The long wheelbase is preferred by 80 percent of 7 Series customers.
BMW will soon begin assembly at its flagship model in Dingolfing, Germany, just a month after it unveiled the controversial facelift to the 7 Series. Since 1977, the full-size luxury sedan is in production at the German factory. Nearly two million of these have been sold. More than 90% of current production is headed to export markets.
China is the biggest market for BMW’s range-topper, when you consider that 44 percent of cars made last year were designated for the People’s Republic. Bavarian marque also revealed another interesting fact at the launch of the facelift. It has to do the popularity of the long-wheelbase version. BMW reports that 80 percent of customers are choosing the extended version. This increases the distance between axles by 14 cm (5.5 inches) to allow for more rear legroom.
This facelift is less than four years after the debut of the current-generation BMW 7 Series (G11 and G12), and could be the last appearance of the V12-powered model that you see here, with its huge kidney grille in glossy black. According to rumours, the seventh 7 will get rid of the V12 entirely, so no more BMW760Li. The BMW Blog report also mentions that the V8s will be retiring.
It hasn’t brought the M7 many had hoped for, but it is a facelifted 7er. Alpina has updated the B7, which is also known for being the fastest sedan in the country. It tops out with a speed of 205 mph (330 km/h), making it 1 mph faster that the 707-horsepower, Dodge Charger Hellcat.
BMW will introduce a plug-in hybrid six-cylinder engine that is identical to the 7 Series. It goes by the names 745e for the short-wheelbase variant and 745Le the longer-wheelbase version. This is the brand’s first PHEV with a six-cylinder engine. It also includes an electric motor, and has a combined output power of 394 hp. The battery pack, which was built just a few miles from the factory, has a fourth-generation version that can provide enough power to run for as much as 58 km (36 miles) pure electric range.