BMW 7 Series: AEI's Best Engineered Vehicle for 2002

With help from its suppliers, BMW has produced a vehicle that blazes the engineering trail with innovations that will influence passenger vehicles for years to come.

The new BMW 7 Series was selected by the readers and editors of AEI as Best Engineered Vehicle for 2002 because it points the way for not only luxury/performance sedans but also other vehicle segments. Company product developers integrated many new technologies into the fourth-generation BMW flagship in an effort to set new standards in performance and efficiency, as well as luxury, design, and safety. <italic>BMW's Valvetronic system varies intake-valve lift continuously from 0.3 to 9.7 mm (0.01 to 0.38 in), eliminating the engine throttle for reduced engine-pumping losses and increased efficiency particularly during low-load operation.</italic>

Engineering advances include a powertrain featuring a revolutionary throttleless family of engines (January 2002 AEI) and the world's first six-speed automatic transmission (excluding CVTs). Other engineering firsts for the car include: