All-New 2016 BMW 7-Series

The Bavarians have thrown all of their engineering and technological might on the car starting with one of its predecessor's biggest drawbacks, the weight, by combining carbon-fiber structures with steel, aluminum, magnesium, and plastic, to shed up to 200kg (440 pounds) - though, due to additional comfort and safety features, the weight savings are 130 kg (286 pounds) on the 750i xDrive.

We haven't checked this out yet, but according to BMW AG board member Klaus Fröhlich, the new 7-Series is the "lightest luxury sedan in its segment". Codenamed G11 when opted with the short wheelbase and G12 with the long wheelbase, the next iteration of the 7er has the same footprint as the previous F01/F02 series.

The LWB version, which will be the only one offered in North America, measures 206.2 inches (5,238mm) long with a 126.4 inch (3,210mm) wheelbase, 74.9 inches (1,902mm) wide and 58.2 inches (1,479mm) tall. The standard model is 200.7 inches (5,098mm) long with a 120.9 inch (3,070mm) wheelbase, 74.9 inches (1,902mm) wide and 57.8 inches (1,467mm) tall.

The car's exterior styling is best described as evolutionary mixing the previous 7's characteristics with BMW's newest... evolved... design DNA and especially the 3- and 4-Series with the sedan sporting a flatter front end with overgrown double kidney grilles flanked by sleeker, elongated headlamps that make it look wider than the older model, even though it isn't.

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