Autoblog

Review: 2009 BMW 750i

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Sedan, BMW, New Car Reviews, Luxury

2009 BMW 750i - Click above for high-res image gallery

The BMW 7 Series and the Mercedes-Benz S-class are two vehicles utterly defined by their birthplace. Each was spawned in Southern Germany, where massive stretches of autobahn honed their ability to cover boundless distances at high velocities, cosseting occupants in Teutonic luxury. But they're decidedly different beasts. In spite of their similarities, the two brands have always had distinct personalities. BMW followed its tag-line of the "Ultimate Driving Machine," while Mercedes stuck to its more sober image, focusing on its "Best in German engineering" meme.

As so often happens, automakers feel compelled to grow and expand beyond traditional audiences, and at times, the result is a diluted product that strays from its roots. When everyone is attempting to cater to the broadest possible audience, overlap is inevitable and distinctions begin to disappear. Look no further than the American mid-size sedan segment, or in this case, the last generation 7-series. So for 2009, BMW sought to re-focus its uber-sedan on what it does best. Read on to find out if BMW succeeded or if the new 7 suffers from further dilution.

Gallery: Review: 2009 BMW 750i

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Review: 2009 BMW 750i originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Apr 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2009 BMW 750Li

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, BMW, First Drives, Luxury

Click above for high-res gallery of the BMW 750Li

When the 2009 BMW 7 series was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show last fall, BMW's fifth-generation flagship had an anvil-sized burden to bear. Although the last 7 series was a milestone in the sales department, its design - which foisted Chris Bangle's influence onto an unsuspecting public - was all but universally panned when it was introduced in 2001. And if the exterior wasn't offensive enough (to some), BMW's newly-implemented iDrive system sent many reviewers and owners into unmitigated bouts of rage.

For 2009, BMW has sought to address the fourth generation's foibles while capitalizing on its strengths. And while nothing is more subjective than styling, control interfaces have a huge impact on the overall experience. Find out if BMW has succeeded on both fronts after the break.

Gallery: First Drive: 2009 BMW 750Li

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First Drive: 2009 BMW 750Li originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Neiman Marcus nabs first 2009 BMW 7 Series

John Neff — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:58:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, BMW

Those who do their daily shopping within the pages of the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book will be the first able to purchase the new 2009 BMW 7 Series beginning October 17th. The price of early adoption in this case will be a steep $160,000 for one of 31 Neiman Marcus Limited-Edition 2009 BMW Individual 7 Series sedans based on the new 750Li. While that price is tens of thousands above what we expect the 7 Series base price to be, buyers will get much more than just the car. Included in the asking price is a trip to Europe to take delivery of the special 7 Series at BMW's headquarters in Munich, after which buyers will tour the south of France in their new sedan. After the fun and frolicking, BMW will have the car shipped back to the U.S. for you. And, of course, you aren't just purchasing a standard 7 Series. Each model has been customized by BMW Individual and painted in a special Diopside Black metallic color with an interior stitched in Champagne Merino leather and accented with wood and Piano Black inserts. Is all that worth 160 large? That depends on how nice you want Christmas to be this year.

Gallery: 2009 BMW 7 Series

[Source: BMW, Neiman Marcus]

Continue reading Neiman Marcus nabs first 2009 BMW 7 Series

Neiman Marcus nabs first 2009 BMW 7 Series originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pics and Video Aplenty: 2009 BMW 7 Series

John Neff — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Videos, Paris Motor Show, BMW

Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 BMW 7 Series

BMW released a bevy of new 2009 7 Series images and even some video today in anticipation of the big sedan's appearance next month at the Paris Motor Show. Officially unveiled at the Moscow Motor Show in early July, the 2009 7 Series will appear at the Paris show in at least six different models: the 730d powered by a 3.0L straight-six diesel engine, the 740i and long-wheelbase 740il, the 750i and the also long-wheelbase 750il, as well as a hybrid version. The 7 Series will also be packed with more high technology than NORAD, including a Side View camera system, Park Distance Control system, Lane Departure Warning system, Head-up display, a four-wheel steering system called Integral Active Steering, and, of course, the latest generation of BMW's iDrive. Back seat passengers can also be entertained via big headrest-mounted screens that are controlled via a second iDrive rotary knob in the rear seat center armrest Check out all of the new images released by BMW today in our gallery below, as well as b-roll video the new 7 Series being driven on the road after the jump.

