[Aika car shopping guide original]
Looking back at the history of BMW, you will find a magical law. For the volume model, the more moderate the product, the more it can harvest orders. For the flagship model, the situation has reversed 180 degrees. At the beginning of the 21st century, the fourth-generation BMW 7 Series (E65) splashed ink and beat the Mercedes-Benz S-Class for the first time in the sales matchup. The subsequent two generations of the 7 series repudiated the previous zhangyang brushwork and returned to the German conservative style, and the market performance became flat. In the vanity fair of the giants, the more ostentatious, the more brilliant.
Four Cylinder Towers is well aware that BMW should not be a vassal in any market segment. They realized that BMW could only drive the wealthy to pay for it if it broke through. In the hearts of the majority of car fans, BMW has been shy for too long, and even lost the color of "blue sky and white clouds". Get your lost BMW back? The new BMW 7 Series kicks off jedi strike back.
At the official invitation, Aika Cars gave a sneak peek at the new BMW 7 Series/BMW i7 (chassis number G70) before the release of the car. At the moment of seeing the true appearance of the new car, the author had too many feelings to share, but he had to abide by the confidentiality clause and temporarily swallow the enthusiasm back into his stomach. Today, the new 7 series is officially unveiled, and we can finally come up with an analysis article that has been treasured for several days.
When the new generation of Munich flagships is in front of you, what kind of thoughts flash through the minds of readers? Some say it's retro, some say it's ostentatious, and some say it's hard to accept. Beauty and ugliness have always been a subjective issue. To be sure, the new 7 Series/i7 is impressive. The last time BMW flagship sedans had such a strong visual impact, it probably went back to 2001. For the 7 Series, for BMW, the millennium is undoubtedly an important time node.
In the world of luxury cars, conformism will only gradually decline, and forging ahead is the secret of success. China's post-80s and post-90s understanding of automobiles is mainly based on the post-financial crisis era, and the aesthetic orientation has been deeply branded as conservative. If you stretch the timeline to 50 or even 100 years, you will find that it is the bold attempts that drive the development of car design again and again.
Preface | BMW's magical laws
From the early preview and official information, it is not difficult to see that BMW attaches more importance to the i7 than the 7 series. In terms of design, the new 7 Series and i7 are similar, with similarities of more than 90%. At this media briefing, BMW brought the new 740Li and i7 xDrive60L two exhibition cars, which this article will focus on. Limited by the site conditions, the quality of the actual pictures is average, please understand the readers and friends. In the following, the author will combine the official picture and the real picture to introduce the highlights of the new car in as much detail as possible.
As a fan of restrained style, I used to be only interested in designing gentle cars. Sometimes, I even hope that the car is as "humble" as possible and become the most ordinary existence in the eyes of passers-by. Unexpectedly, a few years later, I became extremely tolerant and became interested in the new BMW 7 Series/ BMW i7. When the budget rises to the level of one million yuan, the uniqueness is far more precious than the beauty and ugliness in the eyes of passers-by.
Appearance | The new king ascended the throne, and the old courtiers swept the floor
From the E38 to the E65, the interiors of the BMW 7 Series complete the century span. On top of the new 7 Series/i7 (G70), BMW launched a new round of design innovation. The interior style of the new BMW 7 Series is unique and is no longer a matryoshka doll of any model. As a new generation of cars, it needs to show a sense of technology. As the flagship of Munich, it needs to offer a sense of luxury. BMW designers have combined minimalist design with high-grade materials to create a unique cabin atmosphere.
"All over the screen!" In the face of the new 7 series, a media peer commented on it. 21 years ago, the E65 broke with tradition with the iDrive and completely reshaped the cockpit layout. In the following decades, the overhead central control screen swept the automotive industry. Today, the G70 has ushered in a new digital revolution. The difference is that the G70's revolutionary focus is on the back row. With this replacement, the rear screen of the 7 Series has changed from "2+1 (seat rear entertainment screen and mobile Pad)" to "1+2 (31-inch 8K entertainment screen and 5.5-inch armrest control screen)". Sure enough, times have changed.
