2012 BMW 7 Series

Offerings for the 2012 7 Series include the 740, 750 and 760 trims. The 740 and 750 trims come in both short and long-wheelbase variants. The 760 trim comes only as a long-wheelbase model and the 750i can be configured with either a rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive or ActiveHybrid drivetrain.

The 740i trims come with a 3.0L TwinPower turbo-charged 6-cylinder engine, rated at 315 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque. The 750i trims come with a 4.4L twin-turbo V8 engine rated at 400 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. The 760, only available in long-wheelbase form, comes with a big 6.0L V12 engine capable of 535 horsepower and 550 lb-feet of torque. Most trims are available with a brand-new 8-speed automatic transmission.

The 2012 ActiveHybrid 7 comes only on the 750i, and pairs the 4.4L V8 engine with an electric motor system and a 120-volt lithium-ion battery system to produce a total of 455 horsepower. Power is delivered through an 8-speed automatic transmission and a lithium-ion battery mounted under the trunk floor. BMW anticipates it will deliver a 15-percent improvement in fuel economy versus the conventional 750i.

BMW's xDrive, an all wheel drive system available on the 750, uses an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch to adjust torque toward the wheels with the best traction while interfacing with the car's steering and stability control. During normal driving, 60 percent of engine power is sent to the rear wheels. The 7-Series also utilizes a system called Driving Dynamics Control, which interfaces with the air suspension and helps to find the best compromise at any moment between suspension firmness and ride comfort. The system takes into consideration steering response, transmission shifts and engine power.

Standard equipment on the base 740 trims include four-zone climate control, navigation, a 10-speaker premium sound system, rain sensing wipers, HID headlamps, fog lamps, Dakota leather upholstery and steering wheel, power folding mirrors and 18-inch aluminum wheels

All 7-series also are equipped with Brake Energy Regeneration, which attempts to recapture some of energy lost during braking and convert it to usable electrical power. It does so by activating the alternator only when coasting or braking. BMW claims this will help achieve an efficiency improvement of 3 percent.

The 750 trims adds heated 16-way multi-contour seats, illuminated door handles, Soft-Close doors and trunk, and Comfort Access keyless entry system, which responds to the proximity of your car's key fob and automatically unlocks the door and allows the driver to start the engine without ever inserting a key into a lock.

The luxury-oriented 760, available only as an extended-wheelbase model, adds self-leveling suspension, speed-sensitive steering, ventilated rear seats, a heads-up display and power sunshades.

Safety features across the 7-Series range include 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, front side airbags, rear head-protecting side bags, side-curtain bags, knee bags, active head restraints, traction control with rollover sensors, front and rear parking sensors, tire pressure monitoring, auto-on headlamps, adaptive tail lamps and crash-activated headrests. BMW Assist emergency telematics are also standard.

The 740 and 750 both offer as options, a rear-view camera, automatic headlamps, a lane-departure warning system, 20-inch wheels, a premium sound system and a rear-entertainment system. Options on the 760 include massaging rear seats and an M Sport package that adds 20-inch wheels performance tires various body trim and an Alcantara headliner.

The high-performance 7-Series Alpina model is slated to return late in the 2012 model year. The Alpina B7 gets a 500-horsepower twin-turbo version of the 750i's 4.4L V8, an Alpina-designed 6-speed automatic transmission and Alpina-specific 21-inch wheels.