Friday, July 12, 2019

The Facelifted BMW 7 Series Has Been Launched with One Variant for Now - The 740Le xDrive Pure Excellence


Aside from launching their new flagship SUV, the BMW X7 SAV, BMW Malaysia had finally unveiled the New BMW 7 Series. Sporting some restyled bits, notably the more prominent front end, the New BMW 7 Series will be offered here in only one variant for now, - the BMW 740Le xDrive Pure Excellence variant. This is a new-generation Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) which has a range of around 46km in electric mode and will cost interested parties RM594,000 before any insurance.



The new 2019 BMW 7 Series gets quite a substantial front end revision for a facelift. The trademark kidney grille is now much larger than the pre-facelifted 7. It is also more upright and prominent. It is more bold, aggressive and what I would say as 'in-your-face'. It is also gives the 7 series a much needed visual appeal in that it makes the car look more stately or more blinged out look. I believe that it gives the 7 Series more appeal for people here in Asia where a people do like to shout a little bit more in terms of parading their success. 

The new 7 Series allows a little more pomp and grandeur which I though was lacking in the pre-facelift model. Great as it was in terms of ride comfort and super sporty handling (for such a large car), it lacked the visual appeal in terms of making their occupants look like they have arrived. Some may find this new front end a little too loud, but I do think this is the way to go in terms of courting new owners here in Asia.


Sashi Ambi, Head of Corporate Communications of BMW Group Malaysia (above, the new 7 and the X7 SAV at the launch) said, “The BMW Group’s interpretation on Modern and Progressive luxury moves beyond excellent craftsmanship and the finer details in the creation of premium vehicles. Leading innovation and presence drives the automotive luxury segment and we are introducing a timeless symbol of luxury in the form of the New BMW 7 Series, which is set to raise the bar once again with prestige, elegance, comfort, exceptional sporty performance, and most importantly, an understanding of premium that is strongly defined by sustainability. The New BMW 740Le xDrive Pure Excellence exemplifies these characteristics and conveys the essence of Electric Driving Pleasure exactly.”


Ambi added that the luxury sedan will be locally assembled, in line with BMW Group Malaysia’s ongoing commitment towards growing its investments in Malaysia, which underlines the country’s role as the hub for the BMW Group in South East Asia. It also allows the 7 Series to be priced competitively as it takes advantage of the locally assembled tax breaks as well as the local hybrid / Energy Efficient Vehicle tax schemes.


The 740Le xDrive is a long wheelbase variant of the 7 Series and it is powered by a 3.0liter six-cylinder petrol engine which makes 286 hp. As it is a Plug-in Hybrid, it has an electric motor which adds another 83 kW/113 hp giving a total system output of 290kw or 394hp (in Sport mode). The lithium-ion battery  enables the 740Le xDrive Pure Excellence to have an all-electric range of around 46 kilometres and an all-electric top speed of 140 km/h. 

This powertrain is mated to an 8 speed Steptronic automatic transmission and sends the power to all four wheels. It is capable of doing 0-100kmh in just 5.1 seconds and has a combined fuel consumption of 2.8 litres per 100km, and a combined carbon emission of 65 g/km.

The New BMW 740Le xDrive Pure Excellence will be available at all authorised BMW dealerships in Peninsular Malaysia from Friday, 19th July 2019 and 2 th July 2019 for BMW dealerships in East
Malaysia.

More details of this flagship sedan are stated in the product brief below.


The 2019 BMW 740Le xDrive Product Brief

Bold design for exceptional prowess.

For a more prestigious appearance, the New BMW 7 Series in the Pure Excellence
exterior design embodies the language of high-societal luxury. The large, upright kidney
grille with active shutters is complemented by a larger BMW roundel that is 95mm in
diameter, compared to the previous measurement of 82mm. While the front apron no
longer includes the fog lights, the new, particularly slim and elongated headlights with
laser light technology is now a characteristic design feature of the BMW luxury models.
The lower part of the new front apron also has large air guides running across the outer
air inlets, a first for a BMW, whereby incoming air is directly guided to the brake air
channels and the Air Curtain.

