The new luxurious BMW 7 Series arrives in showrooms later this year

Three different M packages add performance-inspired styling cues: M Sport, M Sport Pro and M Performance. There is also a choice of chrome and blackened styling elements, and wheels range from 19in as standard up to optional 22in as part of the M Performance styling package.

The all-electric i7 variant brings its own subtle touches, including a blanked-off grille with a BMW i brand logo as well as decorative elements within the bumpers and sills.

The 7 Series has been extended lengthways by 130mm to 5391mm, its width is increased by 48mm to 1950mm and it is 51mm taller, at 1544mm. It also no longer offers the choice of two wheelbases. Instead, all new 7 Series models have the same 3215mm wheelbase – a 5mm increase on that of the earlier long-wheelbase model.

BMW provides owner’s manuals for its vehicles online in a PDF format that can be downloaded and printed. You can access the owner’s manual for your BMW by visiting BMW Manuals website.

The basis for the new 7 Series is BMW’s CLAR platform. It has been heavily reworked for the new model. The carbon core measures brought to the previous generation to save weight have been dropped to make way for a new material mix that includes more traditional steel, aluminium and titanium.

“We have altered the structure without any loss of rigidity,” said Kahlenberg.

BMW’s flagship four-door will be produced with a range of different drivetrains, including mild-hybrid petrol and diesel as well as a plug-in hybrid and pure-electric units – all powering both axles as standard. Not all are planned to be offered in the UK, though. In fact, BMW has decided to drop petrol engines completely for European markets. They will be indirectly replaced by new petrol-electric plug-in hybrid drivetrains offering electric ranges of over 50 miles.