The latest-generation 7 Series came to be in 2016, just as the nameplate was preparing to celebrate its 40th anniversary. Redesigned from the ground up on the lighter platform, the new 7 Series is far from revolutionary styling-wise, but it boasts more luxury than ever before, as well as numerous technology firsts for the brand. Lighter, quicker, more fuel efficient, and more autonomous than ever, the new 7 Series is definitely a turning point for the nameplate. Come 2017, and BMW is celebrating four decades of the 7 Series with the limited-edition 40 Jahre.

German for "40 years," the Edition 40 Jahre was conceived as a tribute to 7 Series' rich history. Recognized as a symbol of luxury, driving pleasure, and innovations, the 7 Series is one of the company's most mature products, and its 40-year-long history speaks for itself. The anniversary model is more than just a 7 Series with a special badge. The sedan also comes with exclusive exterior and interior design features, as well as the possibility to have the car tailored to individual customer specification at the BMW Dingolfing plant. Find out more about that below.

Continue reading to learn more about the BMW 7 Series Edition 40 Jahre.

What makes the BMW 7 Series Edition 40 Jahre special

The 40 Jahre isn't the kind of car that wants to stand out, but take a closer look and you'll notice quite a few special features. For starters, it uses the M Aerodynamics package, which gives the exterior a sportier look. BMW also added its high-gloss Shadow Line package, which actually harkens back to the original 7 Series, and a set of 20-inch, Individual light-alloy wheels in a V-spoke design.

The bundle also adds two colors from the Individual palette. First up is Frozen Silver Metallic, which has a "silk-matt sheen" and seems to borrow hues from the environment. For instance, the presentation photos show an example that takes some of the greenish blue color of background. I'm not a fan of silver finishes, but this one is truly expressive. The second option is Petrol Mica Metallic. Although dark, it features a discreet shade of blue that sometimes can get dark metallic green accents in certain lighting conditions. Definitely unique and suitable for a limited-edition model.

The package is rounded off by an exclusive signet at the bottom of the B-pillars. The same signet can be seen on the side sills upon opening the doors.

Speaking of that, the interior received its fair share of exclusive updates. Almost the entire cabin is wrapped in leather with fine Merino grain. The upholstery can be had in either Smoke White and Cohiba or Smoke White and Black. Cohiba is actually a dark shade of brown that seems to work well with natural wood trim. The wood itself is high-grade, straight-grained eucalyptus in Smoke Brown with a high-gloss finish or the not-so-fancy yet still stylish piano black lacquer.

The contrasting upholstery trim is completed by hand-woven piping in Smoke white and matching Individual Alcantara roof liner. A "40 Jahre" signet can be seen on the passenger-side dashboard, while the seat headrests sport an identical, embossed logo.

The package is rounded off by two Smoke White comfort cushions from BMW Individual, which, like the headrests, also bear the edition signet, as well as floor mats in Smoke White with either black or Cohiba edge binding.

Of course, all these features are extras to the already well-equipped BMW 7 Series, which comes with a panoramic roof, iDrive 5.0 infotainment, Touch Command Tablet, and a Bowers & Wilkins Diamond surround sound system with 1,400 watts and 16 speakers.

BMW says that the Edition 40 Jahre is available with all 7 Series engines, meaning that the range begins with the twin-turbo, 2.0-liter four-cylinder rated at 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Next up is the twin-turbo, 3.0-liter inline-six that's good for 320 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque, while the twin-turbo, 4.0-liter V-8 comes with 445 and 480 pound-feet of twist on tap.

The Edition 40 Jahre is also available for the 740e hybrid trim. Pairing a 2.0-liter four-pot and electric power, this version cranks out 322 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. In Europe, fans of diesel drivetrain get to pick between three flavors of the brand's turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six. There's a base model with 261 horsepower and 457 pound-feet, a middle-level version with 315 horses and 502 pound-feet, and the bonkers quad-turbo version rated at 394 horsepower and 561 pound-feet.

Finally, there's the twin-turbo, 6.6-liter V-12 that injects an amazing 600 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of twist in the M760i xDrive model. Four-wheel-drive is available with all variants of the 7 Series.

BMW had nothing to say about pricing, but did say that the Edition 40 Jahre will be limited to only 200 units. As a result, expect these models to feature a significant premium over the standard sedan. I expect the 40 Jahre package to add some $10,000 to the usual sticker. In the U.S., this means that the 740i 40 Jahre could cost around $94,000, while the M760i xDrive could fetch in excess of $166,000.

References

Read our full review on the 2017 BMW 7 Series.