BUYERS of the new BMW 7-series will be offered a comprehensive and lengthy fixed cost service and maintenance package, similar to the one offered by sister brand MINI.

The comprehensive £100 MINI tlc package lasts for five years and covers all scheduled servicing including parts and labour. Jim O'Donnell, BMW GB managing director, said the company was considering similar offerings for all its cars.

The new 7-series maps out BMW's future in other ways too, providing a strong lead to the future design direction of the luxury German marque.

More conventional than initial photographs suggested, and with a tremendous presence from the front, the 7-series nonetheless has an idiosyncratic boot design that divides opinion. It comes to the UK in March with prices likely to be 5% up, and BMW forecasts 1,200 sales next year.