order to pursue the excellent tranquility effect of the BMW i7, the NVH sound insulation project is bound to have a breakthrough. The i7 is also equipped with an optimized lightweight sound insulation material with sound-absorbing panels in the A/B/C columns, seats, canopy and rear compartment, and wool elemental acoustic materials are also used in the doors, sills and wheel arch panels, which can greatly reduce rolling noise. To enhance its own personality, the BMW i7 will work with Grammy, Oscar and Golden Globe winners, internationally renowned composer Hans Zimmer, to create its own BMW IconicSounds Electric.
● BMW's insistence on the internal combustion engine is admirable
Previously, BMW Group CEO Chiptzer said that the new BMW 7 Series will provide three options of internal combustion engine, plug-in hybrid and pure electric, and is the only multi-powertrain luxury large car in the same class. The 7 Series, based on the CLAR platform, features a new generation of high-efficiency internal combustion engines that meet the latest Euro 7 emission standards. In the context of many traditional car manufacturers announcing that they will not develop new fuel engines, BMW's move to continue to develop new powertrains is really exciting.
Although the end of the V12 engine has made many people regret, the new BMW 7 Series will still deliver a bright answer in terms of performance. The normal power version will be dominated by a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder twin-turbo engine, with high and low power tuning versions. The drivetrain is mated to an 8-speed manual transmission, and some models will also offer an xDrive all-wheel drive system; the top-of-the-line power-out version, which will be powered by a 4.4T V8 twin-turbo engine, will reach a maximum power of 644 horsepower, which even exceeds the 6.6T V12 engine (585 horsepower) used by the old BMW M760. Whether the most powerful version will eventually be named M760 or M750, I guess the high probability is the latter.
BMW i7 detail diagram
According to previous official news, the BMW i7 will use the same fifth-generation eDrive technology as the BMW iX in power, equipped with a 120kW·h battery pack. According to the official introduction of the new BMW i7, it has an endurance of more than 600km (WLTP conditions), and the maximum cruising range under EPA conditions can reach 491km. At the same time, the new car will also launch a high-performance dual-motor four-wheel drive version for consumers to purchase, with a maximum output of up to 552kW.
● Competitors are not simple
Finally, let's talk about the future prospects of the BMW 7 Series. After as many as six generations of evolution, the BMW 7 Series has gained a large number of fans in the domestic market. Its main opponents are the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the Audi A8, but the former is already one step ahead, ushering in a replacement model last year. As a flagship model, BMW will certainly make bold innovations to the new model, bring enough surprises to consumers, and also fully upgrade and optimize the power, comfort, configuration, etc. From the information we know, BMW's new generation of 7 series is worth looking forward to. The advancement of the upgraded Mercedes-Benz S-Class in technology is amazing enough, it can be said that the gap between the D-class cars has rapidly widened, resulting in the BMW 7 Series and Audi A8 can not increase sales at a self-reducing price.
It is worth mentioning that BMW's latest proposed "new generation" model architecture will eventually replace the CLAR and FAR architectures, achieving greater production scale and higher production flexibility, and allowing the simultaneous production of fuel vehicles and electric vehicles on the same production line. According to BMW, the "new generation" architecture will cover all vehicle sizes from the 2 series to the X7, and the model has a greater breakthrough in design language, and perhaps the new generation of the 7 series is the first model we have foreseen at the design level.