The company says will only produce 40 units of the “special” 7er which will be sold through the Emirates two BMW importers: AGMC and Abu Dhabi Motors.

The 7 Series “UAE Edition” uses the 750Li model as a base and to distinguish them from the standard model, BMW will offer the limited edition in the exclusive Marakesh Brown exterior color. Inside, a Merino Platinum leather is offered with the UAE emblem on the headrest, iDrive button and dashboard. At the rear, a chrome trim is engraved with “40 years UAE limited edition.”

No changes under the hood. The car still uses the 4.4 liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine which produces 407hp from 5,500-6,400rpm and a maximum of 600Nm of torque from 1,750-4,500 rpm.

“The BMW 7 Series is our undisputed flagship of the range within the Middle East and we thought it only fitting that we produce a bespoke version for the UAE in celebration of the country’s 40th Anniversary,” says Dr Joerg Breuer, Managing Director of BMW Group Middle East.

The special edition will debut alongside 16 other new models at the Dubai Motor Show 2011 and will sit alongside the exclusive BMW 7-Series “Steinway & Sons Edition.”

[Source: GTSpirit ]

Powered by BMW’s 4.4 liter twin-turbocharged V8 unit, the NR 7s is offered with two levels of output. One of them, the GT Edition, develops 540 hp/400 kW and 750 Nm of torque. The increased power takes the 7 from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.2 seconds and has a top speed of 307 km/h (190 mph).

For the enthusiasts craving more power, the RS Edition is good for 720 hp/529 kW and an impressive torque figure of 1090 Nm. The RS runs to 100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds before running out of steam at 350 km/h (217 mph).

In the visual department, both models are dressed up in company’s carbon aerodynamic package and larger wheels. To cope with the additional power and offer optimal braking distance, the two 7s come equipped with carbon-ceramic brakes. Inside the cabin, Tuningwerk can offer bespoke upholstery or components from the BMW Individual range.

Prices start at 169,800 euros for the GT Edition (available in xDrive also), while the RS version will set you back 198,000 euros.

Tuningwerk can also provide a car hand-over with the option of driver training in Munich – including hotel and flight.

[Source: Germancarscene ]

Wondering how many other potential buyers would have a similar reaction I set out to find just what is available for the Hyundai list prices.

$ 58,900 2009 BMW 750i

$ 65,400 2009 BMW 750Li

Both of these BMWs would have approximately 30,000 miles and are available under the Certified Pre-Owned program. The CPO warranty will keep you covered for up to 6 years or 100,000 miles. An added benefit is that the previous owner or lessee took the major depreciation hit for you. These vehicles may be comparable from a dollars and sense perspective, however, it is very hard to consider them as true competitors.

While both the Equus and the 7 Series have V8 power plants, a rear-drive platform and nearly identical fuel economy, the list of similarities ends quickly. Hyundai’s V8 is listed as 385 HP with 333 lb-ft of torque. The BMW ‘s 4.4 liter twin-turbo V8 is boasting 400 HP and a torque measurement of 450 lb-ft. This sort of disparity will become instantly clear to potential buyers. The German sedan will deliver on the promise of a luxurious environment without losing the ability to be a driver’s car.

I will give credit to Hyundai; the Korean automaker has made significant strides in the last several years in terms of quality and styling. The current generation Genesis and Equus are a far cry from the original Hyundai Excel that landed in the US in 1985. It is clear that Hyundai is using the Equus as a HALO car to attract potential buyers into the showroom and display the best and the brightest of what they have to offer. This strategy they will help them sell more of their main stream Genesis sedans.

The question to consider is will the Equus attract true buyers from the premium luxury category and specifically BMW? In my opinion it’s doubtful.

VW tried it a number of years ago without success. Buyers who were going to consider a full size German sedan like the Phaeton went ahead and bought the step sister Audi A8. Volvo has recently announced another 8 year plan to become a consistent player in the premium game dominated by the Germans. If a company with the quality and safety record of Volvo needs to make a dramatic effort to enter the upper tier of the market then it will be a very big leap for the Korean company to make.

I’d like your opinion. Where you would spend your hypothetical premium luxury sedan dollars?

Ross Schold is a new contributor to BMWBLOG.

