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2016 BMW 7 Series: New luxury for a new generation (pictures)

BMW makes a big luxury play with its all-new 7 Series, offering a large, executive roller with air suspension and rear-seat amenities.

Wayne Cunningham
Wayne Cunningham reviews cars and writes about automotive technology for CNET's Roadshow. Prior to the automotive beat, he covered spyware, Web building technologies, and computer hardware. He began covering technology and the Web in 1994 as an editor of The Net magazine.
Wayne Cunningham
2016 BMW 7 Series
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BMW gives its 7 Series flagship sedan a complete redesign for the 2016 model year.

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The new 7 Series will be offered as the 740i, 750i xDrive and 740e xDrive in the US.

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The 7 Series kidney grille, a BMW hallmark, gains active shutters, closing to allow better aerodynamics when the engine needs less cooling.

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The 750i xDrive gets this 4.4-liter V-8 engine with twin-scroll turbochargers. The 740i relies on a 3-liter inline six-cylinder engine with one twin-scroll turbo, and the 740e xDrive gets a hybrid drive system.

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Carbon fiber used in the structure around the cabin let BMW shave 190 pounds off this model over the previous generation.

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BMW gives its front fender vents, a now standard styling cue on other models, a unique treatment on the 7 Series.

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LED head- and fog-lights come standard on the 7 Series.

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Air suspension front and back, combined with adaptive dampers, should create a smooth ride.

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BMW seems intent on making the rear seat as comfortable as the front.

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BMW adds Comfort Plus and Adaptive driving modes to the 7 Series, the latter using sensors to adapt the drive components to the driver's style.

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Rear-seat passengers can take advantage of a dedicated tablet called Touch Command tied into the car's infotainment system.

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A large greenhouse, the windows around the cabin, looks to give occupants a good bit of light and visibility.

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BMW squares off the rear of the car and gives the tailpipes a geometric treatment, accentuating performance.

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Cameras visible on the mirrors hint at the surround-view camera option. The car also offers automated parking.

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The Hofmeister kink, BMW's signature styling cue, is still in evidence at the rear of the side window, although it looks more rounded than in past generations.

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