The 7 Series has been a staple for the Bavarian brand to display their technological and luxury prowess. Since its inception in 1977, each of the 7 generations of the premium saloon have ushered in some sort of technological innovation so we decided to delve into the 7 Series evolution.
The latest BMW 7 Series G70/G71 generation has sparked some heated debates over aesthetic preferences but that hasn’t always been the case with the range. Over its 45 year and 7 generation lifespan, the BMW 7 Series has been a culmination of technological prowess amalgamated with luxury and comfort for the Munich based manufacturer.
Starting out in more humbling and subtle beginnings, the E23 which debuted in 1977 and had production span a decade featured impressive tech for its time including electronic cruise control and an on-board computer. It was also the first BMW production car to feature ABS – this was 45 years ago, remember. Powering the premium saloon was a range of in-line sixers.
The second generation E32, produced between 1986 and 1994 featured the world’s first ellipsoid and xenon headlights. It also doubled its cylinders and changed the engine configuration, using a V12 for the first time. There were more economical in-line 6 and V8 motors to choose from for the faint hearted. The driver controlled this behemoth motor via throttle by wire and was the first to feature park distance control – helpful in a car with the dimensions of 5,029 mm x 1,845 in its largest LWB guise.
The E38, which had a production cycle that spanned between 1994 and 2001, was famous for its cameo in James Bond: Tomorrow Never Dies. Unfortunately civilian derivatives didn’t have remote control operation or any of the gadgets from the movie. What the E38 did have was the first onboard navigation system displayed on an in-built television, a first for BMW. On the safety front it featured dynamic stability control and side airbag head protection.
While the E38 was arguably one of the most elegant 7s to leave the Bavarian drawing board, its precursor was the opposite. The Bangle style design language on the E65/E66 was ungainly and awkward, from both the front and back. Its personality did make up for its looks, somewhat, since it featured the world’s first electronic emergency brake with ABS actuation. The unattractive headlamps were a first for electronically controlled adaptive headlights. Production ran between 2001 and 2008.
The F01/F02 is where sedans as a whole began to lose market share to SUV’s. In addition to this, the fifth generation 7 Series which was produced between 2008 and 2015 suffered the brunt of a global recession. It wasn’t a good time for opulent land yachts but BMW soldiered on in their innovative pursuits. The F01/F02 generation was the first to feature integral active steering which directed BMW’s first ever hybrid drivetrain (ActiveHybrid 7) into the direction commanded by the driver.
The sixth generation G11/G12 produced between 2015 and 2022 was the first car lineup of BMW Group to be based on the modular OKL platform (Oberklasse, or luxury class in German). This included carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer as a structural chassis component, tech borrowed from BMW i models. An array of motors accompanied the behemoth, but none stood out greater than the revered 6,6-litre twin-turbocharged V12 which will not feature in the 7 Series evolution again.
In typical fashion of the 7 Series evolution, the latest G70/G71 generation is a technological and luxury marvel for the Bavarian manufacturer, being the first in the range to offer a fully electric powertrain. Did we mention that this silent dual-motor setup also powers a backseat cinema?
Keyword: How has the flagship BMW saloon gotten to this point – 7 Series evolution