There is something to be said for driving a car that you LOVE. A large number of us feel a deep emotional attachment to our vehicles beyond just a chosen form of transportation. I consider myself lucky to be within this group. These feelings began 15 years ago when I bought a E30 325es. Since then I have owned a 88 535is and my current daily driver is a 00 528it.

Over the years I have tried to be practical and owned several other non- descript sedans and SUV’s. Left with the feeling that I was driving an appliance I have always come back to the brand. It says something very special to me that I would rather drive my 12 year old wagon than get into a spanking new Brand X.

I live and work in Rhode Island with my wife and 3 young boys where youth sports, automotive interests, family and career keep me very busy.

I’m excited to be able to contribute to BMWBLOG and share this experience with all of the people out there that understand the emotions stirred by both BMW and all other interesting autos. I hope to provide an honest and enthusiastic perspective and look forward to hearing from the
BMWBLOG community. Thanks Very Much for the opportunity to share these thoughts with you.

The BMW 7 Series was commended for its unrivalled mix of passenger luxury, low running cost and driver satisfaction making it the ideal chauffer car both for the driver and the driven. Its exceptional quality and improved fuel consumption, along with an excellent manufacturer-backed chauffer programme clinched the title.

The 5 Series Gran Turismo was praised for its abundance of rear leg room, command driving position, its sheer versatility and high quality. Its unique interior packaging matched with the choice of powerful yet economic drivetrains and an outstanding satellite navigation system, earned the 5 Series Gran Turismo its title as the judges applauded it as a car made for chauffeuring.

Mark Bursa, editor of Professional Driver magazine and chair of the judging panel, said: “The BMW 730Ld offers an exceptional mix of comfort, rear-seat luxury and driveability. Since 2009, the 7 Series has been improved, with better fuel economy now above 40mpg combined. And crucially, it’s part of a beefed-up manufacturer-backed chauffeur programme that makes it much more affordable for chauffeurs on a lease basis than either the Jaguar XJL or the Mercedes S-class”

Stephen Chater, BMW Group Corporate Operations Manager, said: “We are delighted to win these awards showing the 7 Series and 5 Series Gran Turismo to be class leading competitors in the chauffeur market. They highlight everything that BMW believe in; building cars of the highest quality that, thanks to EfficientDynamics, are amongst the most efficient in their sector.”

A total of 33 cars were entered for the Professional Driver Magazine Car of the Year Awards, which were judged by more than thirty judges from the chauffeuring and private hire sector and the motoring media.

The BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo and the BMW 7 Series are available on the BMW Chauffeur Programme, offering competitive contract hire rates, enhanced specification packages and predictable running costs.

To make these vehicles appeal to the driver as well as the driven, tailored benefits include BMW Service Inclusive, which lasts for 5 years or 60,000 miles and covers all of the vehicle’s basic servicing requirements. As part of the programme, professional drivers are also covered in the event of an immobilisation which cannot be repaired at the roadside. Should this occur a replacement vehicle which is PCO licensed for London, can be provided, giving operators peace of mind that clients will always be catered for to the highest standards. London PCO licensed demonstrators are also now available, so customers can put the vehicles to the test with their clients.

[Source: BMW ]

“Like a big shiny Christmas present, BMW delivered our long-wheelbase 750Li xDrive in late December 2009 for a 40,000-mile evaluation. Our love of huge back seats and mobile status symbols notwithstanding, we requested a 7-series for a higher purpose: to see if the new car was indeed a return to form after the notoriously troublesome, overly ­complicated, over-the-top, overwrought, fourth-generation 7-series. Is that chapter of 7-series history over?

It didn’t take long to realize that we didn’t like or want most of the extras. For the majority of the test, the blind-spot-detection and lane-departure-warning ­systems that come as part of the Driver Assist­ance package remained off so as to silence their pestering beeps. For the same reason, we typically turned off the collision warning that comes bundled with the radar-based cruise control. A few drivers switched off the head-up display after realizing that it disappeared behind polarized sunglasses.

Night vision, here an infrared camera that looks in front of the car for pedestrians or animals, allowed us to see in the dark, but it required the driver to monitor the screen at the center of the dashboard instead of the road. Deputy editor Daniel Pund called it “spectacularly distracting.” Another editor asked, “With xenon headlights this good, who needs infrared?”

