BMW says 7 Series will continue to promote future tech despite growing focus on SUVs

7 Series to remain BMW’s technology leader
7 Series to remain BMW’s technology leader
7 Series to remain BMW’s technology leader
7 Series to remain BMW’s technology leader
7 Series to remain BMW’s technology leader
7 Series to remain BMW’s technology leader
7 Series to remain BMW’s technology leader
7 Series to remain BMW’s technology leader
7 Series to remain BMW’s technology leader

BMW has launched its latest G70-generation 7 Series in Australia, the flagship limousine range including the debut of an all-electric 7er dubbed i7, alongside myriad other advanced technologies that will – as they have since 1977 – soon trickle their way down the portfolio into more affordable models.

However, with SUVs now taking development precedence for the majority of car companies worldwide, the question of how long upper large sedans like the 7 Series can maintain their position as innovation leaders is one that looms large.

BMW has already demonstrated a move toward pioneering technologies elsewhere, in models such as its recently debuted iX. Such shifts in the advancement of new-to-market ideas and technologies raises significant questions around validity of the 7 Series program – especially given the inviolable shift toward sport utility vehicles.

Speaking to GoAuto at the local launch of the 7 Series, BMW Australia head of product planning Brendan Michel said with confidence that he was certain the 7 Series would remain at the pinnacle of technological development for the brand and serve as a rolling showcase of its engineering advancements.

“Looking back, and even though we have the 8 Series and iX in the market, I think the communication is still very strong around the fact that the 7 Series will remain our flagship car, and one which highlights all the latest technology and safety features we will bring to market,” he explained.

“The 7 Series has always been the car that showcases new technologies, and then those technology tend to filter down throughout the rest of the range, which is fantastic for our customers. In that way, the 7 Series serves an important role in helping new technologies become more ‘mainstream’.

“And it is my understanding that the 7 Series will continue to be our flagship in this manner, even if there has been a very big shift toward SUVs over the past six or seven years. Locally, for example, around 60 per cent of our volume is from the X (SUV) family, but that doesn’t take away from the point that the 7 Series is still a very important car.”

Mr Michel said that BMW was still “heavily invested” in portraying the 7 Series as an engineering forebear for other models in the range, and that at times throughout the COVID-19 pandemic had even gone as far as shifting resources from elsewhere to expedite the 7 Series program.

“The level of engineering that has gone into the new 7 Series – especially as the first fully electric limousine in the i7 – probably highlights our commitment in this area. That is something BMW has been very focused on,” Mr Michel told GoAuto.

“Globally, we still have a lot of people coming into our showrooms and buying a new 7 Series … and I think part of that is because for seven generations now it has been a halo for the brand.

“And the 7 Series is still a technology showcase – and 7 Series buyers appreciate that – even if there is more choice now (with SUVs), and we’re proving there is a strong market for that as well.

“But internally, the focus on the 7 Series is still prioritised,” he continued.

“Even when there were storm clouds on the horizon in regards to semiconductor and wiring harness restrictions and so forth, the team in Munich prioritised the program, and pulled out all the stops to make sure that development of the 7 Series was not affected.

“We didn’t want to impact the delivery process for our customers, and even if that meant they have had to sacrifice other product lines to make this one right.”

Although that might seem somewhat shortsighted, Mr Michel was quick to point out how strategically important such a decision is for the remainder of the BMW portfolio.

“It’s a very important move, because we will see these technologies move quickly into the rest of the range, somewhere over the next 18 to 36 months, and there will be even more to come in due course, but we can’t talk about that just yet,” he grinned.

BMW 7 Series timeline:

1977 (E23): The first 7 Series is launched and introduces anti-lock brakes to the BMW range. Approximately 285,000 units are produced between 1977 and 1986 with engine outputs ranging from 127kW to 188kW.

1986 (E32): BMW’s second-generation 7 Series introduces Xenon headlights to the world, and the first German V12 engine. Approximately 311,000 examples are produced with power figures of between 140kW and 224kW.

1994 (E38): Technology offerings in the third-generation 7 Series were groundbreaking at the time and included the first satellite navigation system with a moving map. Some 328,000 examples were produced from 1994 to 2001 with power outputs ranging between 107kW and 243kW.

2001 (E65/E66): It is hard to believe the first generation of iDrive was introduced in the 7 Series some 22 years ago. BMW produced around 344,000 examples of its fourth-gen limousine between 2001 and 2008, with outputs ranging from 163kW to 274kW.

2008 (F01/F02): Styling of the ‘Bangle era’ 7 Series was controversial, but the model was BMW’s most popular yet – and the first to debut head-up display. From 2008 to 2015 approximately 374,000 examples were produced. Power outputs ranged from 183kW to an astonishing 406kW – more than three times that of the original E23.

