Autoblog

BMW unsure over fate of V12 in 7 Series

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 18:01:00 EST

BMW, only recently celebrating 25 years of V12 engines in its 7 Series sedan and releasing a special 25 Years Anniversary Edition, has put the future of the top-flight execu-barge in question. A BMW product and pricing manager told Australian site Car Advice that a decision on putting a 12-cylinder in the next-generation car, due in 2016, hasn't been made yet.

It appears that this decision isn't due exclusively to emissions (that V12 is quite a guzzler, after all), since the current 760Li sells in such low numbers - at $140,200 in the US, it's the most expensive offering we have from The Roundel, beating the Alpina B7 by nearly $13,000. It sounds like the emissions issue, along with other issues like design and technology, are dominating considerations for the line in general.

Emphasis is being put on making sure the 7 Series is more differentiated from every other car in BMW's lineup, and while anything is possible, you can count us surprised if the next 7 Series shows up without a V12. There is no indication that the competitors are giving up on the biggest engines in their biggest sedans, and as the BMW executive says, there will always be a market for such cars - certain buyers need to be able to stress the word "ultimate" in "Ultimate Driving Machine."

BMW unsure over fate of V12 in 7 Series originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Dec 2012 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW marks 25 years of 12-cylinder engines

Jeffrey N. Ross — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, BMW, Luxury

BMW has already celebrated the silver anniversary of its V12-powered 7 Series flagship by offering a special 25 Years Anniversary Edition of the car for 2013, but now the automaker has released a visual display of the engine's quarter-century in the nose of its big Autobahn cruisers. First introduced in 1987 in the 750i, BMW points out it was the first of the modern German luxury sedans to use a 12-cylinder engine - Mercedes-Benz and Audi didn't offer such an engine in their S-Class and A8 models for several more years.

While the current engine used in the current F02 760Li pumps out 535 horsepower and 440 pound-feet of torque, the E32 750i had just 300 hp and 330 pound-feet of twist; the E38 750i had 322 hp and the E66 760i had 439 hp.

Just as dramatically as its power figures have progressed, so, too, has the car's styling, from its early days as more traditional luxury sedan right through its controversial period with Chris Bangle lines to today's modern look. Even the interior has come a long way over the lifespan of the 7 Series, starting out as barren, soberly Germanic (note the car phone) with a roomy back seat to a progressively more plush cabin stuffed with technology. See the progression for yourself in our gallery above, as well as in the press release below.

Continue reading BMW marks 25 years of 12-cylinder engines

BMW marks 25 years of 12-cylinder engines originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Oct 2012 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Special edition 760Li celebrates 25 years of BMW 12-cylinder car engines

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 11:25:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, BMW, Specialty, Luxury

We don't remember our last encounter with a car that was built to celebrate an engine, but we have one now in the 2013 BMW 760Li: V12 25 Years Anniversary Edition. Created for the U.S. alone, and in a batch of just 15 cars, this 7 Series commemorates a quarter century of BMW making automotive engine blocks with a dozen combustion chambers. For a comparison of how far 25 years will take you, the 750iL with that first, naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V12 produced 295 horsepower, while the twin-turbo 6.0-liter V12 in today's 760Li gets 535 hp.

This special sedan wears a full merino leather interior in champagne with contrasting black wood trim, piping and floor mats, as well as leather on the pillars, a rear-seat entertainment package, Alcantara headliner and parcel shelf, 20-inch wheels and enough V12 badges throughout to start an eBay shop. Price is set at $159,695, which includes destination and is nearly $20,000 above the standard sedan. If you are one of the 15 buyers, you will certainly be able to add more options and more expense as you see fit.

Continue reading Special edition 760Li celebrates 25 years of BMW 12-cylinder car engines

Special edition 760Li celebrates 25 years of BMW 12-cylinder car engines originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Sep 2012 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW announces pricing for updated 2013 7 Series

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Performance, BMW, Luxury

The latest new bit of news surrounding the 2013 BMW 7 Series is a price tag: $74,195 gets you inside the large doors of the 740i, and that includes $895 destination (as do all prices that follow). The 740Li xDrive is a new addition slotted at the top of the 740 range and will run $81,195. Next up on the entry-price ladder is the ActiveHybrid 7 with a smaller but more more potent powertrain, 2.5 miles of EV range and better fuel economy, ringing up $84,895 at the till.

