BMW 7-Series imported in India with a 1.99L diesel engine

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BMW India has imported a 7-Series model with a smaller four-cylinder 1995 cc diesel engine. The Zauba import records suggest that the new variant, named 725LD, has been imported from Germany for testing purpose.

This new import points towards BMW India's plans to introduce a small capacity engine in the 7-Series line-up. This step of the automaker is most probably an attempt to bypass the diesel car ban which is currently applicable in Delhi NCR. Under the Supreme Court's ruling, sales of diesel cars having an engine bigger than 2,000 cc have been suspended in the NCR. Being the largest market of luxury cars in the country, BMW India is trying every trick in the book to maintain sales flow from Delhi NCR. Moreover, this diesel ban might extend to more cities as well in the future, as the National Green Tribunal (NGT) is working on a proposal to minimize pollution levels in major cities.

As a result, BMW India has been constantly upgrading its line-up of cars to avoid any potential ban on their sales. Petrol variants of the 3-Series and 5-Series were introduced earlier, while the company has now taken the downsizing way for its flagship 7-Series sedan.

It will be interesting to see whether the small capacity engine would be able to lug around the massive weight of the 7-er.