'09 BMW 7-Series receives official unveiling in Moscow (RU)

The all-new BMW 7 Series has received an official presentation on the Red Square of Moscow, Russia.

400 international guests were invited to the event, the 7-Series was housed inside a huge hourglass hidden by more than 180,000 shiny balls which gradually fell revealing the all-new model in its full glory.

Press Release:

The launch of the fifth generation of the BMW 7 Series sets a new benchmark in automotive luxury, technical innovation and class-leading driving dynamics, combined with emissions reducing and fuel saving technology.

The flagship of the BMW model range debuts in November with a host of world firsts and will initially be offered with a choice of three powerplants, one diesel and two petrol engines. The two petrol-powered cars will be offered with a long-wheelbase body too. All three engines produce more power yet use less fuel and produce less emissions than the models they replace.

Model: 730d, 740i, 740Li, 750i, 750Li

Power hp: 245, 326, 326, 407, 407

Torque Nm: 540, 450, 450, 600, 600

0 – 62mph (seconds): 7.2, 5.9, 6.0, 5.2, 5.2

Top Speed (mph): 153, 155*, 155*, 155*, 155*

Combined Mpg: 39.2, 28.5, 28.2, 24.8, 24.8

CO2 Emissions g/km: 192, 232, 235, 266, 266

* Electronically-limited.

The BMW 730d sets a new benchmark in terms of drivetrain performance. The new all-aluminium 3.0-litre straight-six cylinder diesel engine produces 245hp at 4,000rpm. Its effortless real world driving smoothness comes courtesy of a peak torque figure of 540Nm attained from 1,750rpm through to 3,000rpm. The 2,993cc powerplant posts the lowest ever CO2 figure of any previous BMW 7 Series and it is also the most economical 7 Series ever. Its 192g/km emission figure is class-leading for conventionally powered luxury cars, while no other competitor comes close to its 39.2mpg combined consumption figure. It can accelerate from zero to 62mph in 7.2 seconds and has a 153mph top speed. To put the BMW 730d’s competitive advantage in context this luxurious vehicle records near identical fuel consumption and CO2 emissions to the Mercedes C320CDi – a car that is two market segments below the 7 Series and is smaller and lighter than the BMW. The impressive performance of the 730d is, in part, possible due to third-generation common-rail direct injection technology, incorporating piezo injectors, that operates at a peak pressure of 1,800 bar. This system ensures a near perfect combustion process. Weighing 185kgs the new six-cylinder diesel engine is also 5kgs lighter than its predecessor. The BMW 730d is set to be the biggest seller in the UK, accounting for approximately 85 per cent of sales.

The BMW 750i and 750Li are the range flagships. The new 4,395cc V8 engine from the recently launched X6, featuring twin-turbochargers and high-precision direct injection technology, produces 407hp from 5,500rpm to 6,400rpm; impressive figures that are backed up by an equally stunning 600Nm of torque from 1,750rpm to 4,500rpm. Such breathtaking performance sees the BMW 750i accelerate from zero to 62mph in 5.2 seconds (5.3 seconds for the 750Li) before going on to an electronically-limited top speed of 155mph. Consumption on the combined cycle is 24.8mpg, while CO2 emissions equate to 266g/km.

The all-aluminium V8 engine powering the 750i and 750Li also features its own world first - twin-turbochargers and catalysts that are placed within the V-space of the engine block. This not only optimises packaging but the reduction in manifold length and larger cross sections mean the engine breathes better for enhanced performance. Double-VANOS variable valve technology and high-precision direct injection technology further aid engine performance to the degree that all the innovations combine to offer a V8 engine that has an equivalent output of a traditional 12-cylinder unit. Aimed at customers who prefer the characteristics of a petrol-powered BMW six-cylinder engine, the BMW 740i and 740Li are also offered. Using an internationally-acclaimed 2,979cc powerplant, the BMW 740i musters 326hp and 450Nm of torque for rapid yet serene performance. The twin-turbocharged engine features high-precision direct injection and Double-VANOS variable valve technology to achieve optimum performance. The car accelerates from zero to 62mph in 5.9 seconds (6.0 seconds for the 740Li) before going on to an electronically-limited top speed of 155mph. The 3.0-litre BMW 740i and 740Li post combined fuel consumption figures of 28.5mpg and 28.2mpg respectively, while returning emissions figures of 232g/km and 235g/km. All BMW 7 Series models come with a six-speed automatic gearbox as standard.

