Building on the global success of the most successful 7 Series

While some in the media questioned the styling, customers were clearly attracted to its uniqueness and driving dynamics and the car has become the best-selling 7 Series ever. I am confident that the new engine range and subtle refinements will ensure the new 7 Series continues this success in the years to come." The new 7 Series offers customers the widest model range of any luxury car manufacturer, all of which (excluding the 760i) have new engines, updated to deliver more power and flexibility without compromising fuel economy.

In the UK, the biggest seller in the range is the 730d that accounts for 56 per cent of total 7 Series sales. To maintain its popularity, the 730d engine has been extensively revised and it now benefits from an all-aluminium cylinder block that reduces the weight of the engine by 25kg. As a result of this weight reduction and BMW's new third-generation common rail diesel technology (that includes piezo-injectors, a faster and more efficient form of injection), power is increased by 12 per cent to 228bhp at 4,000rpm while torque is four per cent higher at 520Nm, developed between 2,000 and 2,750rpm. The 730i now features the new lightweight 3.0-litre magnesium aluminium composite engine recently unveiled in the 630i and 330i.

The new powerplant delivers 258bhp at 6,600rpm, up 12 per cent compared with its predecessor, and 300Nm of torque at 2,500-4,000rpm. As a consequence, the new 730i offers the best power-to-wight ratio and highest output per litre of any car in its class. This extra performance was not achieved at the expense of fuel consumption. The 730i delivers an impressive 28.0mpg, a 4.7 per cent improvement over the outgoing car. The improvements in power and economy come primarily as a result of Valvetronic, BMW's patented technology that regulates the volume of induction air without the need for a throttle butterfly. Valvetronic now features on all 7 Series petrol engines.

The new BMW 740i replaces the previous 735i with a 4,000cc V8 engine developing 302bhp at 6,300rpm and 390Nm of torque at 3,500rpm. This represents an output increase of 13 and eight per cent respectively over the 735i but, with a combined consumption of 25.2, the new 740i still benefits from a 0.0 per cent improvement in economy. The 745i is currently the world's best selling 7 Series model. This model now becomes the BMW 750i, featuring an all-new 4,799cc engine. Delivering 362bhp at 6,300rpm and 490Nm at 3,400, the zero to 62mph sprint is dispatched in a sports car-like 5.9 seconds. Despite this power hike, the 750i achieves 24.8mpg on the combined cycle.

The pinnacle of the 7 Series range continues to be the 760i, with its 5,972cc V12 engine delivering 445bhp at 6,000rpm and 600Nm of torque at 3,950rpm. This ensures that the car achieves a zero to 62mph time of 5.5 seconds - only 0.3 seconds longer than the high-performance M3 Coupe, a car that weighs 595kg less. The enhancements to the new BMW 7 Series don't stop with engine technology. The car's chassis has also been updated to manage the additional performance with changes to ensure the new car offers improved steering precision, agility and ride quality.

The all-aluminium suspension has been updated and now benefits from a 14mm wider track to deliver even greater levels of stability. Alongside the standard suspension set up, customers can now specify two separate optional suspension choices, depending on their preference for ride comfort. The Sport model is for those who want the luxury offered by the 7 Series but also appreciate a more sporting and agile drive. The Adaptive Drive package combines BMW's Dynamic Drive active anti-roll bar and Electronic Damper Control (EDC) system. Dynamic Drive converts body roll during conrnering into hydraulic pressure to deliver a near-flat cornering experience. EDC offers three separate ride settings - Comfort, Normal and Sport.