This year, German manufacturer BMW will be celebrating its 100th anniversary. To mark out this centenary year, the brand is rolling out a special edition of the 7 Series, named the BMW 7 Series THE NEXT 100 YEARS. And yes, it’s capitalised – to ensure there’s no doubt what event BMW is celebrating.
The special edition 7 Series will be limited to just 100 models, but prospective buyers have a choice of engines depending on which market it’s sold in. The only model currently available is the 750Li, which is powered by a 4.4-litre petrol V8 producing 448bhp. That’s enough power to shoot the 7 Series from 0-62mph in just 4.7 seconds – quite an accomplishment for a car of this size.
Later in the year two other engines will be introduced – the 740Le iPerformance plug-in hybrid if you’re feeling sensible, and for those after more performance (take a deep breath) there’s the BMW Individual M760Li xDrive Model V12 Excellence THE NEXT 100 YEARS. As the lengthy name might suggest, it’s powered by a 6.6-litre V12 engine producing over 600bhp, for a 0-60mph sprint in just 3.7 seconds.
Of course, a luxury limo isn’t all about performance, so BMW hasn’t scrimped on the design. The exclusive ‘Centennial Blue’ metallic paint is paired with forged ‘Individual’ 20-inch lightweight alloy wheels with a bi-colour Silver and Grey design.
Inside, luxury is the order of the day. The interior is trimmed in lashings of white leather with black accents – with the hides specially selected for a soft, fine-grain surface to adorn the seats, door panels, instrument panel, centre console, armrests and door pulls. It’s stitched with a quilted pattern, with contrasting seams, while the carpets, seatbelts and headliner are all trimmed with Alcantara.
Buyers also won’t need to use a humble biro to sign for their new cars, as all THE NEXT 100 YEARS models come with an individually crafted ‘Montblanc for BMW’ fountain pen.
The BMW 7 Series THE NEXT 100 YEARS will be available to buy this year, but no pricing or availability details have been released yet – all we know is that it will be limited to 100 models worldwide.
Is this a worthy way to celebrate BMW's centenary year? Let us know what you think in the comments below...