2015 (G11/G12): Remote-control parking and plug-in hybrid technology were just two of the technologies debuted with the sixth-generation 7 Series. Running from 2015 to 2022, production totaled 350,000 examples, while power figures ranged from 198kW through to a whopping 455kW.

2022 (G70): With hybrid petrol and fully electric power, a larger Rolls-Royce inspired body and technologies that would have seemed unfathomable in 1977, the seventh-generation 7 Series is now on deck. Locally, the range will offer power outputs of between 280kW and 400kW, the latter with a 0-100km/h time of just 4.7 seconds.

7 Series to remain BMW’s technology leader

Keyword: 7 Series to remain BMW’s technology leader

CAR'S NEWS RELATED

Evolved: Giving BMW’s G81 M3 Touring The CSL Treatment

My favourite BMWs are the ones you can’t actually buy. Even if you see them at a BMW showroom. A few months back, BMW Park Lane in London collaborated with Evolve Automotive. It was a great example of a manufacturer paying attention to the aftermarket, and getting involved with arguably the ...

View more: Evolved: Giving BMW’s G81 M3 Touring The CSL Treatment

2023 BMW iX M60 Review: Ramping up the Power

•    Auto123 reviews the 2023 BMW iX M60. BMW takes straight aim at Tesla and its top-selling Model X with the iX all-electric SUV’s new M60 edition. This is the third variant of the model BMW has put out, after the xDrive40 and iX xDrive50 that debuted with the 2022 ...

View more: 2023 BMW iX M60 Review: Ramping up the Power

2024 BMW 530i xDrive Is A Perfect Example Of Why Electric Cars Are Great

Photo: Andy Kalmowitz / Jalopnik Having entered its eighth generation, the BMW 5 Series is all new for 2024, and for the first time, there are fully electric variants of the iconic sports sedan. While those electric i5 models are moving the 5 Series lineup into the future, the ...

View more: 2024 BMW 530i xDrive Is A Perfect Example Of Why Electric Cars Are Great

BMW announce R12 nineT and R12 cruiser in rejuvenated boxer heritage range

A side view of the BMW R12 nineT 2024 BMW R12 being ridden A static view of the BMW R12 cruiser A pair of BMW R12 nineTs riding together Ten years on from the introduction of the first R nineT retro in 2013, BMW have pulled the covers off ...

View more: BMW announce R12 nineT and R12 cruiser in rejuvenated boxer heritage range

BMW’s Electric Gravel Bike Puts A Very Big, Very Fast Smile On Your Face

Photo: Jalopnik / Owen Bellwood Automakers around the world are looking for a way into the burgeoning electric bike market. Porsche bought up European bike builder Greyp to further its two-wheeled ambitions, Jeep partnered with American outfit QuietKat, and now BMW has a range of e-bikes built in partnership ...

View more: BMW’s Electric Gravel Bike Puts A Very Big, Very Fast Smile On Your Face

Imp By Name, Imp By Nature

Imp, (noun), a mischievous child or little devil. That word description is hardly something a standard Hillman Imp could embody, but James Williams‘ 1976 Imp – seen here on the Lancaster Pride of Ownership stand at the recent NEC Classic Motor Show – well and truly lives up to its name. When you think ...

View more: Imp By Name, Imp By Nature

The BMW M3 CS Is A Flawed Daily Driver But A Perfect Track Toy

This car was made for weekend racers.

View more: The BMW M3 CS Is A Flawed Daily Driver But A Perfect Track Toy

What is the BMW M3 top speed?

We list the top speed as well as the performance figures and 0-100 km/h sprint time of the latest-generation BMW M3. In 2021, BMW introduced the G80 generation M3 model. Like the E30 M3, introduced in 1986, the latest iteration embodies the trait of being a race car for the ...

View more: What is the BMW M3 top speed?

Which used BMW X1 is better: diesel or petrol?

BMW’s M Performance Parts Kit Now Includes Centre-lock Wheels

Watch A Pristine BMW E30 Go Up In Flames After It Springs A Leak

This Nurburgring Compilation Video Is Filled With Out-Of-Control BMWs

Gusheshe BMW E30 Spontaneously Combusts in Mzansi Street

What is the BMW X3 top speed?

