BMW 7 Series

The BMW 7 Series is a full-size luxury sedan produced by the German automaker BMW since 1977. It is the successor to the BMW E3 "New Six" sedan and is currently in its sixth generation.

BMW 7 Series
BMW 730Ld (G12)
Overview
ManufacturerBMW
Production1977–present
Body and chassis
ClassFull-size luxury car (F)
Body stylesedan
LayoutFront-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Front-engine, all-wheel-drive (xDrive)
Chronology
PredecessorBMW New Six

The 7 Series is BMW's flagship car and is only available in a sedan bodystyle (including long wheelbase and limousine models). It traditionally introduces technologies and exterior design themes before they trickle down to other models in BMW's lineup.[1]

The first generation of the 7 Series was powered by straight-6 petrol engines, and following generations have been powered by inline-4, straight-6, V8 and V12 engines with both natural aspiration and turbocharging. Since 1995, diesel engines have been optional in the 7 Series.

Unlike the 3 Series and 5 Series sedans, BMW has not produced a M model for the 7 Series (i.e. an "M7"). However, in 2014 an "M Performance" option became available for the 7 Series.

First generation (E23; 1977–1987)

BMW 733i sedan (US)
BMW 735i sedan (Australia)

The E23 is the first generation 7 Series, and was produced from 1977 to 1987. It was built in a 4-door sedan body style with 6-cylinder engines, to replace the E3 sedans. From 1983 to 1987, a turbocharged 6-cylinder engine was available.

The E23 introduced many electronic features for the first time in a BMW, including an on-board computer, service interval indicator, a "check control panel" (warning lights to indicate system faults to the driver), a dictaphone and complex climate control systems. It was also the first BMW to offer an anti-lock braking system (ABS), a driver's airbag and double-link front suspension.

Second generation (E32; 1986–1994)

BMW 740iL sedan
BMW 750i sedan

The E32 is the second generation of 7 Series, which was produced from 1986 to 1994. It was initially available with a straight-six or V12 engine, the latter being Germany's first in a passenger car since World War II. In 1992, V8 engines became available.

The E32 introduced the following features for the first time in a BMW: Electronic Damper Control,[2] V12 and V8 engines, double glazing, the CAN bus electronic protocol,[3] Xenon headlamps,[4] traction control[5] and dual-zone climate control.[6] The E32 750i was the first car adhering to BMW's self-imposed speed limit of 250 km/h (155 mph).[7] The 'iL' models were the first time that a long-wheelbase option was offered by BMW.

Third generation (E38; 1994–2001)

BMW 7 Series
BMW 735i sedan (Australia)

The E38 is the third generation of the 7 Series, which was produced from 1994 to 2001. The model range consisted of standard length and long wheelbase ("iL" models) sedans.

The petrol engines available consisted of straight-six, V8 and V12 engines. The E38 was the first 7 Series to be available with a diesel engine; initially a turbocharged straight-six, which was joined by a twin-turbocharged V8 in 1998.

The E38 was the first car available with curtain airbags. It was also the first European car to offer satellite navigation[8] and the first BMW to offer an in-built television.

Fourth generation (E65/E66/E67/E68; 2001–2008)

BMW 740Li sedan
Facelift BMW 730d (Germany)

The E65/E66/E67/E68 is the fourth generation 7 Series, which was produced from 2001 to 2008. The model range consisted of standard length and long wheelbase ("Li" models) sedans.

The E65/E66/E67/E68 was the first BMW to include iDrive, "flame-surfacing" exterior styling, active anti-roll bars, a 6-speed automatic transmission, an electronic smart Key (dispensing with the traditional metallic key) and night vision. The 760i model was the world's first production V12 engine to use direct injection.[9][10]

Fifth generation (F01/F02/F03/F04; 2008–2015)

BMW 730d xDrive
BMW 730d (Australia)

The F01/F02/F03/F04 is the fifth-generation 7 Series, which was produced from 2008 to 2015. The model range consisted of standard length and long wheelbase ("Li" models) sedans.

The F01 was the first BMW to be available with a hybrid drivetrain ("ActiveHybrid 7"), an 8-speed automatic transmission and a turbocharged V12 engine. It was also the first 7 Series to be available with a turbocharged petrol engine and all-wheel drive (xDrive).

Sixth generation (G11/G12; 2015–present)

BMW 750i - G12
BMW 740d - G11

The G11/G12 is the sixth generation of 7 Series, which has been in production since 2015. It was revealed on June 10, 2015 at BMW's headquarters in Munich.[11] An official public reveal took place at the 2015 International Motor Show Germany.

G11 is the codename for the short-wheelbase model, the extended wheelbase model is codenamed G12 and designated with an additional L letter.

The G11/G12 is the first car lineup of BMW Group to be based on the modular OKL platform (Oberklasse, German for luxury class).[12] The OKL platform adopts technology first introduced in BMW i models, namely the introduction of carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer as structural chassis components.

As part of BMW's strategy of introducing plug-in hybrid variants for all future car models,[13] both, the short and long-wheelbase models will be available with hybrid powertrains under the designations 740e and 740Le in 2016.[14]

The facelift appeared in 2019.

Production and sales

Calendar yearTotal productionUS salesChina sales
1995 22,637[15]
1996 22,775
1997 49,700[16]-
1998 47,300[16]-
1999 43,000[16]18,233[17]
2000 39,000[16]16,619
2001 32,749[16]13,389[18]
2002 53,504[16]22,006
2003 57,899[16]20,473[19]
2004 47,689[16]16,155[20]
2005 50,062[16]18,165[21]
2006 50,227[16]17,796
2007 44,421[22]14,773
2008 38,835[23]12,276
2009 52,680[24]9,254[25]16,006[26]
2010 65,814[27]12,25326,553[28]
2011 68,77411,299[29]33,500[30]
2012 59,18411,09826,808[31]
2013 56,001[32]10,932[33]25,916[34]
2014 48,5199,744[35]21,896[36]
2015 36,364[37]9,292[38]13,692[39]
2016 61,514[40]12,918[41]
2017 64,311 9,276

Sales of hybrid-powered 7 Series models in the United States are as follows:[42][43][44][45][46]

2010201120122013201420152016
101338231-45121

References

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  12. Stephen Edelstein (2013-12-03). "BMW's 'Oberklasse' 2016 5 Series will thankfully mark the end of the boring Bimmers". Digital Trends. Retrieved 2015-11-30. Under the new sheet metal will be an equally new platform dubbed OKL (Oberklasse or “luxury class”), which will form the basis for many of BMW’s future models, including the next 6 Series and 7 Series, [...].
  13. Robert Sorokanich (2014-12-01). "BMW Will Make Plug-In-Hybrid Versions of Every Major Model". Car And Driver. Retrieved 2015-11-30. The company announced today that it will spread the plug-in-hybrid tech [...] across all of its models.
  14. Greg Kable (2015-06-07). "2015 BMW 7 Series - first images leaked ahead of official reveal". autocar.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-06-10. In the first half of 2016, BMW will also provide the 7 Series with a plug-in hybrid petrol-electric system in a new 740e model.
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  46. http://www.hybridcars.com/december-2016-dashboard/
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