2001 BMW 7 Series (E65/E66) 730i 6AT RWD (231 HP)

Vehicle Overview

The fourth generation of the BMW 7-Series was one of the most hated and loved 7-series from all times. It was hated for its look, but it was the car that was outsold its predecessors.

With the E65 BMW 7-Series, the design-guru from the German car-makers, Chris Bangle, launched a new design style in the company. It was named “flame-surfacing” and, in theory, made the car look different depending on the angle it was seen. On the other hand, it was the most advanced technological car on the road and it received a prize for that in Japan.

When compared to its sleek predecessor, the E65/E66 7-Series was bulky and big and with a huge grille in the front. It wasn’t sleek anymore and it wants to get attention on the road. The front bumper had to be sculptured to completely reveal the headlights while the rear end featured an arched quarter-panel which was not followed by the trunk lid’s shape.

Inside, the technology involved was overwhelming for those times. It was the first time when an infotainment system was controlled via a rotary knob that did all the commands. The system was developed in partnership with the Nokia phone manufacturer. The double-bulged dashboard, one for the instrument cluster and one for the infotainment screen, was another design issue found by the BMW fans.

In the back, it offered good legroom and plenty of it if the long-wheelbase (E66) version was chosen. The BMW 7-Series was available with a choice of gasoline and diesel engines from inline-six up to V12 units. It was the first BMW available exclusively with an automatic transmission.