(Mon 07 Jul 08)

The fifth-generation BMW 7-Series will go on sale on November 15 with an impressive array of world firsts on the options list.

Among these is the front side view camera system which lets the driver see what's coming when the car is going through a narrow gate, or leaving a partially-obscured junction, or involved in some other activity of that sort. The Night Vision system has been upgraded and can now alert the driver to the presence of a pedestrian moving into the path of the vehicle, while cars fitted with both Lane Departure Warning and the head-up instrument display can read upcoming speed limit signs and remind the driver of them.

Lane Departure Warning is also combined with Lane Change Warning, which scans the rear blind spots of the vehicle up to a distance of 60 metres and sets off a triangular symbol in the door mirror housing is another car is dangerously close.

Finally, there's Integral Active Steering, which is basically a four-wheel steering arrangement in which the rear wheels turn by up to 3 degrees to give better manoeuvrability at low speeds and increased stability when the car is travelling more quickly.

Even without all these extras, the 7-Series is looking pretty impressive. The three engines available from launch all produce more power but use less fuel on the combined cycle and emit lower levels of CO2; in fact the entry-level 245bhp 730d turbo diesel, which is expected to account for 85% of UK sales, has the best economy (39.2mpg) and CO2 (192g/km) figures of any 7-Series ever.

The other models are the 326bhp 740i and the 407bhp 750i, the latter being capable of 0-62mph in 5.2 seconds. Unlike the diesel, these petrol cars are also available in long-wheelbase form, giving extra room for rear passengers.

Six-speed automatic transmission is standard on all versions, and so is the four-way adjustable suspension which can be set to normal, comfort, sport and sport+ modes (throttle response, gearchange speed and steering assistance are also changed as you switch from one mode to another).

Prices, according to BMW, will be announced "in due course".

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