Turbo-diesel will be available with the new 7 Series line-up.
Eco-conscious executives can relax.
To keep the accountants happy and eco-warriors in their place, BMW will add a frugal turbo-diesel to its new 7 Series line-up next June.
Announcing prices for its petrol 7 Series models this week, BMW Australia spokesman Toni Andreevski, says the turbo-diesel will have wide appeal with its blend of performance and economy.
The 3.0-litre 730d has a combined fuel economy figure of 7.2 litres/100km yet will hit 100km/h in 7.2 seconds.
It is the first time the company has added a turbo-diesel 7 Series to the lineup.
The same engine will be available in the 330d sedan from mid-2009, but with 20Nm less torque.
In Europe, diesel 7 Series' account for almost 50 per cent of total sales.
Although Andreevski refused to put a figure on local sales numbers, he says the 180kW/540Nm six-cylinder diesel had a sense of "social responsibility" about it.
Apart from the fact that both Audi and Mercedes-Benz have diesels in their big luxury A8 and S-Class sedans, Andreevski says adding a 7 Series diesel to the line-up made sense for the Munich-based carmaker.
"The fuel economy of the 730d is something you'd be happy with in a mid-size car," he says.
This also made it easier for upper-luxury buyers to feel better about their purchase, he says.
"Even luxury buyers are becoming more conscious about fuel consumption," he says.
Andreevski expects the luxury diesel segment to continue to grow.
"It's important to be represented in that segment and show people the type of technology BMW has," he says.
Andreevski says specifications and pricing for the 730d are still to be set but it is expected to be about $200,000.
"It really could be the price leader for the 7 Series," he says.
Prices for petrol lineup are the same as the outgoing model.
Four petrol models will be available from early next year.
The 740i and 740Li will be powered by 240kW/450Nm 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six cylinder engines while the 750i and 750Li gets a new twin-turbo 300kW/600Nm 4.4-litre V8 engine.
The V8 is shared with the new X6 xDrive50i, which has just gone on sale.
BMW says both engines are among the most frugal technologically advanced it has built for its big luxury sedan.
Like other BMW sedans, the 7 Series makes extensive use of lightweight aluminium suspension members front and rear.
External panels like the roof and doors are also aluminium, saving about 30kg over conventional steel panels.
Standard equipment levels are high with swags of leather, brake energy regeneration, four-wheel steering, night vision with integrated human-shape recognition and warning, lane change warning system, lane departure warning, head-up display, runflat tyres, active cruise control and adaptive headlights.
The 7 Series will also get dynamic damper control.
This has a choice of five different damping settings as well as adjusting shift points for the transmission and the level of intervention from the dynamic stability control and traction control systems.
Pricing for the 740i starts at $203,000 while the 750i is $274.000.
Long wheelbase versions add $15,000 and $17,000.
Visually, the car's styling has evolved into a contemporary less-polarising look than the previous model.
