The Next-gen BMW 7-Series will be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2015. The luxury cars will then hit the showrooms in the next year.
One of the significant upgrades on the Next-Gen BMW 7-Series will be significantly lighter as compared to the previous generation of cars. The weight reduction will be achieved by the use of a combination of aluminium, magnesium, high-strength steel and carbon-fibre reinforced plastic. Key areas such as the roof, bonnet and the floorpan will utilise heavy amounts of the carbon-fibre reinforced plastic. BMW is aiming at setting a new standard in terms of weight-reduction with the new 7-Series.
Most of the weight-reduction processes have already been developed for use in the i3 and i8 hybrid cars. Engineers say that the use of these processes on the new 7-Series will lead to a reduction of upto 200 kilograms. Estimates suggest that the entry level new 7-Series sedans will thus be lighter than the current 5-Series offerings from BMW!
Another key factor in the weight reduction process will the chassis of the Next-Gen BMW 7-Series. The new 7-Series cars will be built around a modular platform that is already in use on the 3 and 4-Series. This platform will soon be incorporated into the 5 and 6-Series as well. The chassis will be light but rigid, and will be linked to a suspension system built using major amounts of aluminium.
A plethora of engine options will come with the Next-Gen BMW 7-Series. The options will include turbocharged four, six, eight and twelve-cylinder petrol and diesel engines. The engines will be mated to a 9-Speed Automatic transmission across all models. One will get to choose whether the power will be transferred just to the rear wheels, or all the four wheels. There will be a M Performance version among the 7-Series lineup, and it could receive a 4.4 Litre Twin-Turbo V8 powerplant churning out horses in excess of 600!!
The Next-Gen BMW 7-Series will have a mountain of expectations to live up to, from the word Go.
Source –Â Autocar India