What, if any, manufacturing innovations are involved in production of the new 7 Series?
Perhaps the most innovative manufacturing innovation on the new 7 Series is found with the vehicle’s bonded aluminum roof panel. The placement of an aluminum roof panel on a steel body skeleton is one of the engineering highlights on the new 7’s bodyshell. The aluminum roof panel is bonded with a new-generation adhesive, and features patented shaping to compensate for thermal expansion and contraction. The result of this effort is a weight reduction of 8.4kg (18.5 lbs) for the sunroof version, lower center of gravity, and improved driving dynamics. Using this technique, a roof rack capacity of 100kg (220 lbs) is still possible.
