2016 BMW 7 Series OFFICIALLY revealed – price from £64,530

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The new BMW 7 Series has been revealed with an evolutionary design, more luxury, more technology and more efficient engines. Costs from £64,530.

We’ve had teases from BMW for the new 7 Series – and the accidental reveal by BMW Austria – but now it’s here officially – the new BMW 7 Series – with a design that many will struggle too see where BMW has changed things, more luxury, more room, more technology and engines that are more efficient and more powerful and prices starting from £64,530 for the 730d SWB.

BMW hasn’t changed the formula for the 7 Series, but it has given it ‘More’ in every way, much the better to take the battle to the all-conquering Mercedes S Class.

Looking almost the same in profile as the current 7 Series, with a few tweaks at the back and more going on up front with a more bulbous kidney grill and new headlights that are similar to the i8’s. It’s an external makeover that makes the new 7 Series look that bit sharper than before; familiar, but fresh.

BMW has also managed to bring the new 7 Series in lighter than the old, despite which it grows in length a bit with the LWB coming in at 14cm longer and looking like you could hold a party in the back.

Inside, the major change is a new iDrive with a stand-out Infotainment screen with ConnectedDrive, interactive traffic sign updating, gesture control and can be used as a touchscreen too.

Full four-zone climate control is standard across the range – and you can heat up everything from the armrests to the steering wheel with the optional Heat Comfort Pack – with massaging, Wi-Fi, removable 7″ tablet, Bowers and Wilkins surround-sound, ‘Smelly Air’ and new ambient lighting amongst the goodies on offer across a trim range of Standard, M Sport, Pure Excellence and Individual

BMW are also offering a Parking Assistant that drives the 7 Series out of the garage – or a too tight parking space – like an automated valet parker without you even needing to get in.

At launch in the UK, there will be a choice of just two engines – the 3.0 litre 6-pot diesel and the 3.0 litre six-pot petrol – with the 730d getting new injectors and an extra 7bhp (now 261bhp) with economy of 62.8mph and emissions of 119g/km. It can also get to 62mph in just 5.8 seconds. Really impressive figures for such a big car.

The petrol-engined 740i comes with 321bhp, averages 42.8mpg and can get to 62mph in 5.5 seconds, and both models get the option of SWB or LWB and there’s a 4WD option too.

Starting sometime in early 2016, BMW will start to roll out more engine options, with the 750i offering 444bhp, a plug-in hybrid 740e with 321bhp and 134.5mpg and the 760i with a twin-turbo 6.0 litre V12. We can also start the old discussion about whether or not we’ll see a BMW m7 this time round.

With prices for the new 7 Series starting at £64,530 for the 730d SWB and £72,060 for the 740i – and more for better trim and 4WD – the new 7 Series is more expensive than the current model.

But that won’t be enough to discourage drivers who enjoy the more dynamic nature of the 7 Series compared to the S Class.

The new BMW 7 Series will debut at Frankfurt in September and is expected to arrive in BMW’s UK showrooms in November.