Full review at Car and Driver

“The ideal big car is a calm and reassuring presence, deliberate and proficient in motion and abundantly powerful. We’ve pulled three such candidates from the luxury-car class, all European—oh, excuse us, one is British—all stretched to the maximum available wheelbase, all with V-8 engines that’ll knock on 100 mph as softly as the knocking that awoke Stalin on Sunday mornings, and all with a base price of about 85 to 90 large.

Two of them, the Audi A8L and the Jaguar XJL, are constructed primarily of aluminum, while the BMW 750Li’s unibody is a mix of steel and aluminum. The Jag is only 164 pounds heavier than the new Chevrolet Camaro SS convertible despite being more than 17 feet long.

Redesigned in 2010, the all-wheel-drive Audi is the longest car here (207.4 inches), and it packs the smallest-caliber munitions: 372 horses from its 4.2-liter V-8.

The longest BMW in the catalog is the shortest car in this test, with 205.3 inches separating the 750Li’s flaring nostrils from its fluid stern. However, it is the wheelbase champ, outstretching the Jag by more than two inches.

Lastly, we come to the Jaguar. The brand overhauled its flagship last year, finally ditching the four-headlight, flat-roof theme that dated to the original 1968 bombshell. The slinky new lineup includes an XJL Supercharged model that brings forth 470 horses from its 5.0-liter V-8. The only option aboard our $91,950 example: a $375 heated windshield.

So why is the 750Li third?

BMW simply seems to have less fun building these luxury liners than its smaller stuff. Every BMW should be the best driver in its class. Otherwise, why pay the premium? This one just elicits a shrug. A wider on-center dead spot in the amply boosted steering gives the car license to wander freeway lanes, and the chassis was judged less lively and entertaining than the Jaguar’s.

When a BMW is outdriven by a Jag, there’s trouble in Munich.

Though we admired the band of matte-finish wood inside, the interior plastics seem no finer than those in lesser BMWs. The doors of the tandem glove boxes sit loosely and create unsightly gaps on the dash. At this price, we want to be pummeled senseless by a fire hose of opulence, and the 750Li merely tinkles.

All of its many features and unique parts somehow conspire to make the 7 feel less like the top-of-the-line BMW than just a 5-series with a long inseam and an inflated sticker price.”

Full review at Car and Driver.

The ActiveHybrid 7 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. The BMW ActiveHybrid 7 accelerates to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds, while delivering fuel economy approximately 15% better than the 750i.

The 7 Series Hybrid has the drive power transmitted via an 8-Speed automatic transmission and has a top speed electronically limited to 150 mph.The ActiveHybrid 7 uses a lithium-ion battery pack supplying 120 volts.

The folks over at Car and Driver decided to refresh our memory of the 7er Hybrid with a short road test. Let’s have a look.

“In our testing, the 750Li ActiveHybrid went from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds and through the quarter-mile in 12.8 at 112 mph. That’s 0.7 second quicker to 60 and 0.9 quicker through the quarter than the last non-hybrid 750Li to wear our test gear. More (un)importantly, it’s 0.9 second quicker to 60 than the last LS600hL we tested. A brief blast around the high-speed oval confirms that the hybrid 7 rockets to its 147-mph governor without any of the lethargy commonly associated with hybrids. Later on, driving more like downtrodden suburban Americans, we saw 21 mpg.

So It’s Fast. Now Drive It Like a Hybrid

Okay, so you really care about the hybrid bits? This hybrid won’t glide about on electric power and smugness alone. You want motion, you’re going to have to choke the planet with the internal-combustion engine. There’s an electric motor sandwiched between the gas engine and the torque converter in the eight-speed automatic transmission. It contributes an additional 20 hp and 155 lb-ft—combined powertrain output is 455 hp and 515 lb-ft—and allows the engine to sit quiet at stops, as it powers the accessories. Although it isn’t a completely seamless stop and start, the transition doesn’t call attention to itself.

Our larger complaint is that, although the engine fires up as soon as you lift your foot from the brake, if you snooze at a light or are inching through a left-turn lane waiting for a break in traffic, a quick leap from brake to gas beats the re-ignition process and results in a herky jerk forward. However, if you plan on a quick dive for the gas, you can disable the stop/start feature by putting the shifter into Sport mode.”

