|  |  | | Modified where necessary: chassis, suspension, and body
The BMW Hydrogen 7 comes as standard on 8J x 18 light-alloy wheels and is available as an option with 19-inch light-alloy wheels including a BMW Mobility Set.
All 18-inch tires, whether summer or winter, are run-flat tires enabeling the driver to continue operating the car even under complete loss of tire pressure, until reaching the nearest repair shop without any hassle.
Another feature is that a new generation of the TPC Tire Pressure Control system permanently monitors the car's wheels. Integrated in the valves of all four wheels, the TPC sensors register even minor deviations from the ideal tire pressure, thus recognising the risk of a flat in good time even with only a gradual loss of pressure.
Accommodation of additional components in the rear end of the car called for re-alignment of the suspension and damping systems in the BMW Hydrogen 7. So despite the higher load on the rear axle, both driving stability and motoring comfort remain at an optimum standard. And yet a further feature is BMW's electronic AdaptiveDrive anti-roll stability system with continuously adjustable dampers featured as standard in the BMW Hydrogen 7 and specially tailored to the car.
The bodyshell of the BMW Hydrogen 7 has been modified exactly where required in order to set off the increase in weight resulting from this new drive technology and at the same time fulfil all demands in terms of passive safety. Use of carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFP), for example, ensures an even higher level of crash strength and safety with only a minimum increase in weight.
Focusing especially on BMW Hydrogen 7, BMW's engineers have furthermore developed an innovative combined CFP/steel body structure, with the side frames right and left being reinforced all round by CFP in order to give the body shell additional strength and stiffness.
One of the car's most eye-catching features is the engine compartment lid characterized in its contours by a distinctive powerdome. This change in design is indeed essential due to the greater height of the engine compared with a conventional twelve-cylinder - and at the same time it is a clear indication of the unique power unit beneath the engine lid.
Luxury class comfort for four
Given the position of the hydrogen tank beneath the parcel shelf and behind the rear seats, BMW Hydrogen 7 is modified at the rear, with luggage compartment capacity being reduced in the process to 225 litres or 7.9 cubic feet. And on account of the car's overall package, the centre armrest is fitted firmly at the rear.
Hence, the BMW Hydrogen 7 is conceived as a four-seater, the two passengers at the rear enjoying the same high standard of grand touring comfort as in one of BMW's "regular" luxury performance sedans.
The rear seat bench, for example, is positioned approximately 115 millimetres or 4.5´´ further to the front than in the long-wheelbase version of the BMW 7 Series running exclusively on gasoline, but is still about 25 millimetres or almost 1.0´´ further to the rear than in the standard-wheelbase saloon.
As a result, legroom is as generous as one would expect in a car of this class also in the BMW Hydrogen 7.
This particular touch of comfort, class and style is also underscored by the car's unusually wide range of standard features (ECE version): Over and above the high level of equipment featured from the start in the BMW 760i, BMW Hydrogen 7 comes inter alia with climate comfort composite glazing, BMW's high-end automatic air conditioning, auxiliary heating, electric seat heating for the driver, front passenger and rear seats, lumbar supports, electric seat adjustment with memory function on the front seats, ISOFIX child seat fastenings, Park Distance Control, a rain sensor, exterior and interior mirrors with automatic anti-dazzle, Soft Close Automatic for the doors, and a headlight assistant.
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