Live From Portugal: Global Launch of All New 2016 BMW 7-Series (G11/G12)

The sixth Generation 2016 BMW 7-Series (G11/G12) comes with so many innovative features that we believe we should write a petition to the government to give it a special tax exemption filed under ‘Incentive for Innovation’. Really. 

Back in 1977, BMW was a small car manufacturer with only 23,000 employees when Eberhard von Kuenhim pushed for the development and the subsequent launch of the first BMW 7-Series, a car that marked BMW’s foray into challenging the all time leader of premium cars – Mercedes-Benz. Twelve years later, when Lexus launched the first LS 400, the industry laughed at Lexus for trying to pitch itself against the 7-Series and the S-Class, indirectly implying that the 7-series is the benchmark to beat. Just a mere span of 12 years is all it takes for BMW to establish its rightful spot on the upper echelons of luxury car making.

By 2008 when BMW launched the fifth generation 7-Series (F01/F02), BMW was already celebrating its first anniversary of overtaking Mercedes-Benz to become the world’s largest premium car maker with sales of more than 1.5 million units, and the Bavarian brand has never looked back ever since after seven years on the podium. With the launch of this all-new 2016 BMW 7-Series (G11/G12), BMW is not only just the largest premium car maker in the world, but with sales of more than two million units, they’re effectively larger than many mass market car manufacturers, leaving Mercedes-Benz at a distant third place trailing behind by more than 300,000 units, with Audi in between. 

So, just what it is then, that helps propel BMW’s stratospheric rise? And what is installed in the latest BMW 7-Series that sets it apart from the competition? To answer that, we went to Portugal, to attend the 2016 BMW 7-Series (G11/G12)’s global launch, and we’re here to give a quick preliminary understanding, and over the course of the next few days, giving you all a thorough update on each aspect of this new full size premium flagship sedan. 

Model variants that are available following the global unveiling (Only the 750Li xDrive and 730d are available for at the global test drive event)

• BMW 750i xDrive / BMW 750Li xDrive: Engine: 4.4-liter V8 petrol engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology (two TwinScroll turbochargers, direct injection, Valvetronic, Double-Vanos) Performance: 450hp/5,500rpm and 650Nm/1,800rpmAcceleration: 0-100km/h in 4.4 secondsMax speed: 250km/h (Electronically Limited)Average fuel consumption of 8.3 to 8.1-liters per 100km
  CO₂ emission: 194-189 g/kmExhaust standard: EU6
   
• BMW 740i / BMW 740Li:Engine: 3.0-liter inline-six petrol engine with BMW TwinPower Technology (TwinScroll turbocharger, direct injection, Valvetronic, Double-Vanos)Performance: 326hp/5,500rpm and 450Nm/1,380rpmAcceleration: 0-100km/h in 5.5 secondsMax speed: 250km/h (Electronically Limited)Average fuel consumption of 7.0 to 6.6-liters per 100km
  CO₂ emission: 164-154 g/kmExhaust standard: EU6
   
• BMW 730d / BMW 730Ld:3.0-liter inline-six diesel engine with BMW TwinPower Technology (turbocharging with variable inlet geometry, common-rail direct injection)Performance: 265hp/4,000rpm and 620Nm/2,000rpmAcceleration: 0-100km/h in 6.1 secondsMax speed: 250km/h (Electronically Limited)Average fuel consumption: 4.9 to 4.5-liters per 100km
  CO₂ emission: 129-119 g/kmExhaust standard: EU6
   
• BMW 730d xDrive / BMW 730Ld xDrive:3.0-liter inline-six diesel engine with BMW TwinPower Technology (turbocharging with variable inlet geometry, common-rail direct injection)Performance: 265hp/4,000rpm and 620Nm/2,000rpmAcceleration: 0-100km/h in 5.8 secondsMax speed: 250km/h (Electronically Limited)Average fuel consumption: 5.2 to 4.8 liters per 100km
  CO₂ emission: 137-127 g/kmExhaust standard: EU6
   
• BMW 740e / BMW 740Le / BMW 740L3 xDrive:2.0 liter inline-four petrol engine with BMW TwinPower Technology (TwinScroll turbocharger, direct injection, Valvetronic, Double-Vanos)Performance: 258hp/5,000rpm and 400Nm/1,250rpm (Combustion Engine)BMW eDrive technology with synchronous electric motor with lithium ion high voltage batteryOutput: 113hp and 250NmTotal system output: 326hpAcceleration: 0-100km/h in 5.6 secondsMax speed: 240km/hMax speed, electric only: 120km/hElectric range: 40km (37km for xDrive)Average fuel consumption: 2.1 liters / 12.4 kWh per 100km
  CO₂ emission: 49 g/km
  Exhaust standard: EU6

While there can be a myriad of trim levels based on customer’s choice of exterior color, interior trims, choice of leather, design of rims etc, generally BMW has three distinct packages for customers: 

DESIGN PURE EXCELLENCEThe exterior of the Pure Excellence trim features hotizontal chrome accents in the front air inlets and on the rear bumper, while the brake calipers are anodized in black color. The interior has an elegant fine wood detailing for the roof grab handles, the cup holders, and the rear seat belt retractor point housing. In the long wheelbase model, there are high pile floor mats and the entire roof headliner is finished in Alcantara.

Keyword: Live From Portugal: Global Launch of All New 2016 BMW 7-Series (G11/G12)