Full review at Car and Driver

The BMW 760i High Security and the BMW 750i High Security are the first models in the world to be certified to BRV 2009 and both vehicles meet the requirements of the new ballistic protection level VR7. Due to their highly effective protective armor, the non-transparent body areas of the BMW 760Li High Security and the BMW 750Li High Security meet the requirements of the ballistic protection level VR9.

Both models have an electronically limited top speed of 210 km/h. The newly developed V12 unit of the BMW 760i High Security outputs 544 hp at an engine speed of 5,250 rpm. Peak torque of 750 Nm comes at 1,500 rpm. The 6.0-liter 12-cylinder engine is matted to the ZF eight-speed automatic transmission, taking the BMW 760i High Security from zero to 100 km/h in as little as 6.2 seconds.

Specific chassis components are perfectly adapted to the increase in weight due to the sedans’ armor plating. Hence, reinforced suspension, dampers and suspension strut top mountings are part of the model-specific component range. This approach ensures finely-tuned vehicle performance characteristics that cannot be achieved by retrofitted armor plating.

Reinforced vehicle-specific armour plating made from special steel as well as newly developed safety glazing protect the passenger compartment in particular from attacks of all kinds. The passenger compartment is protected by armour plating of the doors, the roof, the pillars, the front footwell and the separation wall between passenger and luggage compartments. The steel panels, which were manufactured by means of a special technique, fit the body contours perfectly. The model-specific gap sealing ensures that critical areas such as door cut and body joint lines are safely sealed.

The sedans’ undercarriage is armored by special plating which was developed with a particular focus on maximum explosion protection. Another new development is the sedans’ 2.4” (6 cm) safety glazing. Due to its innovative structure, the multi-layer laminated glass cover provides a unique level of resistance. The window panes are covered with a polycarbonate layer on the inside in order to prevent shattered glass particles from penetrating the interior.

The stopping distances of the heavy 760i High Security vehicles are significantly longer than in normal sedans.

Most of the BMW 7 Series High Security customers come from the Middle East or Russia. Customers in the United States are yet to be named.

Official details are yet to be released, but judging by these photos, the styling treatment includes a new front bumper with massive air intakes that incorporates vertical LED daytime lights and carbon fiber inserts.

The iconic BMW kidney grille also receives carbon fiber inserts giving the car a more unique “nose”. Furthermore, the tuner replaces the vertical orientation of the kidney grille bars to an horizontal approach.

At the back, there’s a new bumper with a rear diffuser and horizontal quad tail pipes plus discrete boot lid and roof spoilers. The new alloy wheels complete the exterior look.

Inside, the car gets the Mansory treatment as well. The steering wheel is being replaced by a new one and stitched leather wraps around the dashboard.

Expect more details to be released in the near future.

[Source: Carscoop ]

Plenty Fast in 2011, Too

This still leaves a comfortable margin between the 2011 BMW 740i and the 750i, which hits 60 mph in 5.2 seconds and the quarter-mile in 13.5 at 103.7 mph.

But the 740i leaves V8 sedans like the Hyundai Equus and Lexus LS 460 for dead. It’s also a bit quicker than the 2011 BMW 535i (with the single, twin-scroll turbo N55 engine), even though the latter weighs 300 pounds less.

Porsche is the only other manufacturer with the gall to put a straight-up gasoline six-cylinder in a large high-end sedan (Mercedes-Benz has been discreetly slipping V6s into hybrid and diesel versions of the S-Class), and the 740i matches the performance of the lighter but less powerful Panamera V6.

……….

So, Turbo Six or V8?

Of course, there are compelling economic reasons to choose a 2011 BMW 740i over a 750i. Take fuel economy. There’s nothing earth-shattering about the 740i’s EPA rating of 17 city/25 highway mpg, but it’s enough to avoid the $1,000 gas-guzzler tax that the 750i gets thanks to its 15 city/22 highway mpg. Also we averaged 19.7 mpg over 600 miles in the 740i. That’s not much of a sample size compared to the 28,867 miles we put on our long-term 750i, but there’s little doubt we’d surpass the V8 sedan’s 17.3-mpg average over the long haul.