There's a $6,700 spread in prices for the model with the 445-horsepower, 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8, with the 750i starting things off at $87,195 and the 750Li xDrive running $93,895. It's quite a leap from there to the next plateau: the short-wheelbase Alpina B7 clocks in at $128,495, the long-wheelbase B7 requires $132,395. Adding xDrive to either of those models adds $3,000. But it's the in-house 760Li that tops the charts at $140,200.

The 2013 models have been breathed on everywhere, with design, powertrain, technology and efficiency tweaks providing comprehensive improvement. Have a look below for the full price list.

Continue reading BMW announces pricing for updated 2013 7 Series

BMW announces pricing for updated 2013 7 Series originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Jul 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 BMW 7 Series arrives with more power, gadgets and safety [w/video]

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 25 May 2012 09:34:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, BMW, Luxury

The 2013 BMW 7 Series gets incremental improvements everywhere. Outside the changes are minimal: fewer vertical slats inside the kidney grille and a larger chrome surround, two horizontal chrome accents bars splitting the lower intake, restyled side mirrors with turn-signal indicators, and new shades of red on the taillights. Inside are resculpted front seats, more soundproofing, redesigned ambient lighting, an updated iDrive controller and "floating" screens for the Rear Seat Entertainment package, and an optional Bang & Olufsen sound system. Along with those changes, the look of the navigation system has been updated with new menu organization, displays, a "pie menu" and 3D elements. The Attention Assistant system provides gives BMW drivers their own coffee cup icon to remind you when it's time to rest and hands-free trunk operation makes its first appearance in the range.

The eight-speed steptronic transmission, fitted to every model, allows the new 7 to make more of its engines. Under the hood, the inline six-cylinder in the 740i maintains the same power ratings, 315 horsepower and 330 lb-ft, but is mated to the new eight-speed Steptronic transmission and said to have "significantly improved" efficiency, with a 20 percent increase noted in the EU cycle. The 4.4-liter V8 in the 750i gets fitted with Valvetronic and gets bumps of 45 hp and 30 lb-ft, for 445 hp and 480 lb-ft total. The changes reduce its 0-60 time to 4.7 seconds, at the same time as fuel economy on the EU cycle climbs 25 percent with the new transmission.

The second-gen ActiveHybrid 7 drops down an engine size, swapping its previous V8 for the 3.0-liter six-cylinder from the 740. It's yoked to a 55-hp synchronous motor. Rated at a combined 349 hp and 367 lb-ft, BMW says it is 14 percent more fuel efficient than the 740i.

Both the 740i and 750i will come with a new powertrain management system dubbed ECO PRO that joins the other Driving Dynamics Control settings and that includes a coasting mode operable between 30 and 100 mph. Other driving enhancements include Dynamic Damper Control, an electronically controlled damping system that works on each shock individually dependent on road conditions, self-leveling rear suspension now standard on all models, and xDrive available on the 740i.

Both the 740i and 750i will arrive in showrooms this summer, the ActiveHybrid 7 coming this fall. The high-res gallery above can show you what's coming, scroll down to read all about it in the press release.

UPDATE: A pair of official videos are now available by scrolling below.

Continue reading 2013 BMW 7 Series arrives with more power, gadgets and safety [w/video]

2013 BMW 7 Series arrives with more power, gadgets and safety [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 May 2012 09:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Quick Spin: 2010 BMW 760Li

Steven J. Ewing — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, BMW, Luxury, Quick Spins

If You Have The Means, Then By All Means...

2010 BMW 760Li - Click above for high-res image gallery

$66,350 is a significant sum. In the automotive world, it can buy you a variety of delicious drivables, including the BMW M3, Cadillac CTS-V or Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG. It can buy you exactly 4.67 Mazda2 hatchbacks, if that's more your style, but no matter how you look at it, $66K isn't chump change.

So when you consider that the 2010 BMW 760Li commands a wallet-gouging $66,350 over an entry-level 7 Series, which itself starts at at a lofty $70,650, you'd be right to expect the standard BMW flagship treatment with a heaping helping of sport sedan prowess thrown in for good measure. And that, folks, is exactly what you get.

Continue reading...

