For BMW aficionados, today is a special day indeed. The luxury marque’s all new 7 Series was unveiled this morning in Munich and the tech-heavy lineup has exceeded our expectations. As the sixth-generation of the brand’s flagship series, BMW’s 2016 7 Series autos are not only lighter than their predecessors by 190 pounds, they also boast some pretty fantastic tech.
“The all-new BMW 7 Series will be introduced in the US as a 740i and a 750i xDrive model featuring BMWs newest and groundbreaking technologies such as Gesture Control, Wireless Charging and the standalone option of the Display Key,” reports the press release. The 3-liter 740i ($81,300) boasts a 320hp TwinPower inline six, while the 4.4-liter 750i xDrive ($97,400) has a 445hp twin-turbo V8. There’s also the 740x xDrive plug-in hybrid, but pricing hasn’t been announced just yet.
The 7 Series is cool before you even get in the car, thanks to its optional fob Display Key—which you may recognize from the i8. While BMW hasn’t said too much about this one yet, you can tell by the photo above that it has a digital display screen that looks to give information on the car itself. If it’s anything like the i8’s, the fob is basically a little computer that allows you to give your car commands from the outside. Windows down? Heater on? Gas checkup? No problem.
BMW has updated its iDrive operating system to make it even easier to utilize via touchscreen and voice command. Even better, it now supports Gesture Control. “Pre-selected hand movements in the vicinity of the center console allow 3D sensors to register and fulfill requested actions.” You can adjust the volume, answer and end calls, and even configure your own using a list of possible functions.
Considering the luxury car is its own Wi-Fi hotspot, it makes sense that it has its own removable Touch Command Tablet too. The 7-inch screen lets you control the auto’s interior ambiance, like the lighting and navigation system, and also enables you to play external music, videos, and games (which will appear on the 10-inch rear-seat entertainment system). Obviously, you can browse the Internet too.
Heavily concerned with the passenger experience, the BMW 7 Series features not only ambient light options (with six different color variants), it also features an optional Ambient Air package. Accessed through the control console, the driver can choose between eight different scents (and three intensity levels) that are then released via the air ducts. Not to be forgotten is the new Panoramic Sky Lounge LED Roof “here the light emitted by LED modules along the sides is spread evenly throughout the glass surface” of the moonroof. When the sun sets, the glass gives the look of a starry sky with six different color options. It may sound similar to Rolls-Royce’s fiber optic feature, but BMW seems to have improved upon the idea.
Now, this is certainly not all the 7 Series has to offer—the official press release is 24 pages, after all—but these are some of the neatest standout features that we want to test out the most.