Equally, it’s tough to ignore the up-front savings you get with the 2011 BMW 740i. For $81,625, we’re basically driving around with the same lavish furnishing and amenities we had in our old 2009 750i, which cost nearly $90 grand. We should note, however, that BMW has leveled a $500 price increase since our test car rolled off the line. Additionally, civilian customers are obliged to buy the $1,200 Cold Weather package (not equipped on this car) with the M Sport package. Also, we still don’t understand why we’d have to fork over another $1,800 for the Audio package to have a USB input.”

Full review continued

MotorTrend put together a comprehensive and highly detailed comparison between the entry-level high-end luxury sedans from several automakers, including BMW. The US magazine takes out favorite 740i and places it against Audi’s new A8, the controversial Panamera, the luxurious LS 460, the new and improved Jaguar XJL, the new contender Hyunday Equus and the classic competitor, Mercedes S400.

Each car tested had its own pros and cons, but overall, MotorTrend places the 2011 BMW 740i at the top of their list, another indication that the six-cylinder 7er fits the bill for many customers looking for ultimate luxury without sacrificing the driving experience.

PERFORMANCE*
1. Porsche 77
2. Audi 75
3. Jaguar 69
4. BMW 66
5. Lexus 59
6. Hyundai 56
7. Mercedes-Benz 48
*Compilation of acceleration/braking/handling performance

“Although standing-start acceleration is almost identical to that of the previous B7—0 to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, the quarter-mile in 12.8 seconds at 113 mph—the new car is a wink quicker up to 120 mph once rolling. And in any case, these are formidable numbers for a big sedan weighing 4710 pounds.

Similar to before, this short-wheelbase B7 is almost a second quicker than the ­standard 750i to 60 and through the quarter-mile. It’s also a little quicker than the even-heavier (and even more expensive) naturally aspirated Mercedes S63 AMG. But perhaps the B7’s most arresting attribute is how ­quietly the car goes about its business. It’s far too easy to find oneself approaching ­triple-digit speeds, whereupon “arresting” can become more than a figure of speech.

All of the foregoing didn’t show up particularly well on the skidpad—0.85  g  versus 0.91 g for the previous car with the same tires—but on public roads, it produces a seductive blend of willing turn-in, limited body roll, and confidence-inspiring grip. Just as impressive, it delivers its higher order of athleticism with essentially no penalty in ride quality. Very BMW—something that also applies to the braking: 162 feet from 70 mph, the same as the previous B7.”

Full review at Car and Driver

In a new event that took place in California, InsideLine shares with us their driving impressions and the some bits from ALPINA’s history.

“We are in Sonoma, California, to spend a little more time with the 2011 BMW Alpina B7 than we were able to get at the Monticello Motor Club for our First Drive. Alpina has long been the BMW equivalent of Mercedes-AMG, but it has been more like an engineering company than a purveyor of flashy wheels. Now the Bavarian company is finally getting serious about the U.S. market and it will import 1,000 examples of the BMW Alpina B7 between 2010 and 2011 through BMW dealers.

Driving in the Real World
As we drove across the northern fringe of Sonoma county out to the rugged Pacific coast, the B7 really didn’t feel much different from a conventional 7 Series. But as Bovensiepen points out, this is much harder to accomplish than it seems, since the B7 wears 21-inch examples of Alpina’s famously lightweight, 20-spoke wheels (which also incorporate the air valve into a space beneath the center cap). By dispensing with run-flat tires, he says, the B7 is able to deliver the steering response of a high-performance car with its 21-inch Michelins, yet maintain the ride comfort of a 7 Series on 18-inch tires.

Doing That Track Thing
And of course the next day, we’re hammering this car around Infineon Raceway and it hardly seems like a luxury car at all. Once you dial the chassis calibration to Sport+, the transmission shifts so quick and hard that it can be unpleasant, while the chassis maintains an evenly balanced poise even when the Michelin PS2s get hot, something you really notice in the Turn 1-Turn 3 combination, which sloshes you this way and that as if you were the only cocktail olive in a very large jar.