Gallery: 2009 BMW 7 Series

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading Pics and Video Aplenty: 2009 BMW 7 Series

Pics and Video Aplenty: 2009 BMW 7 Series originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More details on the "all-new" BMW 7 Series

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:31:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, BMW

Click above image for a gallery of the new 7

We've already seen what appear to be official press shots of the new 2009 BMW 7 Series, and it looks pretty good to our eyes. As expected, now that the pictures are available for all the world to see, details about the underpinnings are starting to leak out. Not surprisingly, the V8-powered 750i and 750iL models will get the new twin-turbo engine introduced on the controversial X6, offering 400 horses and 450 lb.-ft. of torque. Other possible powertrains, though not available at launch time, will be a revised twin-turbo inline six with 326 horsepower and a diesel engine for the European market. But fret not fuel misers, a hybrid model is also being considered. Underneath, active suspension which eschews BMW's trademark front struts in favor of double-wishbones, will offer variable damping with comfort, normal, sports and sports-plus modes selectable from inside the cabin.

As you'd expect, BMW's active steering will brings its oft-questioned benefits to the large sedan and can now direct the rear wheels as well. BMW's flagship sedan will undoubtedly be equipped with plenty of passenger pampering features, including massaging rear seats, to go along with safety equipment like night vision, lane departure warning and adaptive cruise control. Of course, the now-familiar iDrive will get its latest set of enhancements in order to make its sometimes confusing interface easier to use. We'll just need to wait for our first stint behind the wheel to see how all this newfangled technology works in the real world, and check back Saturday for more official details.

Gallery: 2009 BMW 7 Series

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

More details on the "all-new" BMW 7 Series originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Leaked: 2009 BMW 7 Series photos hit the web

Alex Nunez — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 09:22:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, BMW

Click above image for a gallery of the new 7

There's a crack in the dam somewhere at BMW, and what certainly appear to be official press shots of the new 2009 7 Series are now making the rounds. This leads us to believe that we should see an official release from the automaker sometime over the weekend (if the way the 1 Series leaks played out is any indication). Obviously, all we have to go on are the photos, so lets talk about what we can see. The new car's lines and overall appearance are remarkably conservative compared to the Bangleized E65/E66 cars we were presented in 2001. The 2006 facelift those cars underwent cured many of those visual ills, and this latest car mainstreams things even further.

Up front, the wide double-kidney grille is flanked by angel-eye lamps that have an "eyebrow" built into their assembly. Move to the rear, and you'll find a pair of somewhat bulbous-looking (in pictures, at least) taillamps that are likely to generate a good amount of for/against chatter. Integrated, parallelogram-shaped exhaust tips poke through the rear bumper of the gold long-wheelbase car, while the darker, diesel-powered standard-length machine has a traditional double-tipped outlet on the driver's side.

The interior sports a new iDrive controller with buttons mounted around it now, and the iDrive onscreen interface itself is new, too. The multifunction steering wheel now has 3 spokes instead of four, and one shot clearly shows BMW's new in-car Internet service onscreen. Finally, the rear-seat entertainment system gets screens on each front seatback instead of the single, low-mount center screen available in the current 7. We're sure there's plenty more to talk about as well. For now, the comment floor is yours, and we expect to be talking about the official details in the coming days. Thanks to all the tipsters!

Gallery: 2009 BMW 7 Series

[Source: 7Post]

Leaked: 2009 BMW 7 Series photos hit the web originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Jul 2008 09:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Next BMW night vision system can detect humans in the dark

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, Sedan, Technology, BMW

The next BMW 7-Series is going to be graced with some serious driving technology. While the image above doesn't appear to have anything like the picture quality of Mercedes' NightVision Assist, BMW's offering will have some other features that you probably won't find this side of a special ops base.

