2002 BMW 745i

In the world of high-end luxury sedans, one-upmanship has become a way of life. With its all-new 7 Series, BMW has taken the boldest step yet into that heady realm. Whether you're talking styling, technology, or dynamic character, its latest flagship sails into uncharted territory relative to the car it replaces-and to its premium-grade competition from Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and Lexus. We recently sampled the new 7 Series at its world launch in Italy. Although our time was spent in 745i Euro-spec preproduction units, they differed little from what we'll see here when the car-and its stretch-wheelbase 745Li stablemate-hits U.S. showrooms in early 2002.

With respect to sheer visual impact, the new 7 Series represents an unprecedented expansion of the envelope. Current owners called for a bolder, stronger look, and BMW design chief Chris Bangle was charged with imparting this new sense of "presence," while still maintaining the primary cues that have long been associated with the marque. Meeting that goal sparked a measure of controversy. Bangle, who contends that "a leader is someone who takes you where you don't want to go," stands firmly behind his styling solutions. Whether prospective owners will fully concur remains to be seen.

This far-reaching 7 Series makeover began with a major recasting of its basic proportions. Although the signature "reverse-kink" C-pillar still anchors its profile, the greenhouse has been shifted rearward and the front/rear overhangs shortened. To accentuate those changes, the roofline was raised, width broadened, wheelbase extended, and front/rear tracks opened up. Larger wheels and tires were also part of the design brief; standard kit includes V-rated 245/50 rubber on 18-in. alloy wheels, but our cars carried the optional 245/45 (front) and 275/40 (rear) Z-rated tires on 19-in. rims.

Up front, new bi-Xenon quad headlamps now sit lower in the front fascia and are topped by strip-style "eyebrow" directionals. In subtle counterpoint, the twin-kidney grille was raised and the lower air intake reshaped to reinforce an aggressor image. However, it's the tail treatment, with the unfamiliar-some might say ungainly-interfacing of lines, angles, contours, and multiple lighting elements, that evokes the most emotionally divergent responses. Aesthetic arguments aside, this new-look bodywork, coupled with a more tidied-up underbody, trims the drag coefficient from 0.31 to 0.29, most respectable for a full-size luxury sedan.

BMW's dare-to-be-different philosophy also extends to the interior. Beyond the requisite fundamentals-a "drivercentric" overall design, generous room for five adults, and mass quantities of supple perforated leather and real wood (matte-finish Black Cherry or optional high-gloss Ash)-the already comprehensive roster of 7 Series standards has been meaningfully expanded. It now includes new comfort and convenience touches like automatic head-restraint height adjusters for the 14-way power driver/12-way power passenger seats, multi-preset programmable/adaptive cruise control, and an improved sound system that adds an in-dash CD player and dual subwoofers.

The same holds true on the options front, where '02 brings things like soft-close doors, power up/down decklid, 20-way power front comfort buckets with Active Ventilation, 14-way power rear comfort seats, and Active Head Restraints. In addition to a full complement of standard front/side/head airbags, owners can now spec BMW's critically acclaimed Advanced Head Protection System to also cover rear-seat passengers. For audiophiles, the 7 Series introduces the Logic 7 premium sound system. It bumps output from a mere 240 to 420 watts, speaker count from 10 to 13, and CD slotting from single to six. Using proprietary technologies to synthesize seven channels of sound from a two-channel source, it also does a spectacular job of imparting an as-recorded ambiance to all types of program material, regardless of vehicle speed or road conditions.