Bovensiepen is keen to point out that the car’s goodness comes from engineering the mechanical package first, then overlaying it with the electronic safety net that everyday drivers expect. For example, the Alpina-calibrated stability control lets you skate the tires around as long as your inputs are smooth, but as soon as something happens abruptly, the electronics pull your leash short. It’s a very sophisticated approach, one that encompasses the whole car.”

Full review at InsideLine

The BMW ALPINA B7 made its North American debut at the Chicago International Auto Show in 2010 and sells in the US for $122,875 (standard wheelbase) and $126,775 (extended wheelbase).

The B7 sedan is equipped with BMW’s twin-turbocharged 4.4 liter, all-aluminum, High Precision Direct Injection V-8 engine which has been enhanced by ALPINA and is capable of producing 500 (373kW) horsepower and 516 lb-ft (700Nm) of torque. This rear-wheel drive performance/luxury Sedan achieves 0-60 mph in 4.5 sec. With maximum torque available across an unusually broad engine range, from 3,000 to 4,750 rpm, the B7 accelerates effortlessly from virtually any speed.

The B7 sedan is finished with ALPINA aerodynamic developments, including front and rear spoilers which not only enhance the appearance but also improve stability and performance at high speeds. In true “form-follows-function” fashion, the ALPINA front integrates the fresh-air requirements of the transmission and engine oil coolers, which are separated out of the main cooler module for improved efficiency. The spoilers reduce lift at the front by 30% and rear by15%. The exhaust system’s two double tailpipes are seamlessly integrated into the rear bumper. The newest evolution of the traditional 20-spoke ALPINA Classic wheels gives the B7 a distinctive appearance and powerful stance.

The interior of the B7 sedan features ALPINA blue illuminated door sill trims, Switchtronic heated steering wheel in hand-stitched Lavalina leather, Alcantara headliner, Heads Up display, and the Black-Panel LCD screen instrument cluster branded with ALPINA. Hand-stitched Lavalina leather also covers the dashboard, door panels, center console, multi-contour front seats with heating and cooling, and heated rear seats.

To learn more about the ALPINA B7, follow the link.

All the technical details and features can be found in our previous article, so let’s focus on the driving experience as described by Autoblog.

“Want to wake a sleeping giant? Press the accelerator pedal to the floor.

Alpina’s blown 4.4-liter comes to life like a cadet springing out of bed for a drill sergeant’s call. Any thoughts of turbo lag are slammed to the back of the brain (and forgotten) as the B7 takes off.

Yes, it’s big and heavy, but it gets out of its own way with authority. BMW quotes a 0-60 sprint in 4.5 seconds, but it feels quicker (just for grins, we hooked the B7 up to a rather simple Escort G-Timer GT2 and recorded an easy 4.32 seconds). As a sucker for brutal power, we are happy to declare that this Alpina sedan hits all the right nerves. Like a Nissan GT-R, the B7 absolutely begs to show off at stoplights.

Place the B7 on an open highway, and pavement rolls quietly under its chassis mile after mile. However, it’s difficult to finger another five-place full-size luxury sedan that is as adept off the highway on fun two-lane roads.

Alpina’s decades of experience working hand-in-hand with BMW has delivered. The suspension tuning is just about perfect, with very little body roll and nearly fault-free damping on most road surfaces. Directional changes are quick and fluid, with great feedback through the steering wheel. While we didn’t like the tiny shift “buttons” on the back of the steering wheel (nearly useless in the heat of battle), the six-speed auto was competent when the car was set in “Sport-Plus” mode – come to think of it, the B7 could really use one of those trick “M” buttons to personalize performance parameters.

The Alpina B7 is an amazing machine. Defying all logic, the sedan seems to shed pounds as the g-forces increase – the uncanny feedback from the driver’s seat is of a sports car wrapped in a lightweight paper-mâché 7 Series disguise. In a word: fun.

The good news is that the Alpina B7 earns the fur-lined gold crown as the current high-performance king of BMW’s big sedans. And, with the E60 M5 out of production and the F10 M5 still a few months away, it should be able keep its head warm until summer arrives. Don’t forget, with a base price of just $122,000 the B7 also comfortably undercuts the $137,000 twelve-cylinder twin-turbo 760Li.”

Full review continued

Back in August, we saw the a small fleet of 3 Series models surrounding her in another video, but in her last video, she moves up a few classes by featuring a couple 7 Series vehicle.

