By Samuel Ee

FOR the first time, a brand new model arrived in Singapore even before its world premiere.

The new BMW 7 Series debuted on the world stage last Thursday at the biennial Paris Motor Show. But even before that on Sunday - the same day as the Singapore Grand Prix - the covers were taken off the new car here for a privileged few.

These VVIPs were introduced to BMW's flagship limousine at a private preview at the new Performance Centre, the showroom which authorised BMW distributor Performance Motors Ltd has built on Alexandra Road for more than $60 million.

Since then, the cashmere silver 750Li on the top floor of the seven-storey building has been available for viewing strictly by appointment only. According to a BMW Asia spokesman, the car will leave for Brunei before the end of this month.

With the local launch of the new 7 Series due in January 2009, the move to bring in a pre-production, right-hand-drive unit so early is unusual. But then, this is because "it is a highly anticipated model", says the spokesman.

The 7 Series has been locked in a battle of the large luxury limousine with its traditional rival, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The big Beemer, which was launched here in early 2002, became the top-selling model in its class in 2005. That year, it beat the Mercedes-Benz S-Class for the first time by 602 to 403 units.

But the S-Class has since regained the lead after a new model was launched here in early 2006. The arrival next year of the new 7 will reignite the race to be No 1. And unlike the current 7 Series, its replacement will not spark a styling controversy.

Gone is the capped-on bootlid. The new design language is sportier, with more chiselled flanks and a well-proportioned nose that blends a massive double kidney grille in very well.

BMW design director Adrian van Hooydonk is quoted as saying that the intention was to ensure "a perfect balance of elegance, presence and sportiness all in one".

The new car is larger and sits on a new platform with a longer wheelbase. But the new car is slightly lighter than its predecessor and the revised front suspension now has double wishbones.

Inside, there are more surprises. The gear shift buttons on the steering wheel have disappeared. So has the column-mounted gear stick. It has returned to the lower centre console as an electronic gear selector and now sits beside the iDrive controller, which BMW pioneered.

The 7's new iDrive computer system is the most user-friendly version to date. For example, the previous compass-like start screen has made way for a detailed list of functions.

BMW Asia says a fully disguised version was brought here in August for testing. Accompanied by two engineers from BMW's headquarters in Munich, Germany, the car's navigation feature and other electronics were tested on Singapore roads.

When it is launched in three months' time, there will be two versions - the 740i and the 750i.

The former uses the brilliant twin-turbocharged three-litre inline six-cylinder engine found in the 335i but with 20 more hp at 326 hp. The 750i has the same twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 as the X6 xDrive50i but churning out 407 hp.

A normally aspirated 730i is also in the works but there is no news on when that will come.

There is also no word on the sticker prices but they will be higher.

Performance Motors, BMW agent in S'pore reports that 40 customers have already placed deposits for the new 7-series, despite the looming economic slowdown.

This article was first published in The Business Times on Oct 8. 2008.