BMW 7-Series gets timely facelift for 2013

The 2013 BMW 7-Series receives some minor improvements inside and few on the outside as part of a mid-life facelift.

On the exterior, the changes are trivial; fewer vertical slats inside the kidney grille and a larger chrome surround, two horizontal chrome accents bars splitting the lower intake, restyled side mirrors with turn-signal indicators, and new shades of red on the taillights.

However on the inside, you get some reshaped front seats, more sound-proofing, new ambient lighting, an upgraded iDrive controller and “floating” screens for the Rear Seat Entertainment package, and a Bang & Olufsen audio system that comes as an option. The visuals on the navigation system has been upgraded as well.

Torque-multiplication duties are handled by an 8-speed automatic transmission, which now comes standard on every model. Flip open the bonnet on the 740i and you can see the 3.0-litre inline 6-cylinder that churns out 315 hp and 448 Nm; claimed to have a 20% improvement in terms of fuel economy over the previous 740i.

The 750i gets the 4.4-litre V8. Power has been upped for a total of 445 hp and 651 Nm. The claimed time for the 0-100 kph run is now a scant 4.7 seconds while fuel economy has jumped 25%, thanks to the new transmission.

The second-gen ActiveHybrid 7 loses some engine displacement, switching from the V8 motor to the 3.0-litre six-cylinder from the 740i. Aiding propulsion will be a 55 hp synchronous motor. Together, you get 349 hp and 498 Nm. Beemer boffins claim 14% improved fuel efficiency.

Both the 740i and 750i come with a new powertrain management system dubbed ECO PRO. It accompanies several other driving enhancements including Dynamic Damper Control, an electronically-controlled damping system. Self-leveling rear suspension is now standard on all models, and now the 740i is offered with optional xDrive all-wheel-drive.

Both the 740i and 750i will arrive in GCC post August 2012. The ActiveHybrid 7 will join the line-up soon after.