BMW’s new flagship saloon, the 7 Series, offers the best glimpse yet at the future of automotive technology. The 7 Series is traditionally the model that debuts the German automaker’s latest gadgets – and the latest iteration doesn’t disappoint.
Dripping with cutting-edge technology throughout, it’s one of the most advanced BMWs yet. Capable of reading drivers’ hand movements and remote-control parking, it also utilises head-up display (HUD) technology more commonly found in fighter jets.
The catch? Prices start at $113,000 (£73,000).
Remote-control parking
The new 7 Series is the world’s first production car with remote control parking. By using BMW’s newly developed Display Key, drivers can manoeuvre the car into tight spaces and garages without anyone at the wheel.
Hand-gesture control
The ability to control the 7 Series using hand gestures is another first for a car on general sale. As part of BMW’s upgraded iDrive 5.0 interface, sophisticated 3D sensors watch for hand movements in the cockpit. As a result, drivers can change the volume of the sound system and accept handsfree calls without using the car’s touchscreen display.
F1-inspired hybrid technology
The eDrive version of the new 7 Series uses hybrid technology to make it one of the cleanest, most efficient vehicles on the road. Powered by a four-cylinder petrol engine in combination with an electric motor, the latest 7 Series produces a combined 240kW/326bhp, but it’s still able to achieve an impressive 134.5mpg. Thanks to powerful lithium-ion batteries, the eDrive model can also give drivers an F1-style electrical performance boost – or go all-electric for emission-free driving at up to 75mph.
HUD technology borrowed from fighter jets
The new 7 Series takes the previous model’s fighter jet-inspired HUD technology further. Rather than just using the dashboard, the new 7 Series projects key information directly onto the windscreen, so drivers don’t have to take their eyes off the road. Now able to send status warnings, turn-by-turn directions and even entertainment menus directly into the driver’s line of sight, the HUD features a projection area 75% larger than that of last year’s car.
Lightweight Carbon Core
Despite packing in a huge range of technology, the latest 7 Series is up to 130kg lighter than last year’s car. It features BMW’s Carbon Core technology, which was originally developed for the BMW i8 and keeps weight down by using a mixture of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic, aluminum and steel to create a strong but light core.
Making driving even safer
The new 7 Series features a raft of technology designed to keep drivers safer on the road. BMW’s upgraded Driving Assistant Plus system features improved lane steering and detection for motorway driving, while rear collision prevention warns drivers about possible shunts from behind. By regulating the distance to the car in front using speed and steering inputs, the car’s Traffic Jam assistant can also semi-automate driving – removing some of the boredom of inner-city spins.
Disclaimer: Some pages on this site may include an affiliate link. This does not effect our editorial in any way.
