• Driving dynamics further enhanced with more powerful V8 engines
• 750i/Li with 270 kW and 490 Nm of torque
• 740i/Li with 225 kW and 390 Nm of torque
• Fine-tuned chassis, refined design
• New equipment and features
• E65/E66 7 Series the most successful ever
• No AWD on offer

The most successful BMW 7 Series of all time is ready to stride confidently into the second phase of its lifecycle.

Headlining the enhancements are two more powerful V8 engines. Driving dynamics and sporting performance are enriched for greater levels of satisfaction. Detail refinements to the exterior and interior bring even more driving enjoyment.

The sum of these changes raises the class benchmark still further, as the 2005 BMW 7 Series sets yet another new standard in luxury performance.

BMW engineers have not only increased engine output but also reigned in fuel consumption, previously incompatible bedfellows. The chassis and suspension have been optimised for even more sublime ride and handling characteristics.

The natural elegance and charisma of the 7 Series has been enhanced with a subtle freshening to sharpen its visual appeal.

The biggest changes lie under the bonnet, with updated V8 engines given more capacity, for more power and even more electrifying responsiveness.

The 750i/Li designation makes its first appearance in the E65 standard wheelbase and E66 lengthened wheelbase 7 Series.

Previously the 750i badge indicated twelve silent running, highly muscular cylinders.

For 2005, the badge is applied to the new 4.8-litre capacity V8, marking the increase from 4.4-litres as fitted to the previous 745i/Li.

This delivers a mighty 270 kW of power at 6,300 rpm and 490 Nm of torque at 3,400 rpm, a not-insubstantial rise of 25 kW and 40 Nm of torque.

The new 750i/Li rockets to 100 km/h from rest in 5.9 seconds, 0.4 seconds faster than the 745i/Li, yet fuel consumption of the EU4/ULEV II compliant engine is unchanged.

The new 740i/Li designation now refers to the 4.0-litre capacity V8, replacing the 735i/Li in the range.

Output rises by 25 kW to 225 kW at 6,300 rpm and peak torque is 390 Nm at 3,500 rpm, up 30 Nm. The 740i/Li surges to 100km/h in 6.8 seconds, 0.7 seconds faster than before. Fuel consumption rises by the most insignificant of margins; 0.1-litres per 100 km.

As before, a six-speed automatic transmission with Steptronic is standard on all models.

All engines excel through their high output per litre, their wide useful speed range, their "beefy" torque curve, excellent running refinement and moderate fuel consumption. The revised V8 engines remain remarkably abstemious, despite their exhilarating performance, a notable engineering feat. The superior and refined V8 engines utilise BMW advanced VALVETRONIC technology for a fully variable valve train.

Seated at the pinnacle of the BMW range is the 760i/Li with its majestic 6.0-litre V12 engine developing 327kW of power and a mountainous 600 Nm of torque. This model was introduced in 2003 and so the engine continues unchanged.

The state-of-the-art V12 engine employs a unique combination of direct petrol injection and VALVETRONIC, four-valves per cylinder and double-VANOS. BMW VALVETRONIC technology ensures the V12 engine remains frugal, especially under part throttle, while direct fuel injection increases both torque and output.

BMW engine technology continues to reach for new horizons, with the introduction in 2005 of the 5.0-litre, 373kW, naturally aspirated V10 destined for use in the M5 and M6.

BMW engineers focus on a concept described internally as “Efficient Dynamics”.

This philosophy ensures that any increase in engine output and torque is matched by careful regard for consumption and emissions. Foremost in the minds of engineers are the goals of enhanced agility and an intensified driving experience.

Efficient Dynamics means consistently solving and eliminating conflicts of interest, since in conventional terms more power also means more fuel, more comfort means more weight, which again means more fuel and so on through a particularly vicious circle.

For a large luxury vehicle such as the BMW 7 Series, solving such conflicts of interest is an especially great and demanding challenge.

BMW is able to escape this ongoing spiral through the use of intelligent materials and systems - for example with aluminium giving the chassis and suspension of the 7 Series its light-footed, nimble behaviour.

Another outstanding example is the intensive research on hydrogen drive BMW has been pursuing for decades, again contributing to the concept of efficient dynamics.

