30 Days Of 2013 Ram 1500: Gas Mileage, So Far
As we roll through our 30-day road test of the 2013 Ram 1500, we're ready to file our first report... Read More
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STYLING | 8 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
Takes what was right about its predecessor-its stunning proportions-and rids it of the ugly details
Automobile
its style still polarizes
Autoblog
The most luxurious-feeling interior yet from BMW
Motor Trend
Handsome, spacious interior.
Edmunds
Stately, substantial and with a hint of aggression.
Edmunds
In 2009, the BMW 7-Series went from being one of our least-favorite luxury sedans to one of our most coveted. It came in from the cold of the previous generation, when BMW gave itself the misguided mission of making the 7-Series a more abstract expression, instead of an extension of its "ultimate driving machine" tagline. The 2002-2008 7-Series went extreme with flame surfacing, awkwardly tall glass areas, drooping fenders, and a tiered decklid that foudn copycats across the globe, even though it gave the 7er a wide, ungainly, tall rear end.
Today, the 7-Series is almost a knockout, with a much more relaxed silhouette and more exciting proportions of metal to glass. The shoulders fit just right; the trunk has been smoothed over, its taillights more tightly integrated. In the front, the twin-kidney grille even looks pleased, split into a wider grin atop a deeper, dipped air dam. The "Hofmeister" kink at the D-pillar and doors gives the 7er its signature sublime touch of sport. The long-wheelbase versions don't tip the shape out of balance at all, with a small stretch in glass areas in the rear doors.
The cockpit is a win, too, with the chaotic mix of buttons, screens, and knobs reduced where possible, and regrouped into a more logical mien. The clutter has a more organized feel, at least, and the dash shapes have been streamlined so that the 7-Series' cabin "reads" more easily and more cleanly. The instruments can be completely blacked out when needed; otherwise they glimmer softly amid densely grained wood trim, ceramic-finished knobs, and the futuristic controllers that direct the transmission and driving dynamics, as well as the iDrive system.
Conclusion
With slimmer and more exciting proportions--and a much more streamlined cockpit--today's BMW 7-Series makes the prior version look like an ungainly rough draft.
