Is this the most hi-tech car EVER? BMW's 7 series boasts a cinema, massage seats and James Bond-style remote driving - and it lets you control the dash using gestures
- BMW 7 Series is designed to marry luxury with technology
- Top-of-the-range models include massaging, reclining seats, a tablet, TV screens, automatic air-con and other comforts
- Drivers can use gestures and a touch screen to control functions
- New model will go on sale this autumn and cost from $81,000 (£52,000)
In a bid to rival the luxurious, high-end cars from the likes of Rolls Royce and Bentley, BMW has unveiled its next 7 series.
The
car boasts a back-seat cinema, massaging seats and gesture controls so
drivers can adjust the radio, for example, with a wave of their hand.
And
the top-of-the-range car will also allow drivers to park the new model
using a remote control, much like James Bond controlled an old BMW model
in the 1997 film, Tomorrow Never Dies.
Clever: But the German automaker’s new
7 Series boasts a back-seat cinema, massaging seats and gesture
controls (pictrured) so driverscan adjust the radio, for example, with
the wave of their hand
Harald
Krüger, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG said: ‘This
balance of cutting-edge technology, connectivity and comfort is our
vision of modern luxury.'
The
car has a sleek carbon fibre body that makes it 190 lbs (89kg) lighter
than its predecessor, hiding a more efficient V-8 engine generating 445
horsepower.
An
‘adaptive mode’ will match driving style to the route driven, so the
ride will be focused on comfort on a rough country road, for example,
but sporty on a smooth motorway.
LIght: The car has a sleek carbon
fibre body (pictured) that makes it 190 lbs lighter than its
predecessor, hiding a more efficient V-8 engine generating 445
horsepower
Comfortable: Harald Krüger, Chairman
of the Board of Management of BMW AG said: ‘This balance of cutting-edge
technology, connectivity and comfort is our vision of modern luxury.
Here, a businessman relaxes in the leather interior, with TVs, a
reclining massage seat and in-built tablet
The
7 Series is the first production car to allow owners to manoeuvre in or
out of forward-parking spaces or garages without anyone at the wheel by
using a remote control - much like James Bond (played by Pierce Brosnan
(pictured) controlled his BMW 759i in the 1997 film Tomorrow Never
Dies, although less violently
But it is the interior that’s super luxurious.
Top-of-the range models can include an ‘Executive Lounge’ which BMW said ‘redefines personal well-being in a luxury car.’
In practice, this means the back seats are spacious and packed with gadgets for discerning business people.
There
is automatic air conditioning, electronically adjustable seats with a
massage function and TVs embedded into the front seats.
A
footrest can make lounging in the back more comfortable, or more active
executives can choose a ‘Vitality Programme’ massage, which gives them
‘active physical exercise,’ according to the firm.
And when they have finished working up a sweat, the rear seats can be reclined to a near-horizontal position for a power nap.
Spacious: Top of the range models can
include an ‘Executive Lounge’ (pictured) which BMW says ‘redefines
personal well-being in a luxury car.’ In practice this means that the
back seats are spacious and packed with gadgets for discerning
businessmen
Sleek: Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior
Vice President BMW Group Design, said: ‘In BMW’s eyes, modern luxury is
rooted in the most advanced technologies and extremely fine attention to
detail.' This is the front of the car
Smart: A table in between the rear
seats plays host to a removable seven-inch tablet, known as the ‘Touch
Command System’ (pictured) that lets passengers control the radio or use
it to play games or surf the net
A
table in between the rear seats plays host to a removable seven-inch
tablet, known as the ‘Touch Command System’ that lets passengers control
the radio or use it as a controller to play games and surf the net on
the TVs.
Adrian
van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design, said: ‘In BMW’s
eyes, modern luxury is rooted in the most advanced technologies and
extremely fine attention to detail.
‘This
generation of the BMW 7 Series is the most luxurious, most comfortable
and – all round – the best car we have ever built in this class.’
Drivers of the new model will be also able to control some of the car’s features using gestures for the first time.
Gestures
are detected by sensors and can be used to control the car’s music
system, including turning the volume up and down with the wave of a
hand, as well as accepting or rejecting phone calls.
There is also the option of pairing a specific gesture with an individual choice of function, BMW said.
Drivers of the new will be able to
control some of the car’s features using gestures for the first time.The
car's main control panel has a touch screen (pictured) so it can be
used like a tablet
Alert: The car has a head-up display
to show traffic warnings and phone calls (illustrated) as well as a
steering and land control assistant, cameras to help them park and even a
Remote Control Parking system, which means they can park their car
remotely
Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO of BMW North America, told CNBC: 'Just a simple gesture, moving your hand or just pointing two fingers towards the dash, will mean a certain order to the car.’
‘It is elegant, it's dynamic, it's futuristic, [it] has a lot of innovations.’
A
new smartphone holder allows wireless inductive charging for mobiles
for the first time in a car, meaning no more annoying wires and
connectors.
Life
will also get easier for 7 Series drivers because the car has a
heads-up display to show traffic warnings and phone calls as well as a
steering and land control assistant, cameras to help them park and even a
Remote Control Parking system, which means they can park their car
remotely.
The
7 Series is the first production car to allow owners to manoeuvre in or
out of forward-parking spaces or garages without anyone at the wheel.
It
allows drivers to access tight parking spaces with ease and a lack of
personal skill at the touch of a button on a smart key ring.
While the car is carrying out the semi-automated manoeuvre, the driver simply has to watch out for obstacles.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, all this technology and luxury comes at a cost.
Prices
start at $81,300 (£52,461) and the car will launch this autumn.
However, this is for the 'basic' model and the price of the optional
extras has not been revealed.
MailOnline has contacted BMW for more information.
The remote control function on the new model is similar to the one featured in the Bond film, Tomorrow Never dies (clip above)
The 7 Series is the
first production car to allow owners to manoeuvre in or out of
forward-parking spaces or garages without anyone at the wheel by using a
remote control (pictured)
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