Autocar - First for car news and reviews

What is it?

The fifth generation of BMW’s flagship saloon. The 7-Series has always played the dual role of limo and sporting saloon, and the new car is no exception.

As befits its flagship status atop the range, it comes laden with equipment – or the extra-cost option of such kit – much of which will later cascade throughout the rest of the BMW range.

In design terms, this 7-Series has moved on from the controversial design language of the previous-generation...Read the full article

Loads of equipment and nice to drive it may be. But the looks. THE LOOKS! Are BMW''s customers so indifferent to the appearance of the 7-Series that they are willing to buy a car that looks like it was designed in two halves and joined in the middle?

 

Is this the same block that goes into the 3?  If so BMW please, please please may we have this power output in the 3 series touring?

Thank you!

 

Flipping heck, this has gone beyond a joke. Are they all blind in BMW's Design department? Not a single flatout good-looking BMW in the last ten years. Get rid of that plant Bangle before he brings down BMW singlehandedly.

At this rate BMW had better give up on car-making and return to engines, which they excel at.

Autocar tests are just great, this car is horrible to look at, apparently has awful ride quality and is noisy, but their conclusion just says "it's a bit loud so we will think twice before saying it's the best car we've ever driven"........

And we can now look forward each week for the next three months to a road test of every possible engine, trim and colour option, in the same way as we have had three series tests recently because they have changed the bumper design.

As for the design, it's like a facelift of the facelift...hehe. It isn't pretty or really good-looking, but not that bad either (although I agree there are better-looking luxury saloons). Engines are impressive as always. However, Autocar are mistaken in saying that is the best in class when it comes to its CO2 output; the Mercedes S400 BlueHybrid which they have just road tested pumps out 2g/km of CO2 less than this 730d...also very worrying tht BMW got 2 crucial points of a luxury car (ride and noise) relatively wrong. 

I think it looks alright. Not brilliant, but a damn sight better than the previous version. Still, you'd expect BMW to do a better job in the styling department.

More of concern are the ride and noise issues. 7-series has often among the best handling, if not THE best handling, car in its class, but in this (luxury) class ride comfort and overall refinement are probably more important than outright handling. The previous 7 came up short in these important areas, so it's disappointing to read that the new car has similar issues.

Having said that, when Autocar first had a go at driving the car about month ago (albeit it was a brief drive), the writer said the new 7 rode excellently and that we could be looking at the new class leader! Why such disparity in the two articles?

 

Not only is the overall 'theme' of the car incoherent, being an Infiniti like rear and a can't escape from twin kidneys, quad headlamps yet another design iteration syndrome front, but the detailing too is poor. Take a look at picture five in Autocar's 27 pic gallery. Look at the join/junction of front bonnet corner to front apron over the headlight. The bonnet edge is pronounced over the apron, looking like it is flairing up, not following the apron's curve. There will be a reason for this, clearance over headlight unit and so on, but it looks terrible.

Sids dad:

Is this the same block that goes into the 3?  If so BMW please, please please may we have this power output in the 3 series touring?

Its a different block and significantly, 7kg lighter

Isn't it odd that the 535d / 335d engine isn't put in the 7 series ?

Winston:

And we can now look forward each week for the next three months to a road test of every possible engine, trim and colour option, in the same way as we have had three series tests recently because they have changed the bumper design.

I have to agree with this statement, and its one of the smartest comments in a long time, 1 review is enough looking at it anymore may make me sick :(

Amazing how car makers are taking fine looking rear ends and slapping gawking ugly snouts on them. On this one the silly nostrils and glum expression remind me of a huge aluminium cod. Discerning types such as the Chinese and Americans will love it, same as they love the facially challenged Jaguar XF.

That said I don't see awkward design as any impediment to sales success here: badge magnets will never be bothered by looks, same as they aren't interested in comfort, reliability, servicing or value.

As for ride quality, come on - has anyone been in a German car recently? Only Mercedes seem to make any effort these days. I always imagine that anyone buying an Audi - and particularly an Audi with 'sport' suspension and oversize wheels - must live in a part of the country where they have roads like granite worktops. Must be something of a shock visiting the rest of us poor sods ;)