Live From Portugal: Global Launch of All New 2016 BMW 7-Series (G11/G12)

Back in 1977, BMW was a small car manufacturer with only 23,000 employees when Eberhard von Kuenhim pushed for the development and the subsequent launch of the first BMW 7-Series, a car that marked BMW's foray into challenging the all time leader of premium cars - Mercedes-Benz. Twelve years later, when Lexus launched the first LS 400, the industry laughed at Lexus for trying to pitch itself against the 7-Series and the S-Class, indirectly implying that the 7-series is the benchmark to beat. Just a mere span of 12 years is all it takes for BMW to establish its rightful spot on the upper echelons of luxury car making.

By 2008 when BMW launched the fifth generation 7-Series (F01/F02), BMW was already celebrating its first anniversary of overtaking Mercedes-Benz to become the world's largest premium car maker with sales of more than 1.5 million units, and the Bavarian brand has never looked back ever since after seven years on the podium. With the launch of this all-new 2016 BMW 7-Series (G11/G12), BMW is not only just the largest premium car maker in the world, but with sales of more than two million units, they're effectively larger than many mass market car manufacturers, leaving Mercedes-Benz at a distant third place trailing behind by more than 300,000 units, with Audi in between. 

So, just what it is then, that helps propel BMW's stratospheric rise? And what is installed in the latest BMW 7-Series that sets it apart from the competition? To answer that, we went to Portugal, to attend the 2016 BMW 7-Series (G11/G12)'s global launch, and we're here to give a quick preliminary understanding, and over the course of the next few days, giving you all a thorough update on each aspect of this new full size premium flagship sedan. 

Model variants that are available following the global unveiling (Only the 750Li xDrive and 730d are available for at the global test drive event)

• BMW 750i xDrive / BMW 750Li xDrive: 
  Engine: 4.4-liter V8 petrol engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology (two TwinScroll turbochargers, direct injection, Valvetronic, Double-Vanos) 
  Performance: 450hp/5,500rpm and 650Nm/1,800rpm
  Acceleration: 0-100km/h in 4.4 seconds
  Max speed: 250km/h (Electronically Limited)
  Average fuel consumption of 8.3 to 8.1-liters per 100km
  CO₂ emission: 194-189 g/km
  Exhaust standard: EU6
   
• BMW 740i / BMW 740Li:
  Engine: 3.0-liter inline-six petrol engine with BMW TwinPower Technology (TwinScroll turbocharger, direct injection, Valvetronic, Double-Vanos)
  Performance: 326hp/5,500rpm and 450Nm/1,380rpm
  Acceleration: 0-100km/h in 5.5 seconds
  Max speed: 250km/h (Electronically Limited)
  Average fuel consumption of 7.0 to 6.6-liters per 100km
  CO₂ emission: 164-154 g/km
  Exhaust standard: EU6
   
• BMW 730d / BMW 730Ld:
  3.0-liter inline-six diesel engine with BMW TwinPower Technology (turbocharging with variable inlet geometry, common-rail direct injection)
  Performance: 265hp/4,000rpm and 620Nm/2,000rpm
  Acceleration: 0-100km/h in 6.1 seconds
  Max speed: 250km/h (Electronically Limited)
  Average fuel consumption: 4.9 to 4.5-liters per 100km
  CO₂ emission: 129-119 g/km
  Exhaust standard: EU6
   
• BMW 730d xDrive / BMW 730Ld xDrive:
  3.0-liter inline-six diesel engine with BMW TwinPower Technology (turbocharging with variable inlet geometry, common-rail direct injection)
  Performance: 265hp/4,000rpm and 620Nm/2,000rpm
  Acceleration: 0-100km/h in 5.8 seconds
  Max speed: 250km/h (Electronically Limited)
  Average fuel consumption: 5.2 to 4.8 liters per 100km
  CO₂ emission: 137-127 g/km
  Exhaust standard: EU6
   
• BMW 740e / BMW 740Le / BMW 740L3 xDrive:
  2.0 liter inline-four petrol engine with BMW TwinPower Technology (TwinScroll turbocharger, direct injection, Valvetronic, Double-Vanos)
  Performance: 258hp/5,000rpm and 400Nm/1,250rpm (Combustion Engine)
  BMW eDrive technology with synchronous electric motor with lithium ion high voltage battery
  Output: 113hp and 250Nm
  Total system output: 326hp
  Acceleration: 0-100km/h in 5.6 seconds
  Max speed: 240km/h
  Max speed, electric only: 120km/h
  Electric range: 40km (37km for xDrive)
  Average fuel consumption: 2.1 liters / 12.4 kWh per 100km
  CO₂ emission: 49 g/km
  Exhaust standard: EU6

While there can be a myriad of trim levels based on customer's choice of exterior color, interior trims, choice of leather, design of rims etc, generally BMW has three distinct packages for customers: 

DESIGN PURE EXCELLENCE
The exterior of the Pure Excellence trim features hotizontal chrome accents in the front air inlets and on the rear bumper, while the brake calipers are anodized in black color. The interior has an elegant fine wood detailing for the roof grab handles, the cup holders, and the rear seat belt retractor point housing. In the long wheelbase model, there are high pile floor mats and the entire roof headliner is finished in Alcantara.



M SPORT PACKAGE
The M Sport package features an M Aerodynamics package with large frontal air intakes and all the styling elements of the car's exterior can be optioned to be finished in gloss black or polished chrome. On top of that, there's the exclusive M light alloy wheels in the Double-spoke design. Opening the doors, there are illuminated M doorsills, M footrests and BMW Individual headliner in Anthracite finishing.


BMW INDIVIDUAL
As the name suggests, you can have it in any way you like.



Of course we can't expect the full range of available models to make its way into Malaysia, but do expect at least the 730Ld and 740Li to find its way here. And to make a business case, since the Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid is enjoying such massive success in Malaysia with the incentive tax breaks, we believe BMW will do their every best to ensure competitive pricing. We will follow up with multiple posts detailing the car's various innovation, and come November, a drive report and review on just how good, the all-new G11/G12 BMW 7-Series is. For now, enjoy the videos below live from Portugal, explaining the Carbon Core, and lastly, the design process of the all new BMW 7-Series