It has been said that happiness is a journey, not a destination. In a fast-paced world where everyone always seems to be in a frantic rush to get somewhere, BMW’s latest model serves as the perfect reminder to savour the journey when cruising along the road to success. Founded in 1916, the German luxury car maker continues to make strides in the industry with its ultimate driving machines, which have been delivering “sheer driving pleasure†to owners all around the world for nearly a century.
For long-time loyalists of BMW, the crème de la crème of the Bavarian automaker’s repertoire would have to be the 7 Series. It was in the late ‘70s when the company’s tradition of innovation was cemented following the introduction of the first-generation model from this flagship series. With the release of this sixth-generation model, one would be convinced that the demand for this flagship series is not going to slow down anytime soon.
Revealed in September in picturesque Portugal, the exterior of this new full-sized sedan is one that exudes confidence. Precision lines help to highlight its new extended body. This is also the first time that the Hofmeister Kink – an iconic design element that has been part of BMW’s styling for the last 50 years – has been seamlessly incorporated into the window outline.
According to Adrian Van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President of the BMW Group Design, they went to great lengths to ensure that the final product embodies the best of luxury and technology. Not only were the design studios in Munich, Shanghai and Los Angeles involved in its creation, the designers were also sent to explore the cosmopolitan metropoles of Abu Dhabi, Singapore and Seattle to develop a better understanding of what constitutes modern luxury.
Based on their findings, the team concluded that while the ideas of luxury around the world might be increasingly converging, the elements and how much one is willing to put on display still varies from region to region. For example, while most affluent American customers will genuinely relish being behind the wheel, their Asian counterparts prefer being chauffeured to avoid the stress of navigating through a city’s congested roads. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that drivers in Asia will be missing out on all the fun as riding in the new 7 Series is still a remarkable experience – even if you’re not doing any of the driving.
This is evident the moment one steps inside the vehicle and gets accustomed to its sumptuous interior, which incorporates materials such as fine-grain wood, leather and aluminium. BMW’s personalisation division, the Individual Manufaktur, also offers every customer the option to customise these details to create a bespoke luxury car that fully expresses his/her personality and tastes.
Additional features of the car include high-tech innovations that will certainly pique the interests of any technology enthusiast. The first is the updated Head-Up Display located behind the steering wheel, which projects relevant driving information into the driver’s field of view so he could keep track of his whereabouts without having to divert attention from the road ahead. This particular feature proved to be especially useful during the test drive as we navigated through the busy streets of Porto – the country’s second largest city – while attempting not to be distracted by its numerous medieval alleyways, extravagant monuments and charming old houses decorated with hand-painted tiles.
We eventually made our way down the N-222, which was deemed in 2015 as the “world’s best driving road†for having a characteristic that closely matches with the ideal Avid Driving Ratio of 10:1 (10 seconds on a straight to every 1 second spent on a bend). Stretching from Peso de Régua to Pinhão, this road would take us to the heart of the Douro Valley. The birthplace of port, this historic wine region is also famous for its breathtaking views of steep mountain contours and terraced vineyards brimming with magnificent grapevines.
During the long journey, we decided to familiarise ourselves with the vehicle’s centre display functions. This command centre comes equipped with the new iDrive system that enables users to control multiple features through touch, hand gestures or a controller located in the centre console. It also houses the multifaceted BMW ConnectedDrive, which provides access to online searches, real time traffic information and even a 24-hour concierge service on hand to assist with all your travel needs.
The impressive list of outstanding features continues towards the rear seats that have been designed to provide a first-class travel experience that will impress even the most discerning backseat driver. A divider located in between the seats houses a removable 7†Touch Command tablet, a remarkable device that not only lets users control the entertainment and navigation functions of the vehicle but also to tweak their surroundings to create an environment designed for maximum comfort. And after a long day of travelling, one can be certain that having these luxurious amenities at your fingertips can truly make all the difference in transforming a long-haul journey into a pleasurable experience.
