BMW 7 Series review, first drive

For its seventh generation, BMW seems to have ripped the 7 Series playbook apart and tossed it in fire to completely reinvent its flagship sedan. And just as well, considering despite BMW’s best efforts, the 7 Series was unable to match its compatriot Mercedes-Benz S-Class’ success globally. The outcome is a radical departure from its predecessors across the board, a sedan that has been at the receiving end of unending criticism for its styling ever since its debut.

And it’s not hard to see why it has so strongly divided opinions. The new 7 grabs plenty of eyeballs on the road, but it isn’t exactly easy on the eyes. Styling preferences are always quite subjective, and BMW’s shock-and-awe approach for the exterior has not gone down too well with most. For us, this Rolls-Royce-esque profile does help the new 7 Series stand out and attract attention like no other in its segment and, in some sense, that’s a big win, considering plenty of buyers for cars like these will appreciate all the attention this car gets.

Also, the controversial exterior has driven plenty of conversation on the internet, positive and negative, but that has only helped it reach more screens, and, as they say, all publicity is good publicity. Darker shades like this Tanzanite Blue shade pictured here agree more with the 7’s controversial styling than lighter tones for sure. The M Sport package is standard and restricts the usage of chrome to the grille and rear bumper, at least in the case of the car sent to us for review, and only one 20-inch option for the alloys is what BMW offers for the 740i. Also part of the standard package is the lit-up kidney grille or ‘Iconic Glow’ function and LED DRLs with Swarovski crystals.

Once you step inside, all the misgivings of the exterior start fading into irrelevance. The cabin combines contemporary luxury with just the right helping of ostentatious. The leather-draped cabin and wood finish trims blend beautifully with crystal glass elements including the iDrive dial, gear selector, seat adjustment controls and, most notably, the crystalline glass light bar that runs the width of the dashboard onto the doors.

It incorporates stunning lighting effects, making