A new aspect of the side view is the almost-vertical Air Breather just behind the front
wheel arches. The long wheelbase and precisely sculpted character lines also gives the
vehicle an equally imposing figure from the side. The air vents integrated into the side
panel now extends further up, optimising the air stream through the wheel arches. The
New BMW 7 Series also features 19" light alloy wheels in Double-spoke style 630
Bicolour with mixed tyres.


Powerful horizontal lines across the rear underscores the width of the vehicle, holding
onlookers’ attention even as the luxury sedan drives into the distance. The tailpipes
finishers now have a wider and more distinctive chrome trim. The new LED taillights that
are 35 mm slimmer, are joined by a 6mm-wide light strip – illuminating the vehicle
throughout the day. For added character, a special taillight animation sequence is
performed whenever the car is locked or unlocked. Due to front and rear modifications,
the vehicle has increased 23mm in length and possesses a wheelbase of 3,210mm.

Powerful core, exceptional handling.

The New BMW 740Le xDrive Pure Excellence charges forward with power from both a
petrol engine and an electric motor. Sitting at the heart of the vehicle is a three-litre six-
cylinder petrol engine with a peak output of 210 kW/286 hp. The advanced electric
motor accompanying it contributes another 83 kW/113 hp. Positioned under the rear
seats is a lithium-ion battery with state-of-the-art battery cell technology and improved
storage capacity that enables the New BMW 740Le xDrive Pure Excellence to cover 46
kilometres on electric power alone. The all-electric top speed is 140 km/h.

Additionally, the plug-in hybrid drive boasts an electric boost function that makes for
significantly more powerful acceleration. When the Driving Experience Control is set to
Sport mode, the New BMW 740Le xDrive Pure Excellence has an overall system output
of 290 kW/394 hp. The luxury sedan is capable of doing the century sprint in just 5.1
seconds. The luxury sedan has a combined fuel consumption of 2.8 litres per 100km,
and a combined carbon emission of 65 g/km.

An eight-speed Steptronic transmission offers exceptional power to the drive wheels.
The transmission is intelligently integrated with the navigation system, the cameras and
the radar sensors, enabling efficient use of the start/stop system and the coasting
function. The intelligent coasting function prevents inefficient engine cut-offs. The
electric motor is fully integrated into the eight-speed Steptronic transmission as well.
This ensures that pure-electric driving, the dynamics-enhancing electric boost function
and the recuperation of braking energy are all extremely efficient.


The New BMW 740Le xDrive Pure Excellence sets a new benchmark in riding comfort
and driving experience, thanks to the advanced chassis design. It incorporates an
intelligent mix of aluminium, high-strength steel and a body structure benefitting from
magnesium and carbon reinforcements (Carbon Core).
Innovative systems built for safety and comfort.

The New BMW 7 Series boasts a wealth of driver assistance systems that provides
maximum safety and comfort on the road. The wide range of BMW Personal CoPilot
driver assistance systems is now complemented with standard equipment such as the
camera and radar-based approach and pedestrian warning system that can now detect
cyclists.

The luxury sedan also features the Evasion Aid which uses steering interventions to
support the driver in sudden evasive maneuvers. In addition, the Crossroads Warning
with City Brake Activation warns the driver of potential collision with crossing traffic and
preconditions the brakes for increased power during emergency braking. The Steering
and Lane Control Assistant provides support for narrow road sections. Parking is also
made easier in the New BMW 7 Series as assistance comes in the form of the Parking
Assistant and Reversing Assistant. The BMW Digital Key is also available for selected
Android mobile devices to provide ease of accessibility to the luxury sedan.

Outstanding interior acoustics.


