BMW pulls out all the stops with its new 2016 BMW 7-Series.
More of an evolution than a revolution compared to the current 7-Series, the flagship model from Munich raises the bar in terms of its design, technology, performance, and quality.
Design-wise, the lines that make up the exterior and interior are a bit busier than the traditionally more somber BMW design aesthetic. The interior design looks more Chinese than Germanic, with liberal use of aluminum bits around the switchgear and odd shapes that we haven’t seen in any BMW as of yet. Not only that, the addition of lounge seats that coddle rear seat occupants suggests two things — that BMW is playing catch up to its rival Mercedes-Benz and their new S-Class, and that they are taking direct aim at the Chinese market where chauffeurs would normally drive owners around in their BMWs.
Although we are slightly turned off by the design direction, we’re hard pressed to find anything wrong with the technology that the new car offers. For starters, the navigation system becomes very un-German with the addition of touch sensors on its screen. It even supports gestures for simple commands such as raising or lowering the volume, which supposedly makes it much more safer to operate. The touchscreen’s galore extends to the back seat, where occupants will find a tablet inside the armrest. Even the key fob will feature a small screen.
Quality is also up from the previous generation, but the 7-Series never suffered from lacking any so the fact that the manufacturer paid extra attention can only be a welcomed addition.
The new generation of 7-Series can be had starting this fall.