2009 BMW 7 Series Review

Preview

What We Know

Slightly longer and lower than its predecessor and with longer front and rear tracks, the fifth-generation 2009 7 Series also rides on a wheelbase that has been increased by a considerable 3.3 inches. BMW is making much of the new car's complex construction, pointing to the extensive use of high-strength steel in its floorpan and inner structure. The body is fashioned primarily from aluminum, which is used for the hood, roof, doors and fenders. In engine options, U.S. customers will be offered just one engine, the 400-hp twin-turbocharged V8 first unveiled in the X6 xDrive50i. With 442 pound-feet of torque, it is claimed to propel the top-of-the-line 750i from zero to 60 mph in less than 5.2 seconds and up to a top speed of 155 mph. EPA-certified fuel figures are yet to be released, but going on those announced for European versions of the big new BMW, expect average consumption to be around 20 mpg. BMW has thoroughly reworked the 7 Series' underpinnings, which instead of the traditional MacPherson-strut setup has a new double-wishbone arrangement up front and multilinks at the rear. Other highlights include an advanced damping control system that alters the compression and rebound characteristics independently -- a process BMW claims has led to vastly improved ride quality. The biggest chassis development, however, concerns the steering. As well as receiving the latest incarnation of BMW's Active Front Steering, the new 7 Series also receives an optional rear-wheel-steering system called Integral Active Steer. The speed-sensitive system is capable of altering the angle of the rear wheels by up to three degrees. It is claimed to provide the new 7 Series with improved maneuverability at low speeds around town while enhancing its reaction at high speeds for improved handling. Hoping the 7 Series will gain ground with business-minded buyers, BMW has provided it with a new second-generation iDrive system that can be used to gain access to the car's on-demand Internet function. Driver-assist systems on the new car include active cruise control with a new stop-and-go capability, lane departure warning, blind spot detection, head-up display, night vision with pedestrian detection and sideview and reversing cameras.

What Edmunds.com says

A less controversial redesign and more easily accessible technology should make this 7 Series even more popular than the current model.