2006 BMW 7 Series Preview

In the land of luxury, prestige is as important as bread and butter. And few badges inspire envy like a blue and white propeller stamped into the hood of a high-buck German sedan.

The 2006 model year marks the release of two updated models for BMW. The best selling Bimmer, the 3 Series, will now be offered to consumers with more powerful engines and updated styling – which, thankfully, lacks the much-maligned shapes of recent BMW products. That takes care of the bread and butter.

Addressing prestige is the job of the 2006 BMW 7 Series, the brand’s flagship that is now characterized by smoother and more attractive body lines, a simplified iDrive system (can you hear the wealthy masses rejoicing?), and a more powerful standard V8 engine.

Whereas ads for the 2006 3 Series can be seen on nearly every channel and billboard, BMW has spent relatively little time touting the new 7 Series. One may interpret this as BMW's way of saying "Fine. You were right. The last 7 Series could have been better." A whispered admission of poor styling decisions, if you will. With the 2006 7 Series it appears that BMW is offering an olive branch of sorts – the convoluted design stays, but in a concession to consumers and complainers it now more closely resembles the more traditional, conservative 7 Series of the past.

Prices of the BMW 7 Series have modestly increased over 2005. The 2006 BMW 7 Series 750i lists for $71,195. The 750Li goes for $71,195. For $110,695, drivers can get into a 760i. And for $118,095, BMW aficionados can drive a 2006 7 Series 760Li. All prices include a $695 destination charge.