Gallery: 2010 BMW 760Li: Quick Spin

Continue reading Quick Spin: 2010 BMW 760Li

Quick Spin: 2010 BMW 760Li originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Keeping up with the House of Saud: BMW 7 Series High Security

Jonny Lieberman — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 19:57:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Etc., Europe, BMW, Luxury

BMW 760Li High Security - Click above for high-res image gallery

You're totally rich, your name's on several buildings and your wife is hotter than three suns. And you love sporty driving -- no chauffeur for you. Thing is, people are always shooting at your Ferrari 599. True, it can outrun bullets -- but what if you're stopped at a light? BMW has a solution for you. Meet the 760Li High Security and its "little" brother, the 750Li High Security, two new flagships providing safe haven from attacks and an entertaining steer. And they're fast. The 750Li has the now ubiquitous 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 good for 407 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. Even better, is the mighty heart of the 760Li with its soon-to-be shared with Rolls-Royce 6.0-liter twin-turbo V12 that not only makes 537 hp but 553 lb-ft of gravity defying torque. That much grunt lets the big dog hit 60 mph in 6.1 seconds. Both cars are electronically limited to 131 mph.

But here's why you really want 'em. Unlike cars that get all up-armored in the aftermarket, the new 7-Series was designed from the very start with armored versions in mind. Meaning that when the lads at the Dingofling factory add a few thousand pounds of bullet-proof steel plating, BMW has already designed a suitable suspension component (be it dampers, bushings or strut top mounting points) to account for all the extra weight. Moreover, as the new factory panels are in fact a perfect match to the parts they're replacing, the High Security cars fit together better and are more tightly sealed -- good news in case of gas attacks. And speaking of gas attacks, there's an assault alarm that automatically puts out fires under the car and in the engine bay. The assault alarm can also detect excess gas levels and automatically shut the vents, raise the windows, locks the doors and pump in purified air. Gotta have that.

BMW's claiming that both cars meet VR7 levels of protection and that the non-see-through bits meet VR9 levels. Sadly, even the internet doesn't know exactly what those levels mean, but they sound safe. In fact, (taking BMW's word for it) the only safer place on four wheels is Obama's Cadillac One, and even you can't buy that. Says BMW, "The two BMW high security sedans set new standards in the protection of persons at risk while traveling in their vehicle." Still not feeling safe? There's an optional compartment to store two machine guns right in the center console. Plus we're sure some "discreet" BMW consultants could help you and your check book make the 7-Series High Security a whole lot safer. Full press release after the jump.

Gallery: 2010 BMW 7 Series High Security

Continue reading Keeping up with the House of Saud: BMW 7 Series High Security

Keeping up with the House of Saud: BMW 7 Series High Security originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Aug 2009 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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V12 BMW 760i spied?

Noah Joseph — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 10:27:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, BMW

Although BMW's flagship 7 Series sedan has traditionally been available with twelve cylinders under the hood, the latest F01 chassis has so far been headlined by the company's twin-turbo V8. If these spy shots are anything to go by, however, the eight-cylinder turbo is about to get some company,

A more aggressive front end, different wheels and a taped-up V12 badge on the front fender are the give-aways of the new range-topping model, which could employ the carryover naturally aspirated unit or get a pair of turbos bolted on for good measure. However, reports differ over whether BMW will offer an M7 performance version to compete with Audi's S8 and Mercedes' S63 AMG in addition to the V12 model. In the meantime, BMW is expected to unveil the new 760i at the Shanghai Motor Show in a couple of months from now.

[Source: Carpassion Forums via World Car Fans]

V12 BMW 760i spied? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Jan 2009 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Whaaaa? BMW 770Li W12

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 19:33:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Etc., Europe, BMW

A keen observer in the UK, sent the blokes over at PistonHeads the above pic of a BMW 7-Series with '770Li' badging and, even weirder, a 'W12' logo brandishing itself on the left corner of its pseudo-Bangled trunk lid.

If this is authentic, and we're pretty damn sure that it's not, would BMW really take a play from the VW engineers and produce a W12? An even better question would be, is there really a market for another 'quick' luxo-barge? The 760Li does 0-60 in just over five and half seconds, so would such a beast even fit in BMWs lineup? We think not.

As is probably the case, some overly geeky (not to mention wealthy) car guy found a machinist to mill some faux badges and then got creative with the double-sided tape. If that's the case, we're thinking of throwing some 'Sixteen' badges on the flanks of our Mom's Alero. Anyone gonna hook us up?

Whaaaa? BMW 770Li W12 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Sep 2006 19:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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