This Awkward Looking SUV Will Replace The BMW iX3 In 2025

Listening To This V10-Swapped BMW M3 Will Be The Best Thing You Do Today

The 2024 BMW 5 Series Is Still Great With A Gas Engine: First Drive Review

BMW, Mercedes Saw EVs Make Up 15% Of Their Total U.S. Sales In Q3 2023

After 32 Years, Esther Mahlangu’s Iconic BMW Will Return to SA

Here’s how much you’ve gotta pay for the new BMW i5 monthly

OTHER CAR NEWS

; Top List in the World https://www.pinterest.com/newstopcar/pins/
Top Best Sushi Restaurants in SeoulTop Best Caribbean HoneymoonsTop Most Beautiful Islands in PeruTop Best Outdoor Grill BrandsTop Best Global Seafood RestaurantsTop Foods to Boost Your Immune SystemTop Best Foods to Fight HemorrhoidsTop Foods That Pack More Potassium Than a BananaTop Best Healthy Foods to Gain Weight FastTop Best Cosmetic Brands in the U.STop Best Destinations for Food Lovers in EuropeTop Best Foods High in Vitamin ATop Best Foods to Lower Your Blood SugarTop Best Things to Do in LouisianaTop Best Cities to Visit in New YorkTop Best Makeup Addresses In PennsylvaniaTop Reasons to Visit NorwayTop Most Beautiful Islands In The WorldTop Best Law Universities in the WorldTop Richest Sportsmen In The WorldTop Biggest Aquariums In The WorldTop Best Peruvian Restaurants In MiamiTop Best Road Trips From MiamiTop Best Places to Visit in MarylandTop Best Places to Visit in North CarolinaTop Best Electric Cars For KidsTop Best Swedish Brands in The USTop Best Skincare Brands in AmericaTop Best American Lipstick BrandsTop Michelin-starred Restaurants in MiamiTop Best Secluded Getaways From MiamiTop Best Things To Do On A Rainy Day In MiamiTop Most Instagrammable Places In MiamiTop Interesting Facts about FlorenceTop Facts About The First Roman Emperor - AugustusTop Best Japanese FoodsTop Most Beautiful Historical Sites in IsraelTop Best Places To Visit In Holy SeeTop Best Hawaiian IslandsTop Reasons to Visit PortugalTop Best Hotels In L.A. With Free Wi-FiTop Best Scenic Drives in MiamiTop Best Vegan Restaurants in BerlinTop Most Interesting Attractions In WalesTop Health Benefits of a Vegan DietTop Best Thai Restaurant in Las VegasTop Most Beautiful Forests in SwitzerlandTop Best Global Universities in GermanyTop Most Beautiful Lakes in GuyanaTop Best Things To Do in IdahoTop Things to Know Before Traveling to North MacedoniaTop Best German Sunglasses BrandsTop Highest Mountains In FranceTop Biggest Hydroelectric Plants in AmericaTop Best Spa Hotels in NYCTop The World's Scariest BridgeTop Largest Hotels In AmericaTop Most Famous Festivals in JordanTop Best European Restaurants in MunichTop Best Japanese Hiking Boot BrandsTop Best Universities in PolandTop Best Tips for Surfing the Web Safely and AnonymouslyTop Most Valuable Football Clubs in EuropeTop Highest Mountains In ColombiaTop Real-Life Characters of Texas RisingTop Best Beaches in GuatelamaTop Things About DR Congo You Should KnowTop Best Korean Reality & Variety ShowsTop Best RockstarsTop Most Beautiful Waterfalls in GermanyTop Best Fountain Pen Ink BrandsTop Best European Restaurants in ChicagoTop Best Fighter Jets in the WorldTop Best Three-Wheel MotorcyclesTop Most Beautiful Lakes in ManitobaTop Best Dive Sites in VenezuelaTop Best Websites For Art StudentsTop Best Japanese Instant Noodle BrandsTop Best Comedy Manhwa (Webtoons)Top Best Japanese Sunglasses BrandsTop Most Expensive Air Jordan SneakersTop Health Benefits of CucumberTop Famous Universities in SwedenTop Most Popular Films Starring Jo Jung-sukTop Interesting Facts about CougarsTop Best Hospitals for Hip Replacement in the USATop Most Expensive DefendersTop Health Benefits of GooseberriesTop Health Benefits of ParsnipsTop Best Foods and Drinks in LondonTop Health Benefits of Rosehip TeaTop Best Air Fryers for Low-fat CookingTop Most Asked Teacher Interview Questions with AnswersTop Best Shopping Malls in ZurichTop The Most Beautiful Botanical Gardens In L.A.Top Best Mexican Restaurants in Miami for Carb-loading rightTop Best Energy Companies in GermanyTop Best Garage HeatersTop Largest Banks in IrelandTop Leading Provider - Audit and Assurance In The USTop Best Jewelry Brands in IndiaTop Prettiest Streets in the UKTop Best Lakes to Visit in TunisiaTop Highest Mountains in Israel