BMW BLOG

We all can dream, can’t we? When we dream it’s said that we are projecting our inner subconscious thoughts and our deepest desires in a consequence free environment. It’s those dreams that make us wake up tomorrow and explore the ideas that seemed impossible last night before we went to sleep and try and make them a reality. Well, the engineers and minds inside BMW certainly live to dream and it has never been more apparent than in regards to a said, “Secret Seven”. No, this post has nothing to do with Agent 007 and his infatuation with Bimmers, but rather an ambitious secret project involving a 7 Series by Dr. Karlhienz Lange, Adolf Fischer and Hanns-Peter Weisbarth.

All three individuals, Lange, Fischer and Weisbarth, were very senior and influential people at BMW during the mid-70’s and up through the early 90’s. Lange was responsible for powertrain developments, Fischer was involved with all obscure development projects and Weisbarth was most famously involved with the E31 8 Series coupe and E32 7 Series. It was from the mind of Lange that came the M70 5.0-liter V12 engine that was used in the 750i and the 750iL. So it only came natural that the Secret Seven project come from someone so ambitious. Lange instructed Fischer to explore the possibilities beyond the M70 engine. And it was from then that the Secret Seven project was born and BMW’s first V16 engine came into fruition.

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UK magazine Autocar is one of the first auto publications to sit behind the wheel of the upcoming BMW Active Hybrid 7. The first production ready BMW hybrid uses a different electric drive setup from the X6 Hybrid and it’s being considered a mild hybrid. The system was developed in collaboration with Mercedes Benz. The upgraded V8 twin-turbo with High Precision Direct Injection runs together, at the same time, with a 3-phase synchronous electric motor which is positioned between the engine and the torque converter. The electric motor generates approximately 20 hp and peak torque of 155 lb-ft.

The “pumped up” V8 twin-turbo engine produces 40 horsepower more than the engine found in the 750i/Li models to a total of 400 horsepower. The overall combined output is being advertised at 455 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. It runs from 0-62 mph in only 4.7 seconds (as tested by Autocar )

With these preliminary data, let’s take a look at what Autocar reports:

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Alpina, the automobile manufacturing company based in Buchloe, unveiled earlier this week their latest model based on the BMW 7 Series. The Alpina B7 BiTurbo long wheelbase version is similar to the shorter B7 which debuted at Geneva Motor Show in March.

Powered by a V8 4.4 liter twin-turbo engine, Alpina manages to squeeze out 507 horsepower and an impressive 516 lb-ft of torque. Official numbers show the Alpina B7 LWB running from 0 to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds.

The speed limit has also been raised to 173 mph (280km/h). The B7 uses the automatic “SwitchTronic” gearbox, of course, rear-wheel-drive transmission. All that power and balance needs to be kept in place, so Alpina packs the B7 with 245 and 285 tires, and sitting on custom 21″ wheels branded now with the famous Alpina logo.

Now all of these technical terms sound impressive on paper, but how about we take a look at some of the latest wallpapers and enjoy the amazing design from Alpina.

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The folks over at Automobile Mag got their hands on the new 760Li, BMW’s newest flagship, the $137,000 high-end luxury sedan. Before we jump into the review, let us give you a quick summary on the new 7er.

The new BMW 760i and 760Li are powered by a completely new 6.0-litre V12 all-aluminum engine with Twin-Turbo Technology, High Precision Injection with fuel injected directly into the combustion chambers, and to BMW’s infinite double-VANOS camshaft adjustment as well as the eight-speed automatic transmission featured for the first time in a BMW.

The V12 engine outputs 544 horsepower at 5,000 rpm, with maximum torque of 533 lb-ft at 1,500. The wheelbase has been extended by 5.5 inch providing more passenger space and comfort.

While we’re anxiously waiting for our own test car, let’s take a look at their review.
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European auto shows are also the place to be for all the major car tuners. Every two years, ALPINA is present at the Frankfurt Auto Show, each time displaying an impressive fleet of “tuned up” BMWs.

Several Alpina models have been displayed there, but this time we’ll focus on the high-end B7, a vehicle based on BMW’s 7 Series.

From the enhanced aggressive look to all the changes that took place underneath the hood, the B7 is positioning itself as the ultimate sports sedan. The new B7 is powered by a V8 4.4 liter twin-turbo engine outputting 505 horsepower and an impressive 517 lb-ft (700Nm) reached at 4,750 rpm.

It runs from 0 to 62 mph in just 4.7 seconds, compared to the regular 750Li which stops the clock at 5.3 seconds. Alpina B7 is electronically limited at 174 mph (280km/h). The B7 uses the automatic “SwitchTronic” gearbox, of course, rear-wheel-drive transmission.

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Yesterday we started our second phase of the “Be A  Designer” project with the new BMW 7 Series being in the center of attention. To stat on the same subject, the new 7, we are going to show you a new review of the car, this time published by Motor Trend.

Overall the new BMW 7 Series F01/F02 has been well received by the BMW community and most of the reviews we have seen were quite positive, including ours.
Does Motor Trend share the same feelings?

But let’s take a look at this new review:

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Apparently the economic crisis has not hit the entire world and BMW has scored a major single sale this week: 132 740i and 740Li models have been purchased by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The vehicles handover took place during an official ceremony at the BMW Welt in Munich and BMW was represented by Ian Robertson, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Sales and Marketing.

The 7 Series limousines will be used by the Saudi Arabia embassies across the world.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a growing market and it is becoming increasingly important for BMW.

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100% ActiveHybrid. 100% Pure Joy. This is the punch line that BMW is using to promote their first hybrid vehicles available for the general consumer.

At least on paper, the two BMW hybrids seem to maintain the sportiness that characterizes the BMW brand while still being more efficient than the standard models. The X6 Hybrid and 7 Hybrid, while share the same core ideas on fuel efficiency, they are still using quite different technologies.

The ActiveHybrid 7 uses a different electric drive setup from the X6 Hybrid and it’s being considered a mild hybrid. BMW ActiveHybrid X6 features a two-mode hybrid system which allows the X6 to run either on its electric motors alone at low speeds, internal combustion or a combination of both.

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On the heels of the ActiveHybrid X6, today BMW announced the production version of the all-new BMW ActiveHybrid 7, which will also premiere at the Frankfurt Auto Show (IAA) in September. The BMW ActiveHybrid 7 will reach America shores in Spring, 2010. Based on the newest BMW 7 Series, this unique car sets new standards for performance and efficiency in the premium luxury class.

This symbiosis of an upgraded twin-turbo, High Precision Direct Injection, V8 engine with a 3-phase synchronous electric motor gives the BMW ActiveHybrid 7 a combined output of 455 hp and maximum torque of 516 lb-ft (preliminary figures). Power is transmitted via an 8-speed automatic transmission with the electric motor positioned between the engine and the torque converter. The electric motor receives its supply of energy from a lithium-ion battery developed specifically for use in this automobile.

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I’ve driven the new BMW 750i for about a week or so, but for some reason, I have failed to see this feature. The Edmunds guys were more agile and discovered this option buried within the iDrive menu options.

So what is the “Gentlemen Function”?  It’s that switch to the left on the door. The standard definition states that the front passenger seat can be adjusted with the controls of the driver’s seat once you press a switch located on the driver’s door.

While our buddies at Jalopnik call the naming convention a bit “chauvinistic”, we decided to look past that. Sure, a better translation could have been chosen, but that’s beside the point now.

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