Kia reduces emissions on Picanto, Rio and Cee'd (UK)

Kia’s engineers have been fiddling around with the Picanto, Rio, Cee'd and Pro_Cee'd in an attempt to reduce emissions and lower CO2 taxes. The models are now in VED Band B and pollute under 120g/km, meaning a saving of up to £85 a year on tax.

In the Picanto this was achieved by deleting the 5-seat option as all models are now 4-seat versions, reducing the overall weight of the car and in turn reducing CO2 emissions to as low as 117g/km.

The Rio supermini has also had some attention, reducing emissions on the 1.5-litre CRDi diesel engine to 119g/km.

Finally, Kia’s engineers adjusted the standard output of the 1.6-litre CRDi diesel engine available in the new Cee’d and Pro_Cee’d models that now emits 119g/km, thus taking it into Band B meaning drivers will pay just £35 VED, a tax saving of £85 from the previous £120 a year.

Car sales fall again (UK)

Car sales have fell again in the UK. Latest figures from SMMT showed an 11.9% fall in private sales in June 2008 to 83,425 cars. That’s the biggest month-on-month drop since February 2006.

Even for fleet buyers, the June 2008 figures look bad. Demand was down by 6.1%, the steepest drop so far in 2008. Total new car registrations in quarter two were down 2.5%, compared to a 0.7% fall in quarter one.

Yet for months, new car sales seemed to be defying the gloom. The huge March 2008 market, which takes around 17% of total sales in a year, held up well. Sales to private buyers fell 1.4% compared to the previous year, but that still meant 222,788 new cars left showrooms. Industry experts had forecasted far worse, and despite the suggestion that pre-registrations were propping up a faltering market, it is clear that things have got a lot worse. In quarter two, private demand fell 7.9%, on the back of a more modest 2.4% fall in quarter one.

China also saw slow car sales. Car sales in China rose 14.2% in the first half, lower than an earlier expectation of 20%, as more stringent macroeconomic control policies and record high oil prices curbed purchases. Domestic carmakers sold a combined 3.3 million passenger vehicles, including sedans, MPV's, SUV's and minibuses, from January through June. Production rose 16.9% to 3.6 million vehicles during the same period. Though sales in June grew 13% to 517,469 units, it was the third consecutive month that sales growth has begun to flatten out, triggering concerns about a slowdown in the overall market for this year.

Industry officials blamed the reversal on floods in south China, which meant some carmakers stopped production and suspended vehicle shipments. Half-year sales of sedans rose 13% to 2.39 million units while SUVs, including crossovers, posted a 41.7% sales jump to 211,885 units. Sales of MPVs climbed 2.4% to 106,297 units. Shanghai VW was first among China's top-selling car manufactures in June, with retail sales of 40,124 units. Next came FAW-VW and Shanghai GM, which sold 38,908 and 35,189 vehicles, respectively. Like a number of its competitors, General Motors posted slower sales growth in China for the first half of this year, a victim of weaker market demand and keen competition.

While the total industry rose more than 14% in the first six months, GM boosted its half-year sales in China by 12.7% to a record 590,126 vehicles. That compares with a growth rate of 19% last year. GM cited the strength of its Chevrolet brand in China. Sales of Chevrolet vehicles, including the popular Lova small sedan and the new Epica mid-sized sedan, jumped 34.6% in the first half to 109,131 units. Both models are made by Shanghai GM, a joint venture with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation. Shanghai GM's flagship Buick brand said its first-half sales reached 146,321 units, including 90,604 Buick Excelles; GM launched a revamped version earlier this year. Sales of the Cadillac luxury brand hit 3,285 units in the first half of the year.

In Australia, it seems that the credit crunch is yet to affect buyers since the sales of SUV's and mid-sized sedans were booming. Toyota enjoyed selling over 25,500 units with the Corolla hatcback taking most of the sales.

In Brazil, Korean car firm, SsangYong saw sales rise by 1,873% jump in sales for June 2008, compared to June of 2007. The brand sold 750 units from January to June 2008, while it sold only 38 units in the same period last year. In June only, Ssangyong sold 182 units of its sport-utility vehicles. It sold 11 units in the same month last year.

Related link:

Car sales plummet in the UK