Just three-and-a-half years after its introduction, BMW's 7-Series premium flagship is getting a thorough makeover. The car is half way through the normal seven-year lifecycle, so BMW can rightly say it's merely following a well set trend and not reacting to the mixed reviews of the current version.
Still, there's no escaping the controversy caused by the Bangle-designed 7-Series. While it took the criticism on the chin, there were rankles inside the organisation about the design direction the brand was taking.
Perhaps as a result, this latest model opts for more standard fare, with a larger grille, a new bonnet that's 20mm higher, curvy new lights reminiscent of the older versions and a revised bumper with more chrome.
Chrome also features more prominently at the rear, with the slightly raised bootlid carrying a chrome strip between the taillights. More and more car-makers are turning back to the shiny metal which went out of fashion in the 1990s. Now chrome is springing up again on new models, particularly at the luxury end.
Inside the much maligned iDrive control system has been further refined with upgraded presentation of menus and direct access to the various entertainment functions - in particular direct selection of the audio source and the radio frequency bands.
There's also a new range of in-line six-cylinder and V8 petrol and diesel engines. In fact, the only surviving engine from today's model is the 760i's 439bhp 6-litre V12.
It will be joined by BMW's latest 3-litre with 254bhp in the entry level 730i. A new 4-litre V8 delivers 302bhp (34bhp up on the 3.6-litre V8 it replaces). Also new is a 4.8-litre V8 with 362bhp in the 750i - up by 34bhp on the old 4.4-litre V8.
BMW has upgraded the 3-litre six-cylinder diesel with new injectors (which give greater fuel efficiency) and a third-generation common-rail system. It provides the 730d with 228bhp and 520 Nm of torque. All versions get ZF's six-speed automatic gearbox.
Prices have yet to be confirmed, but expect them to be slightly up on the current range, if only because of the new engine range. However, there will be more definite information at the international launch in March.
