Competing against green cars for awards is getting difficult. Just ask any conventionally powered vehicle that lost out to the BMW i8 or i3 over the past year. It takes an exceptional car to have a chance against alternative-energy vehicles, but the new BMW 7 Series is just that—an exceptional car that has been selected as one of three finalists for AutoBlog’s 2016 Technology of the Year award. By the way, this award was won last year by—you guessed it—the BMW i8.
BMW’s luxury flagship is up against the formidable Tesla Model S all-electric vehicle that is a pretty nice sedan and the league leader in electric range. The other finalist is Chevrolet’s Volt plug-in hybrid.
Luxury aside, AutoBlog’s award is for the technology of the year, and the new 7 is chock full of technology. Gesture control allows front-seat occupants to command certain aspects of the infotainment and telephone systems with the wave of a hand or point of a finger. The iDrive system is now fully mature and easy to control, the key fob has a touchscreen, and phones may be charged in the car wirelessly.
Moving into the rear seat, passengers can employ a seven-inch Touch Command tablet to control comfort, lighting, and infotainment. WiFi is available of course, the panaoramic Sky Lounge roof can simulate starry nights, and ten-inch screens are mounted in the front seatbacks.
Technology in the new 7 goes clear to the bone as the Carbon Core body structure strengthens the car and reduces weight by almost 200 pounds from the previous version.
Advanced four-wheel steering and a new aerodynamics package help the handling, while the twin-turbo V8 provides 445 horsepower. The gasoline engine means that the new 7 Series may not be quite as green as the Tesla or Volt, but wait a few months and that will change. The 7 Series plug-in hybrid that we have seen for months in camouflaged spy photos will be announced.
The recipient of AutoBlog’s 2016 Technology of the Year award will be the 7 Series, the Tesla, or the Volt, and we will find out which one on January 12, 2016, when the winner is announced at the North American International Auto Show. Yes, we’re rooting for the 7.—Scott Blazey
[Photos courtesy of BMW AG, Tesla, and Chevrolet.]