The mark of luxury displayed on the exterior is echoed inside the New BMW 7 Series as
well. Featuring a modified cockpit with redesigned displays and controls, the interior
design language is truly remarkable for its class.

The luxury sedan benefits from improved interior acoustics thanks to noise insulation
constructed in the rear wheel arches and optimised soundproofing elements in the B-
pillar. This minimises the amount of tyre noise and wind noise entering the cabin,
disrupting the comfort of the driver. Another comfort aspect comes in the form of a new
mobile phone tray that supports wireless charging for compatible devices, now
positioned more accessibly within the driver’s view.

Equipped with a stylish sports steering wheel and an instrument panel with fine leather
finish, the elegance of the New BMW 7 Series is amplified with Poplar Grain Grey fine-
wood trim, further complemented by the Alcantara headliner and Nappa Leather
upholstery. The electrically adjustable comfort seats also feature a massage function for
passengers in the rear. For added enjoyment, a Panoramic glass roof Sky Lounge gives
passengers a peek above the vehicle. Automatic four-zone control air-conditioning is
also available, along with roller sunblinds and the rear-seat Entertainment Experience.
Music can be enjoyed via the 16-Speaker Harman Kardon Surround Sound System.
Advanced accessibility with ConnectedDrive.

The new BMW Live Cockpit Professional with BMW Operating System 7.0, included as
standard, is distinguished by its clear structure and user-configurable screen displays.
The BMW Live Cockpit Professional combines the fully digital, freely configurable 12.3-
inch instrument cluster and a central 10.25-inch Control Display with touchscreen
functionality. Drivers have five possible input methods to control vehicle functions: the
steering wheel buttons, iDrive Controller, Touch Display, Voice Control and the Gesture
Control. With the integration of navigation to the Info Display, the central Control Display
can now focus solely on infotainment and advanced vehicle functions. The innovative
Gesture Control has been updated to register individual finger movements and can
distinguish up to seven hand movements. The luxury sedan is also complete with the
Connected Package Professional, which offers services such as Remote Services,
Concierge Services, Apple CarPlay and Intelligent Functions.


The New BMW 7 Series is also befitted with the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant as
standard in the infotainment set-up. It is an adaptable digital personal assistant that is
voice-activated and can be woken with a personalised activation word. As a vehicle
expert, the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant delivers information about the functions
and status of the BMW and provide support for navigation and entertainment. It can also

be used to control the new Caring Car functions, which includes the Vitalize and Relax
programmes, to automatically activate vehicle functions such as air conditioning,
lighting, seat massage and music, designed to revitalise or relax the driver. Two
Experience Modes are also available to adapt the interior ambience to the driver’s
mood, namely the Executive and the Expressive modes.

The New BMW 7 Series is available in four elegant colour offerings – Mineral White,
Black Sapphire, Bernina Grey and Imperial Blue. They can be paired with either Black
Nappa Leather or Cognac Nappa Leather upholstery. 

Dynamic financial programme.
With the Balloon Financing Plan from BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia, the New
BMW 7 Series can be owned with monthly instalment plans starting from RM 6,788.00
(based on estimates of an 80% loan on a five-year tenure).

Complete premium ownership experience.
Owners of the New BMW 7 Series will experience the complete BMW Group Malaysia
Premium Ownership experience which includes:
 BMW 5-Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty with Free Scheduled Service
Programme
 BMW 2-Year/ 24 Month Tyre Warranty Programme for its Run Flat Tyre
offering and services
 BMW Roadside Assistance and Accident Hotline
 The BMW Group Loyalty+ Mobile App – BMW White Card
 BMW Service Online
The retail price (on the road, without insurance, and with BMW Group Malaysia’s
latest 5 Years Unlimited Mileage Warranty, Free Scheduled Service Programme
and BMW Tyre Warranty Programme) for the New BMW 740Le xDrive Pure
Excellence is:

The New BMW 740Le xDrive Pure Excellence – RM 594,800.00











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