The year 2001 was a turning point for BMW in the new millennium when it saw the release of its both smallest and largest production cars: the new MINI and the next generation 7 Series. The first one was phenomenally successful, breaking BMW’s estimated production plan in just six month, but the second one raised many eyebrows and had polarized the opinions of public like no other car before.
BMW has always used 7 Series as a showcase for its newest technologies and at the time they are presented to the world, new generation 7 Series are always one of the most technologically advanced cars in the world. The 2001 E65 7 Series was the first car in the world to have a 6-speed automatic gearbox and adaptive dampers, changing the car behavior according to road conditions and driving style.
BMW also premiered iDrive, a ground braking control interface which replaces almost all controls and buttons on the cockpit with a single joystick and a LCD screen. While the iDrive was far from perfect (some journalists complained that it was too distracting to use while driving) Mercedes-Benz and Audi systems were heavily based on it when they emerged several years later.
But the most striking feature of the new car was its controversial design, credit of BMW’s former design chief Chris Bangle. He tried to revolutionize the classic BMW features, therefore introduced a new headlamp shape whose upper edge incorporated indicator lamps. More controversial is the high boot lid which looks like sitting on the rear end rather than embedded into it (later found on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class). Despite extremely negative fan reactions, E65 7 Series remains the best selling generation ever, specially after its 2006 facelift (which toned down Bangle’s radical original styling) and has set a new standard in handling and performance for luxury sedans.
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