Built-in | Flagship screen show
Coming to the level of large luxury cars, space has long been the focus of consumers. On the contrary, potential car owners are more concerned about whether the seat is comfortable and whether the sitting posture is comfortable. The BMW 7 Series has always been known for its theater-style design, and the overall rear seating posture is on the high side. Sitting in the back row, you can see the scenery outside the car at a glance, and your eyes directly cross the center console. On the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the rear passengers are half lying in the seats, and everywhere you look is the gorgeous interior. After this replacement, the 7 Series has changed a lot, the interior has become more luxurious, the seats have become softer, but the rear seating position has not been substantially adjusted.
Frankly, the rear legroom of the new BMW 7 Series/i7 is not up to expectations. I fully understand the encroachment on the wheelbase of the vehicle's layout and styling needs, but I greedily hope that the rear space can be larger, even if it is half a punch. For Chinese bosses, the rear space of the new 7 Series/i7 can only be considered qualified. As for overseas markets, BMW also only offers a wheelbase of 3215mm. Prior to the mid-term redesign, the G70 7 series/i7 had no plans to launch a standard-shaft (short-axis) version.
Space | The back row is still high sitting
The old BMW 7 Series (G11) is based on the CLAR architecture, while the new 7 Series/i7 uses a new architecture that is compatible with different power forms. BMW did not specify the relationship between the architecture and CLAR, but it can be determined that it has both inheritance and innovation. Supported by this architecture, the new 7 Series family is able to offer fuel, plug-in hybrid and pure electric powertrains. As for the new architecture Die Neue Klasse, fans may not have a chance to see it until 2025.
In the face of stringent emission regulations, the Fuel 7 Series began a full hybridization process, and the V12 power was eliminated, and the M760Li ceased to exist. Today, the flagship baton is passed on to the i7 xDrive60L. In the fuel sector, the new 7 Series offers three powertrains: 3.0T L6 Low Power, 3.0T L6 High Power and 4.0T V8, with maximum power ranges ranging from 200kW (272 hp) to 400kW (544 hp). Among them, the 740i (overseas name) and 740Li (Chinese name) equipped with a 3.0T inline six-cylinder engine are expected to become the main sales force.
Editor's Comments:
For the past decade or so, Ashkenazi brands have been obsessed with scale. From Munich to Stuttgart to Ingolstadt, no one is immune to the troika. Since the L7 platform, BMW has been deeply involved in the industry, losing its former vigor and lost everyone. To this day, people still miss the E90, E60, and even more E46. There were so many excellent BMs in those days that we still remember them today. Fans are afraid that the "blue sky and white clouds" will become their most hated appearance. Get the lost BMW back! The world's Bimmer dreams of achieving it.
To admit, the brand core is never set in stone, and eternal existence is just a trick to deceive children. On the contrary, the courage to arm their own brands with innovation has long-term vitality. We indulge in the E90's near-perfect steering feel, but we shouldn't pretend to be deaf and dumb and pretend to forget the ancient experience of the ZF 6AT. We are obsessed with the E46's extremely beautiful body proportions, but we should not turn a deaf ear and selectively ignore the rear space of the wronged family.
As a commodity, the automobile will always be a by-product of the times. The point is that the leader writes history and the follower copies history. Change yourself and be respectable. Drifting with the tide is doomed to loneliness. From hydraulic boosts to electric boosts, from internal combustion engines to electric motors, from leather to fabrics, we lose some and at the same time gain others. In this sense, the new BMW 7 Series, along with the i7, has found the brave and fearless BMW. Today's "7" has once again become a capital "7".
Replicating the glory of the past? The designer completes the first step. Next, it depends on the achievements of the engineering team. When it comes to driving pleasure, I'm willing to be a kid and live forever at 18. Hopefully, the same can be done with the Munich flagship.
Power | The i7 is the true flagship