The second-gen night vision system will be able to detect humans in the road because it will use thermal imaging. It will alert the driver of human impediments up to 100 meters ahead, and it won't be confused by humans on the sidewalk. If a collision is imminent, a flashing warning triangle will appear on the screen and the heads-up display.

European versions of the car won't have to rely on navigation software to know the speed limit of a given road. A camera behind the rear-view mirror will read street sings in any country that is signed to the Vienna Convention -- which doesn't include the U.S. That function will work in any weather, even fog. It won't limit the speed of the car, but it will warn the driver if his or her speed is excessive. Word is they are considering naming the system "Hal." Thanks for the tip, Chris!

[Source: BMWblog]

The camera found in the Night-Vision-system will be improved as well, featuring a better resolution and improved object-recognition. The system will warn the driver if he is in danger of a collision with any detected object or human. To test this technique they test drove over 250.000 kilometers at night, so the error margins are pretty slim. That's pretty impressive I would say.

Next BMW night vision system can detect humans in the dark originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Jun 2008 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: 2009 BMW 7 Series front bumper?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:05:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Auctions, Europe, BMW

Well, waddaya know... you really can find anything on eBay. We have no way of knowing for sure if this front bumper offered for auction on eBay Germany is really from a preproduction 2009 BMW 7 Series, but it sure looks the part based on spy shots and renderings that we've seen. We can't imagine just how somebody would end up with this particular piece, but we're having fun imagining a bit of dumpster-diving around the BMW design studio. One can't help but wonder where the rest of the car may be. Didn't anybody notice the missing front end?

The seller claims that the front bumper comes from a prototype next-gen 7 Series and prefers that the item be picked up in Munich. Want it? As of this writing, the high-bid is just 25.5 euros. Seems worth at least that much, assuming it's for real.

[Source: eBay.de via Piston Heads]

eBay Find of the Day: 2009 BMW 7 Series front bumper? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: 2009 BMW 7 Series interior snapped

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 13:32:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, BMW

Click on the image to enlarge

After seeing numerous exterior spy shots and renderings of BMW's upcoming 2009 7 Series and hearing details about the drivetrain, we finally have what appears to be a spy shot of the new 7's interior. Like the exterior, it appears to be rather subdued for a modern BMW. As we had previously heard, the ~~joystick~~ gear lever has moved back to its rightful position in the center console between the seats. Although the woodgrain and some of the panels don't line up all that well, we're not concerned about it considering that this is obviously not a production model yet. We're also happy to see that the iDrive screen is better integrated into the dash. While we generally favor a clean, uncluttered look, we wonder how this new and more simple design ethos will resonate with the luxury car buyers that are BMW's target audience. Thanks for the tip, Luke!

[Source: E90Post.com]

Spy Shots: 2009 BMW 7 Series interior snapped originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 20 Apr 2008 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Next-gen BMW 7-Series showing almost everything

Dan Roth — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 08:57:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Europe, BMW

BMW's current E65/66 7-Series has been roundly bashed since its introduction in 2002, and it's creeping up on retirement. Whether it was deserving of all the uproar or not is down to taste, but following up the classically styled E38 while also making a turn toward a new ethos is a 1-2 punch of controversy. BMW's finally grown into its flame surfacing, and the 2009 7-Series has been nabbed in its peculiar paisley camouflage.

Overhangs are still short like on the current car, and it looks like the headlamps might possibly be 5-Series inspired. Things are conservative and clean down the flanks, and we think it's handsome. The bustle trunk of the current 7 has been one of the biggest bones of contention, and from what we can make out, it's been treated to significant rhinoplasty. We'll have to wait and see, but we sincerely hope the unmasked car's taillights don't bear the same resemblance to a 2002 Maxima that we're seeing in the spy shots. Squinting and ignoring the black tape has us predicting that 2009 will be the year the BMW 7-Series gets is sexy back, even if they graft Trabant blinkers to its tukas.

[Source: Motive Mag, Photo: Auto Zeitung]

Spy Shots: Next-gen BMW 7-Series showing almost everything originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Apr 2008 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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