Official - What’s new in the facelifted BMW 7 series?

BMW has unveiled the facelifted 7 Series a bit earlier than we expected. The F01 LCI was supposed to be launched in July but BMW has decided to come out with all the official information a full two months ahead of the introduction.

Some four years after the launch of the 7 Series, BMW has made a few minor tweaks to keep the 7er fresh and happening. Let’s get down to business; So what has changed?

2013 BMW 7 Series Exterior Design

• The most obviously visible change is the new LED headlamps with corona rings
• An updated kidney grill with 9 chrome slats instead of 12.
• A revised front bumper
• New turn indicators under the revised mirrors
• A thin chrome strip joining the two reflectors at the rear
• The new 7 Series sits 8mm lower than the predecessor

[can't see the video above? Head over to the Youtube page to see it]

2013 BMW 7 Series Interior Design

• The rear legroom has been enhanced by adding 5.5 inches to the wheelbase
• Redesigned front leather seats
• A new 1,200-watt Bang & Olufsen High End Surround Sound System

• Optional Rear Seat Entertainment package
• A customizable digital instrument display
• An updated iDrive system with 3D navigation display
• New ambient lighting and extra sound deadening material

[can't see the video above? Head over to the Youtube page to catch it]

2013 BMW 7 Series Engines

Diesels

• The 730d will get the 3.0-liter inline-six with 255hp
• The 740d will get the 3.0-liter inline-six with 309hp
• 750d xDrive will get 3.0-liter tri-turbocharged inline-six diesel with 375hp and 740Nm. It sprints from 0-100km/h is 4.9 seconds and to a limited top speed of 250km/h (155mph)

Petrols

• The 760i with get a 6.0-liter bi-turbo V12 with the same 537hp
• The 750i gets a revised 4.4-liter turbo V8 producing 444hp and 650Nm
• The 740i gets a 3.0-liter twin-turbo churning out 315hp and 450Nm
• The 730i gets a 3.0-liter naturally aspirated straight-six rated at 255hp (258PS) and 310Nm

The 2013 7 Series also comes in an ActiveHybrid7 variant which gets a 3.0-liter turbocharged petrol engine with 315hp that is paired to a 54hp electric motor. The system's combined output is 349hp with a peak torque of 500Nm. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds while returning 14 kmpl.

The new 7 Series models get a self-leveling rear air-suspension as standard. Stiff competition is around the corner in the form of the all-new S Class (Code - W222) that is expected to reach global markets early next year.

The new 7 Series  is expected to arrive in US showrooms during July. It will definitely make it to Indian shores in the months to follow. We expect testing to begin in India later this year. The interesting piece of information is that Mercedes in grooming the S300 to start a price war in the flagship sedan market. Assembly of the 7 Series began earlier this year in Chennai.

Will BMW take up the challenge with an economy variant? Let's wait and find out!

[Source: bmwblog.com]