Interesting enough, the 7er gets just as much as screen time as Minogue or her song partner R&B star Taio Cruz.

We are predicting a strong comeback for BMW in the marketing arena in 2011, especially around Hollywood flicks and famous stars.

Here is an excerpt from their review:

Our test car came equipped with a handful of BMW’s Individual Composition options – a sort of leather-bound wine list of color and wheel choices available exclusively to the 7 Series. They aren’t cheap, and our tester’s Moonstone Metallic paint, AmaroBrown full leather interior with Alcantara headliner, 20-inch wheels, Shadowline exterior trim and “BMW Individual” rear badging added $8,300 to the $137,000 starting MSRP. Add in a rear seat entertainment package ($2,200), active cruise control ($2,400), night vision ($2,600), destination ($875) and the gas guzzler tax ($2,100), and you wind up with a final, out-the-door price of $155,475 – more than double the price of a base 740i.

All 7 Series models are available with turbocharged engines these days, and while we have nary a complaint about the 4.4-liter V8 found in the 750i, the 12-cylinder powerplant is just so much more special. It makes 535 horsepower and 550 pound-feet of torque – 135 hp and 100 lb-ft more than the twin-turbo V8 – and while the 760Li is 385 pounds heavier than a similarly equipped 750Li, it sprints to 60 miles per hour a full seven-tenths of a second quicker (4.5 versus 5.2).

What’s most impressive, though, is the 6.0-liter’s difference in power delivery over the 4.4. The all-important low-down thrust comes on strong at just 1,500 rpm – 250 rpm sooner than with the V8 – and when you consider there are 100 more foot-pounds being sent to the rear wheels, the acceleration is more akin to that of a muscular sportscar than a luxury barge. There is the slightest hint of turbo lag right off the line, but you’ll soon forget about it once your right foot is marshaling the 760′s full onslaught of power. It’s seriously fast, but the whole forward thrust experience is silky smooth.

Full review continued

The car features unique wide construction design with carbon/Kevlar and wide based wheels for an enhanced sports effect. Inside, the Pianolack black trim finish and white leather enhance the luxurious interior of the 7 Series.

Press Release: Aim of this total concept it is to underline the sporting elegance of the BMW 7 with a unique car design.

This design gives the BMW 7, based on the 760Li Limousine, a wider look. This unique car body lends the luxury limousine a more self-assured appearance without making it come across as excessive or flashy. Selected applications made of genuine carbon/Kevlar and wide base light alloy wheels ensure that the BMW with its noble finish exhibits independence while staying true to its sportiness and the interior with its piano varnish black and white leather lends an individual touch.

The fact that the team has a sense of BMW’s design language already becomes apparent in the front spoiler bumper. The curvature of the bonnet and the kidney front grille find their match in the new front, which integrates grid inserts, fog lights and LED daytime running lights. The new shapely look is completed elegantly by the cup spoiler sword.

The wheels arch extensions with their 345/35 tyres from Pirelli give it the track style appearance: the luxury limousine becomes significantly wider and gets a dominant appearance. The door attachments and rear apron corners ensure a harmonious integration of the extension set and the full aerodynamics design.

A special set of deep door-sills bridge perfectly the new parameterization of the wheel arch extensions. The aerodynamics design is completed by the new rear diffuser and the exclusive lower suspension setting. Besides ensuring additional downforce, the diffusor highlights the sporty aspiration of the refined limousine.

The dynamic appearance of the Shaston-Lumma BMW 760Li is enhanced even further by the genuine carbon/Kevlar applications. These include exterior mirror caps, the kidney front grille frame, all door handle covers, the boot lid trim and the four-piece pillar trim set for doors and mud guards.

The wide base tyres also contribute to the more sporty appearance. The light alloy rims measure 20’’ and come with impressive 305/25 front axle and 345/25 rear axle high performance tyres Pirelli P-Zero.

Obviously the required TÜV-approval is included. The car is also approved in Switzerland.

The complete tuned car is exclusively sold by the Shaston AG.

The new Shaston-Lumma BMW 760Li will be exhibited at the Lumma stand on the Geneva Autosalon in Switzerland. The next Geneva Autosalon exhibition will take place from the March 3rd to March 13th, 2011.

