Four-cylinder BMW 7 Series coming

Porsche’s Boxster isn’t the only premium machine switching to four-cylinder power. BMW’s flagship limousine is going that way, too.

The 7 Series has only been on sale a matter of minutes and BMW has confirmed it will swing four-cylinder turbocharged power into the plush machine for China and Turkey.

While it has other markets in mind for the new 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol variant, they will likely be those taxed on either capacity or output, like the UK, Italy, Singapore and Malaysia.

It is expected to have an untroubled run into market in many Asian countries, though BMW insiders admit they are still weighing up potential European volumes against potential brand damage.

The 7 Series is already confirmed with inline six, V8 and V12 forms, with the capacity ranging up to six litres, along with 3.0-litre inline turbo-diesel power.

It will be the first time in BMW’s history (just weeks shy of 100 years) that its 7 Series flagship has been offered with a four-cylinder engine.

Reports out of China insist the 730i (as it will be known there) will use the MINI Cooper S’s TwinPower engine to deliver 400Nm of torque and 190kW of power.

Even though it has a lighter engine, the 730i will still weigh more than 1800kg, yet BMW sources say it will reach 100km/h in 6.3 seconds and will still need to be limited to 250km/h.

Besides taxation issues, fuel consumption is another bonus, with the 730i pulling down the 7 Series average figure by delivering a CO2 emissions figure of 134g/km, or just 10 grams more than the diesel version of the 730.