The evolutionary powerplant is mated to what Segal calls a "revolutionary transmission," which is maybe a tad hyperbolic for the world's first production six-speed automatic.
But it is a slick piece, using as it does shift-by-wire technology and operated at it is by an all new selector behind the steering wheel.
To help the 7 Series hang on to its reputation as a driver's car, BMW has developed an all aluminum suspension with Dynamic Drive. Well explains that, "Dynamic Drive improves handling through Active Roll Stabilization (ARS) combining special sensors with two active anti-roll bars to reduce body roll or lean."
On a day-to-day basis the feature that the driver is most going to appreciate in the new 7 Series is a technology that's been a favorite on concept cars for years. BMW calls it iDrive and Segal describes it "a bold new concept for interaction between driver and automobile," but what it mostly is is a way of giving a few key control points more than one function, which reduces the number of gauges and knobs and buttons and so on.
"In the course of this revolutionary step into the future," Segal says, "innovative alternatives were even found for the gearshift lever and the ignition key. Along with a unique array of functions, there is also a drastic reduction in, and reorientation of, controls.
The elements of immediate importance for driving are located in and around the steering wheel, Segal explains, and a few frequently-used core functions can be found in the center of the dashboard.