June 25 2009   Source: Bryan Joslin

New Details of 2010 BMW 7 Series for US Market

There has been an outflow of details in the past few days about additions to the 7 Series model range for 2010. Of course, those press releases come out of Munich and often don't relate to the North American market. So here are a few updates that are specific to the 20107 Series as it relates to us.

xDrive Will be available as an option on 750i and 750 Li models. No pricing has been announced, but we expect the upgrade to be similar to the option on the 5 Series.

Diesel Power We reported that the new uprated 300-horsepower 3.0-liter twin-turbo diesel would emerge as the 735i, but it turns out that 3.0 liters + 2 turbos + extra power = a 740i. Sadly, we don't expect that model to arrive Stateside, at least not as a 2010 model. BMW, along with fellow Germans Audi, VW and Mercedes, is still reprogramming American minds regarding diesel engines. They'll have to sell quite a few more X5s and 335d sedans before they can justify a diesel-powered flagship in the US.

V12 Power As we reported previously, the twin-turbo V12-powered 760Li will be available as a 2010 model. Already on sale in other markets in both short- and long-wheelbase version, the US will only get the longer Li version. Output of the all-aluminum 6.0-liter V12 is 544 horsepower and 553 lb-ft.

M Sport What was speculated to be an M7 turned out to be an M Sport version of the 750i. The package includes M steering wheel and aero kit, as well as special 19-inch wheels (or optional 20-inchers), anthracite headliner cloth and shadowline window trim. While no one will yet confirm whether we'll get the M Sport 7 Series, we expect it will be available at least on the 750i as an option package.

7 Series ActiveHybrid Pictures of a 755ih have surfaced in recent days, confirming at least the identity and presumed powerplant for BMW's first Hybrid sedan. Before the 755ih bows, however, BMW will first launch the X6 ActiveHybrid (and your guess at the nomenclature for that vehicle is as good as ours) later this year. The 755ih will arrive some time in the 2010 calendar year, and our guess is early springtime as a late 2010 model addition.

These are not final details, and we expect a few of these questions will be firmed up in the next couple weeks. Pricing for the 2010 7 Series has not yet been announced.