Tuning Parts :Front Bumper (with LED Daytime Running Light), Sidesteps (Short or Long), Rear Bumper (with LED Brake Light), Roof Spoiler, Trunk Spoiler, Exhaust System/Muffler Cutter, Installed Wheel : WALD Renovatio R13 22 inch.

“Black Bison” is named from its powerful body line designed by WALD International and this word reminds us of the Bison galloping across the wasteland bravely.

This aggressive face line looks like the Bison which has held up through some desperate struggle.

This is the first model of WALD Black Bison Edition Styling for BMW vehicle. To remain BMW original peculiar characteristics, WALD creates the design of New Black Bison Edition.

The feature of the Front Bumper is the LED Daytime Running Light. For the Rear Design, the Piled Oval Muffler Cutter is adopted as the Exhaust Tail End. The Center Part of the LED Lamp gives the Sporty Impression on a car for Sheer Driving Pleasure.

[Source: Wald ]

With production facilities in Hamburg and New York, the world-renowned manufacturer of upright and grand pianos has partnered authorised Steinway dealers for several decades in promoting piano competitions for children and young people up to the age of 17.

The competitions enjoy considerable prestige and have already brought international recognition to a number of great artists. Another key component of the company’s efforts to promote young musical talent is the International Steinway Festival, which takes place in Hamburg every two years.

This festival brings together piano competition winners from the nine countries in which the competitions are currently held. The highlight of the event is the festival concert, which gives all the pianists an opportunity to showcase their skills and experience the concert environment in front of a large audience without the pressure of competition.

To kick off this exclusive cooperation, BMW is presenting its special limited-edition BMW Individual 7 Series Composition inspired by Steinway & Sons on 11 November 2010 at the Hamburg factory of Steinway & Sons. Dr Uwe Ellinghaus, Director BMW Brand Steering and BMW Brand Management, commented: “We very much look forward to our partnership with Steinway & Sons, like BMW a premium brand with the highest quality standards and a passion for detail. The special-edition BMW Individual 7 Series Composition embodies the desire of both brands to combine aesthetics, comfort and technical perfection. With its aim to provide support for future talent, the BMW Group considers that promoting the Young Steinway Artists in this way is a perfect adjunct to its commitment to culture.”

The luxury saloons of the BMW 7 Series express the aesthetics, quality and exclusivity which both brands epitomise. A design style with a commitment to perfection is the hallmark both of vehicle production at BMW Individual and of upright and grand piano manufacturing at Steinway & Sons.

For its world premiere in Hamburg, the BMW Individual 7 Series Composition inspired by Steinway & Sons will be presented in two perfectly coordinated colour variants. Deliberately reminiscent of the piano keyboard, the colour schemes reflect the contrast between black and white. The exclusive appearance of these luxury saloons is characterised by top-quality craftsmanship and the use of exquisite materials. At the same time, the paint finish – in a choice of black or white – and upholstery and surface materials are the result of a design and build quality that is unique worldwide and has been developed specifically for this special edition. The body’s paintwork, for example, in which each coat of paint is individually smoothed and polished by hand, boasts a high-end finish comparable to that of piano lacquer. Precise highlight details, together with an audio system specially adapted to the luxury saloon’s interior, complement the sophisticated ambience and add an even more exclusive touch to this special edition. The vehicles, produced as a special limited edition by BMW Individual, are built to customer specifications and based on the normal or long-wheelbase versions of the luxury saloon.

Cultural commitment of the BMW Group

For almost 40 years, international cultural commitment has been a key element of the BMW Group’s corporate communications. Having played a role in over 100 events worldwide, the BMW Group’s commitment in the cultural sphere has always sought to preserve absolute freedom of creative potential – as much a prerequisite for groundbreaking works of art as for pioneering innovations in a successful commercial enterprise. The BMW Group focuses its cultural involvement on contemporary art and music, as well as on architecture and design.

The long-term joint venture between HamburgMusik gGmbH and BMW was announced in 2008, long before work on the spectacular Elbphilharmonie concert hall in Hamburg’s Speicherstadt was scheduled to be completed. BMW not only committed itself to becoming the company’s first main sponsor, but also aims to be actively involved with the planning of its own creative projects.

[Source: BMW ]