Stunning revelation: the 2016 BMW 7 Series

FROM left, Thierry Weidenbach, Hwee Siong Lee, Maricar Parco, Jose Ch. Alvarez, Michael Hasper and Laurent Jaegle

THE UNVEILING of the sixth-generation BMW Series last Thursday evening was a stunning revelation of how far the German premium brand has advanced in techno wizardry, uber-plush luxury, dynamic precision and superlative comfort.

It also revealed how meticulously Asian Carmakers Corp. (ACC), the exclusive importer and distributor of BMW in the Philippines, plans a momentous product presentation, in this case, the launch of their most important passenger car.

First, the date. ACC made sure that no other motoring-related events were going to be held on the night of March 3 and that it would take place before the Holy Week exodus.

Second, the venue. ACC set the date two nights after the Shangri-La in Bonifacio Global City had been inaugurated as the newest and most elegant five-star address for the top tier of Philippine society.

Awesome all-new flagship luxury car, awesome all-new five-star destination: It was a perfect fit.

Third, the atmosphere. The richly carpeted Grand Ballroom of the Shangri-La at the Bonifacio Global City was semi-dark, with dimly lit gourmet food carts, a bar and buffet tables strategically located at the sides and the rear plus black chairs arranged, classroom style, facing the stage at the center.

The ambience was Understated Posh. Nothing loud, brash or brightly lit here, except when the car would be driven onstage.

Fourth, the carefully chosen guest list. Aside from a glittering crowd consisting of BMW dealers and BMW clients, the launch of the newest iteration of BMW’s flagship called for the presence of VIPs.

The highest ranking executives of ACC, chair emeritus Jose Ch. Alvarez and president Maricar Parco were the gracious hosts to Michael Hasper, Charges d’affaires, Embassy of Germany in Manila, BMW Group Asia sales director Hwee Siong Lee, BMW Group Asia senior regional manager for international corporate, direct and special sales Thierry Weidenbach, and BMW Group Asia product planning manager Laurent Jaegle.

Incidentally, Pepito Alvarez, who is concurrently the governor of Palawan, laughingly told me that he arrived late because he thought the venue was the Shangri-La in Makati.

His amused disclosure indicated how completely Alvarez has entrusted the day-to-day details of managing his car companies (ACC, Kia, Peugeot and Mahindra) to their appointed CEOs.

In the case of ACC, which distributes BMW, the trusted president is Parco, under whose management BMW has remained the leading premium brand in the Philippines.

Fifth, the program. ACC opened the doors of the ballroom on time and immediately allowed the guests to have their fill of cocktails and tasty tidbits (including Japanese cuisine, Peking duck and roast beef) so that the program would have the full attention of the crowd.

The program itself was surprisingly concise compared to other new car launches.

Parco welcomed the guests and briefly summarized the new, outstanding features of the 2016 BMW 7 Series.

A video of the new 7 Series was shown, followed by a number performed by masked dancers in all-white costumes. And finally, the riveting reveal of the car.

To keep the program short and flowing smoothly, there was no lengthy technical description of the car by an engineer.

After all, in her talk, Parco had neatly summed up the salient elements of the product.

She said that since 1977, BMW has been delivering groundbreaking innovations and setting new standards with the flagship BMW 7 Series.

Parco mentioned the electronic speedometer, Park Distance Control and the iDrive operating system have all become an industry benchmark for modern cars.

She announced that the 2016 BMW 7 Series introduces new technologies such as Carbon Core that reduces overall weight by up to 130 kilograms and an array of innovations like Touch Command, Gesture Control and Sky Lounge with Panorama Glass Roof.

The new 7 Series, she averred, embodies BMW’s quest for modern mobility, the highest quality and absolute precision. “This is truly a masterpiece from BMW and probably the best car we have ever built,” Parco concluded.

Peek preview

Two core variants of the all-new 7 Series glided under bright lights onstage after Parco’s spiel: the BMW 740Li, which is the main variant to be sold in the Philippines for P8.45 million, and the BMW 750Li, a limited number of which will retail at P12.45 million.

BMW phrases the “Driving Luxury” raison d’etre of the 2016 BMW 7 Series in this way: “The world around us is very fast-paced. The car provides the opportunity for us to rest and recharge our batteries.”

In a new 7 Series, you can reach your destination swiftly in supreme comfort and luxury.

The petrol engines of the 740Li and 750Li rank among the most powerful drivetrains in their category as they both have the state-of-the-art TwinPower Turbo technology package with its combination of turbocharging, direct injection and fully variable power management.

The new 3.0-liter, 6-cylinder engine produces 320 HP and max torque of 450 Nm (332 lb-ft), enabling it to propel the new 740Li to 100 kilometers per hour in 5.5 seconds, yet burns only 6.6 liters per 100 km.

The 4.4 liter, V8 delivers 445 HP and 650 Nm (480 lb-ft) peak torque, allowing the new 750Li to sprint from zero to 100 kph in 4.3 seconds.

Both variants have an eight-speed automatic transmission, air suspension front and rear with electronically controlled dampers and a top speed of 250 kph.

The new 7 Series is about an inch longer than the outgoing model and slimmer and more aerodynamic due to, among others, a platform that includes Carbon Core structural elements, a lighter body shell and the Floating Design Mirror.

The lighter overall weight and revised chassis have given the big BMW newfound verve despite its heritage as a limo rather than a sports sedan.

The 750Li costs P4 million more than the 740Li because, aside from a bigger, more powerful engine, it has nappa leather, Bowers & Wilkins surround sound with 1,400 watts and 16 speakers (the 740Li has Harman Kardon audio), the Sky Lounge illuminated panorama glass roof, all the Active and driver assistance and comfort options as standard equipment, such as Luxury Rear Seating Package (ambient lighting, fragrance option, rear ventilated comfort seats, removable Touch Command Tablet with wireless hotspot), the Rear Executive Lounge Seating Package (massage function, an extra 3.5 inches of legroom, a footrest, a fold-out table.)

The dizzying array of electronics in the 2016 BMW 7-Series are too many to be described here. Indeed, the guests at the launch were awed by the innovative high-tech features and the ultra-plush cabin of the new 7 Series rather than its upgraded dynamics.

Because of its stratospheric price, the new 7 Series may not push up BMW sales as vigorously as the popular, more affordable 3 Series and X-5, but it nevertheless firmly establishes the brand as the king of luxurious and sustainable mobility.