Indeed, a BMW 7 Series running on this environmentally friendly fuel will be introduced into the market in the next few years as a series production model.

The BMW 7 Series featuring an aluminium suspension as standard offers supreme steering precision, exceptional agility, and well-balanced driving characteristics. As a result, the chassis and suspension of the 7 Series combines superior agility and sporting performance, on the one hand, with supreme comfort, on the other, thus offering the best of both worlds in every respect.

The chassis and suspension of the BMW 7 Series has now been updated and enhanced to an even higher standard. A 14 mm increase in track at the rear, and enhanced axle kinematics, exert a positive influence on the car's driving dynamics.

Now BMW offers more choice for discerning drivers, the ability to customise their chassis set-up at the factory through the selection of advanced technical solutions.

Adaptive Drive suspension now combines Dynamic Drive with BMW's EDC-C continuously adjustable damper control system, thus offering an unprecedented synthesis of supreme driving dynamics and maximum comfort on the road.

Dynamic Drive almost completely eliminates body roll in bends and once again improves the car's steering behaviour on the road through the use of fully variable anti-roll bars on the front and rear axles.

EDC-C, in turn, consistently adjusts damper characteristics to changing road, load and driving conditions, ranging from very comfortable to sporting and firm.

More sporting drivers may choose a Sports Package that combines the sports set-up of the suspension with Dynamic Drive for a sharper, highly responsive experience guaranteed to appeal to the high-performance driver.

As a result, BMW offers the widest choice of suspension control systems in the luxury large sedan segment, naturally also including enhanced brakes reflecting the higher level of power and performance.

With a more athletic heart beating strongly under the bonnet and an even more poised and controlled suspension system keeping the wheels turning, it is only to be expected that BMW designers wanted to announce these important technical changes to the outside world.

Refinements in design bring a new, striking powerdome for the bonnet. The trademark kidney grille, headlights and front air dam are all revised.

At the rear, surfaces and body panels now have even clearer contours. A new chrome trim strip, redesigned taillights and the restyled rear air dam faired into the deck-lid complete the picture.

Revised side sills are sculpted to emphasise the enhanced sportiness and dynamic character of the BMW 7 Series.

Inside the car, the unique feeling of luxury and peaceful tranquillity has been further refined by the choice of materials and colours.

BMW's iDrive allows the driver to focus consistently on prevailing driving and traffic conditions. Optimised menu guidance in the Control Display, upgraded menu presentation, and direct access to the entertainment functions - in particular selection of the audio source and the radio frequency band - are the key changes.

Safety and customisation feature high on the list of BMW 7 Series customer priorities.

BMW safety innovation delivers Brake Force Display to the 7 Series. Whenever the driver applies the brakes harder than usual, motorists following behind are warned by the larger and brighter brake lights.

Greater availability of digital terrestrial television means BMW can now offer an on-board DVB-T television set. Apart from receiving analogue television signals, this TV is also able to receive digital television broadcasts. The CD changer also comes with MP3 technology.

The BMW Assist telematics service as well as the BMW Online Internet portal come as standard on all models fitted with a car telephone and navigation system. In Australia these services will become available during 2005 under the umbrella of BMW ConnectedDrive.

To further accentuate the new model, the updated BMW 7 Series offers a choice of four new paint and three new upholstery colours, as well as two new 18-inch and one new 19-inch light alloy wheel designs.

The impact of the fourth-generation E65 and E66 BMW 7 Series cars should not be under-estimated.

These have been the most successful luxury performance BMW 7 Series cars to date, with close to 160,000 units delivered to customers worldwide. Sales have exceeded the previous generation 7 Series, itself a highly successful model, by eight percent.

In 2003, customer deliveries of 57,899 units worldwide was the best ever year for the BMW 7 Series, a 14 percent increase on the previous high water mark (1997).

In Germany, the BMW 7 Series also assumed the mantle of leadership in the luxury sedan market in 2004. This was backed by impressive growth in the Asia, Middle East, Eastern Europe, Oceania and African Sales Region, where, compared with the former model, sales of the current 7 Series have more than doubled.

