Ten Things You Should Know About The 2016 BMW 7 Series

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3. Weight Reduction

BMW has put in the effort to lighten the weight of the new 7 Series without compromising the vehicle’s structural integrity. Some of the plastic parts are a lightweight carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic, made here in the states and then shipped to Germany for final assembly. The parts made of the reinforced plastic include roof cross-members, reinforcement tubes that run the length of the roof rails, and the parcel shelf. The body itself is roughly 90 pounds lighter than previous models, and should weigh around 285 pounds less than the current model with all parts installed. The braking system will use aluminium hats on the steel brake discs, four piston calipers, and smaller wheel hubs and suspension knuckles. This reduces unsprung weight by 15% over the outgoing car.