Hardware
The all-new 2009 BMW 7 Series is larger and more luxurious than the model it replaces. Under the skin the flagship sedan is equipped with a new suspension design utilizing many aluminum components to reduce unsprung weight and improve the ride, BMW says. In a first for a BMW sedan, the new model boasts a double-wishbone front suspension (first seen in the current model BMW X5). The rear suspension remains a multi-link design.
Under the hood of the 2009 BMW 7 Series, consumers will find the same engine that powers the BMW X6 XDrive50i. In the 7 Series, the 4.4-liter twin-turbo 8-cylinder engine is rated at 400 hp and 450 lb.-ft. of torque. Mated to a standard 6-speed automatic transmission, the powerplant should push the sedan to 60 mph in just over 5 seconds, on towards an electronically-limited top speed of 155 mph. While European customers will be offered many 6-cylinder gasoline and diesel engine choices, the German automaker has not announced their availability in the United States. Customers seeking an energy-efficient luxury sedan should look at BMW’s new ActiveHybrid model. Under the hood of this dual-power 7 Series is a 120-volt electric motor that will assist the twin-turbo V-8 engine. Working together, and utilizing regenerative energy, EPA fuel economy is boosted into the low 20’s.
Technology
BMW delivers plenty of technical innovation with the 2009 7 Series. Standard across the model range is BMW’s Dynamic Damping Control. 
The cockpit-adjustable electronic system gives the driver the freedom to choose between four modes (comfort, normal, sport and sport-plus) to control the suspension damping, transmission shifting, throttle sensitivity, and power steering assistance. If the vehicle is equipped with Active Steering—a BMW system that alters the steering ratio based on speed and steering wheel angle—the rear wheels will now adjust up to 3 degrees to help maneuver the car. The flagship BMW sedan will also offer night vision, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, rear- and side-view cameras, and massaging rear seats. Look for the arrival of the 2009 BMW 7 Series in showrooms later this year.
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