Click above for high-res image gallery of the 2009 BMW 7 Series
Buyers in the upper echelon of the luxury segment are increasingly demanding all-wheel traction on their rides, and BMW has evidently grown tired of seeing would-be customers flocking to rival automakers like Audi and Mercedes-Benz to get what they want. So for the first time in the model line's history, the new BMW 7 Series will be offered with all-wheel drive.
Engineers in Bavaria have reportedly worked hard to keep the 7's rear-drive dynamics intact, and have opted to fit the xDrive system with a 30:70 rearward bias instead of the 40:60 in other applications. xDrive-equipped 7s will also get a slightly higher ground clearance and Hill Decent Control, a system usually reserved for serious off-road vehicles. The option will be available on all versions of the 7 save the smallest diesels and gasoline engines that we don't get in North America anyway, fetching a €2500-2800 premium (in European markets) over conventional rear-drive versions. BMW is testing the 7 Series with xDrive in snow-draped locales before the option is offered in other markets starting at the Frankfurt Motor Show in October 2009, after which Quattros and 4Matics will be looking over their shoulders.
[Source:
Automobilwoche and
BMW Blog]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Eric 8:52PM (12/25/2008)
Finally! My dad's been saying for years that he wishes BMW would offer AWD on the 7 series. It's just in the nick of time too...he's about to hit 100,000 on his X5 and it's starting to fall apart.
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aaron 9:22PM (12/25/2008)
Oh great. Now I'll probably have to hear Zamafir complain that "BMW is copying everything Audi does" and it will come up with some fanboyish list of things that support only his arguement.
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Other Man 12:02AM (12/26/2008)
Always thought it peculiar that they didn't offer it on the 7.
Well, all we're missing now with AWD would be Jag ... or Maserati.
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Jonathan 1:40AM (12/26/2008)
I knew this was coming. AWD is a luxury feature, and BMW knows this. Also, many wealthy people reside in the northeast, an area which gets a lot of snow. Its a shame the Jag XF didn't get AWD for Christmas today, seeing as how the 535, A6, E, GS, M, RL, and CTS all offer it.
An interesting observation: If you consider (for a moment) the E46/E39/E38 era of BMW 3/5/7 to be generation one, the 3 was the only model to offer AWD. In generation two (E90/E60/E65), the 5 series added AWD. Finally, in this "third generation", the 7 also has AWD.
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TigerMil 9:00AM (12/26/2008)
silly Subaru...AWD is for kids, not rabbits.
drolds1 1:59AM (12/26/2008)
Only hill decent control? You'd think for all that money, it'd have hill descent control.
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TigerMil 8:59AM (12/26/2008)
When a 7xx can beat any Audi quattro up the ski hill I'll buy one. In the meantime I'll stick with an S8. With snow tires in the winter, thankyouverymuch.
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Raz 10:33AM (12/26/2008)
I see the irony here... BMW openly criticized Audi for Quattro and how it lacks the performance and how AWDs is not for real sports/ performance cars on several occasions over a few countries and now they are offering AWDs. If BMW is so proud of RWD and dislike AWD so much they really should stick to RWD and keep their big mouths shut about Audi and AWD
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MikeW 10:51AM (12/26/2008)
BMW's xDrive is rear wheel drive. (with a power take off clutch)
Audi's torsen quattro is four wheel drive, all the time.
MikeW 11:09AM (12/26/2008)
It better have the ZF 8 speed automatic.
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MikeW 11:26AM (12/26/2008)
and the torque vectoring rear differential too.
icu812ru469 2:04PM (12/26/2008)
I'll be getting my LS460L AWD in a few weeks, with no need to wait until late 2009. Poor 7 drivers, stuck in snow now and then stuck at the shop later...
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MikeW 12:40PM (12/27/2008)
What gives with that application?
Does the driveshaft usurp room that the exhaust manifold needs?
http://pressroom.toyota.com/presstxt/2009lexuskit/2009LS460-LS460-L_sf.pdf
23hp gone.
That thing can be quite the porker, 5000lbs.
The extra 7% shorter gearing is going to be eaten up by the girth.
Ek 2:18PM (1/09/2009)
The rear end styling looks like the old E32 7 series (1987–1995)
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