BMW 7 Series | |
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Overview | |
Manufacturer | BMW |
Production | 1977–present |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Full-size luxury car (F) |
Body style | 4-door sedan |
Layout | Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | BMW New Six |
The BMW 7 Series is a full-size luxury sedan produced by the German automaker BMW since 1977. It is the successor to the BMW E3 "New Six" sedan and is currently in its sixth generation.
The 7 Series is BMW's flagship car and is only available as a sedan or extended-length limousine. It traditionally introduces technologies and exterior design themes before they trickle down to smaller sedans in BMW's lineup.
The first generation 7 Series was powered by straight-6 petrol engines, and following generations have been powered by straight-6, V8 and V12 engines with both natural aspiration and turbocharging. Since 1995, diesel engines have been included in the 7 Series range. Its main rivals include the Mercedes Benz S Class, Audi A8, Jaguar XJ, Maserati Quattroporte, and the Lexus LS.
The E23 is the first generation of the 7 Series, produced. Replacing the BMW E3 large sedan, the E23 was produced for ten years from 1977 to 1987 and was replaced by the BMW E32 7 Series in 1986.
In July 1986, BMW introduced the second generation 7 Series, the E32. Some luxury options included integrated telephone and fax machines, a wine cooler, double glazing, traction control system, and a system that automatically increased spring pressure on the windscreen wipers, to keep them firmly pressed on the glass at Motorway speeds. The top-line E32 750iL was the first car in the world to offer High-Intensity Discharge headlamps.