Introducing the current 7 Series, BMW has succeeded in giving the new model a firm position in the region's luxury segment, catching up in terms of volume with the markets where, by tradition, the BMW 7 Series has always had a strong position - in particular Europe and North America.

Accounting for more than 50 per cent of total sales, the BMW 745i/Li with its large V8 power unit is the best-selling model worldwide. The long-wheelbase version, in turn, accounts for more than half of all BMW 7 Series sold.

The BMW 7 Series combines two cars in one: On the one hand it is a genuine BMW offering those typical BMW Ultimate Driving Machine virtues of driving pleasure, agility and nimble handling for the ambitious self-driving customer. On the other hand it is a highly prestigious luxury limousine offering generous space and supreme comfort at both the front and rear, meaning it can also be enjoyed when the customer is chauffeur-driven.

It is this perfect combination of two worlds that has made the E65/E66 the most successful 7 Series of all time, so far.

The new 2005 BMW 7 Series: In Brief

750i/Li replaces 745i/Li:

• V8 petrol engine with VALVETRONIC and double-VANOS. Engine thoroughly updated and enhanced to an even higher standard. 4,799 cc (4,398 cc, + 9 percent).
• 270 kW at 6,300 rpm (245 kW, + 10 percent). 490 Nm at 3,400 rpm (450 Nm, + 9 percent).
• 0-100 km/h in 5.9 seconds (6.3 sec, - 6 percent). Top speed 250 km/h.
• Fuel consumption EU 11.4 ltr/100 km (+/- 0), EU 4 and ULEV II (EU 4/LEV).

740i/Li replacing 735i/Li:

• V8 petrol engine with VALVETRONIC and double-VANOS. Engine thoroughly updated and enhanced to an even higher standard. 4,000 cc (3,600 cc, + 11 per cent).
• 225 kW at 6,300 rpm (200 kW, + 13 per cent). 390 Nm at 3,500 rpm (360 Nm, + 8 percent).
• 0-100 km/h in 6.8 seconds (7.5 sec, - 9 per cent). Top speed 250 km/h.
• Fuel consumption EU 11.2 ltr/100 km (11.1 ltr/100 km, + 0.9 per cent), EU 4.

760i/Li: Unchanged

• V12 with VALVETRONIC, double-VANOS and direct petrol injection. Unchanged. 5,972 cc.
• 327 kW at 6,000 rpm, 600 Nm at 3,950 rpm.
• 0-100 km/h in 5.5 seconds. Top speed 250 km/h.
• Fuel consumption EU 13.4 ltr/100 km. EU 4.

Figures in brackets for the former engine and/or modifications versus the former model. Performance figures and fuel consumption relate to the standard-wheelbase model.

Chassis and suspension

• Revised and updated. Three variants available direct from the factory: Series suspension, high-end Adaptive Drive suspension, Sports suspension.
• Rear track 14 mm wider.
• Larger brakes in accordance with increased output.

Safety

• Two-stage Brake Force Display.

Design

• Elegant exterior with unique, unmistakable presence. Even greater emphasis of the car's sporting performance and dynamic qualities:
• Powerdome on bonnet, revised kidney grille, headlights and front air dam.
• More pronounced contours at the rear with new chrome trim, new taillights and new rear air dam.
• New light contour on the side-sills. Even more sophisticated and painted surfaces inside the car.
• Control elements with similar functions combined in groups for optimum clarity and distinction.

Control, communication, entertainment

• Detailed optimisation of iDrive.
• CD changer with MP3 technology.
• Digital TV for DVB-T.

Final specification and pricing details for the updated BMW 7 Series range in Australia will be announced closed to launch, scheduled for the mid-part of the year.

“The more powerful V8 engines, subtle chassis refinements and freshened styling will entrench the new 7 Series as Australia’s most favoured premium class luxury sedan,” said Franz Sauter, Managing Director, BMW Group Australia.

“Australians have a distinct affinity for powerful V8 engines, and the further improved performance, dynamic chassis control and cosseting ride of the new 7 Series will be received eagerly by those who demand and appreciate only the finest things in life."

“We are confident the success of the BMW 7 Series will continue.”