Here are the latest spy photos of the next generation BMW 7 Series as it performs brake system testing in the south of France. With its debut back in 2001 and mid-cycle facelift in 2005, the new top-of-the-range sedan is expected to be revealed sometime in 2008 as a 2009 model. The new 7-Series is expected to grow in size and become more elegant with less controversial exterior design. Technical highlights include an 8-speed automatic transmission with all-wheel-drive X-Drive system. The transmission’s shift lever moves from the steering column back down to the center console and the car’s central user interface known as iDrive will become more user friendly. Engines will range from the 3.0 liter 272hp straight-6, new S65 414hp V8 first introduced in the E92 M3 and the existing 6.0-liter N73 V12 engine.
Next Gen BMW 7 Series Spy Photos
Copyright by Lehmann Photo-Syndication / Next Gen BMW 7 Series Spy Photos
By Brian Potter
October 30, 2007 3:53 PM
Filed Under: BMW, German, Spy Photos
Comments
asif
October 30, 2007 7:05 PM
looks quite nice actually. prefer it over the s class any day
silversedanman
October 30, 2007 10:59 PM
7 series BMW continues to be the flagship for the worlds largest luxury car maker in the world. Of course ahead of Nipper and American luxury companies
Hiromichi
October 31, 2007 3:09 AM
Are we still in the world of this sort of gas consuming animals? Days of Oil price at $100 per barrel and still soaring will surely do not allow people to go with such monsters. Lexus LS600 may be the solution but even it will be the only temporal one.
puddingpuppet
October 31, 2007 3:15 AM
Do you seriously just rip that from magazines and commercials, silversedanman? Maybe wikipedia?
cato
October 31, 2007 3:24 AM
I don´t like 7 series a all, i ve found it really ugly. I know that is a great car but the design is really strange. I prefer A8 or S series.
silversedanman
October 31, 2007 4:38 AM
hiromichi they make 7 series hydrogen if you want an efficient car. much better for the environment then a little hybrid lexus and no expensive batteries to replace after you have the car for a few years. and of course german quality luxury with the hydrogen engines are better than Japanese LS. The LS hybrid is a polluter when they have to make the batteries with all those chemicals and of course pollutes more then the BMW 7 series hydrogen when driven.
xenomorph
October 31, 2007 8:02 AM
I agree, a hybrid car is not better for the environment, the chemicals that are used to make batteries are very detrimental and often extreamly toxic. Even though a hybrid car will reduce fuel consumption, the price of replacing the battery would probably equate to just constantly using petrol or diesel. I think that the Hydrogen engine is the best for the environment (if thats what you are looking to achieve) because the only emmisions the car creates are water. I'm not sue what fuel consumtion is like on a hydrogen car though, this may be the limiting factor in their design, for now. I think hydrogen is the way to go for future vehicles.
Hiromichi
October 31, 2007 3:57 PM
Life cycle assesment or well-to-wheel point of view, hydrogen power is not the ultimate solution. Because the system needs huge amount of money for infrastracture for filling as well as tanks to carry hydrogen. Also, creating hydrogen requires energy that emit Co2. Current NiH batteries last same as car life and the next generation Li-ion batteries last even longer. So I believe that hydrogen fueled fuel-cell or reciprocated engines are deffinitely not the solutions for clean environment. Plug-in EV is the best performer for the next generation vehicles even as prestigeous cars like 7-series. HCCI or Dieselotto hybrid suggested by Mercedes would be one of the strong candidates for the bridge between internal combustion engines and pure EVs.
skim
October 31, 2007 5:27 PM
I have to disagree, hybrid cars are still overall less damaging to the enviornment than typical cars. Don't forget that we can recycle these batteries. Hydrogen car technology is still far away. Right now they should cost hundreds of thousands of dollars if they are out, which is out of our range. Furthermore don't forget our American troops and hundreds of thousand of Iraqis who passed away for our attempt to get some "oil" for our thirsty American citizens who lust to drive giant gas guzzling SUVs and trucks. Don't forget that we are the biggest oil guzzling country in the world by far.
AZNMAN
November 1, 2007 10:13 PM
silversedanman, you are obviously poorly misinformed about Japanese cars. The LS600 HL would probably slaughter the BMW Hydrogen 7 in reliability first of all. And the Hydrogen 7 is powered by an alternating Internal combustion engine with a Hydrogen Fuel Cell. The LS 600HL is just a battery cell and i would much rather be in one in case of a car accident; the 7 series would blow up if Rear ended. In the LS, what do you have to worry about besides a small battery leakage. And who are you to say that the battery has to be replaced every couple of years. The LS has a V8 engine that's powered by an electric motor. Not to mention BMW's Horrendously cheap and plasticky interior, in comparison to the Ambient luxurious interior of the LS. And by the way, the LS is not 'little'. Watch what you say and get your facts straight idiot.
Rolli
October 31, 2007 1:32 PM
Carbon dioxide is not more powerful than God, and as long as we have good cars, and we drive less japanese, it will again go easy on us.
abu-fahd
October 31, 2007 4:03 PM
First of all , We must agree with MB65 . BMW need more 10 years to match up to S-Class 2007
Abdullah
November 1, 2007 6:15 AM
abu-fahd you're completely wrong about bmw . bmw it's not built yesterday to say that's need more 10 years to match up S-class Brother abu-fahd my name is abdullah if u want to talk to me about bmw please add me (bmw-individual@hotmail.com)
Ferrariguy
October 31, 2007 4:46 PM
Driving less japanese is NEVER going to happen. Good luck in wishing that to happen. They build great cars for the money and have the ultimate marketing approach. Aside from that I would drive japanese over american anyday. That's aside from the Z06. Rolli, seriously, what is wrong with japanese cars? You gotta agree they are built ten times better then american. You sound like those bias douchebags from top gear who love nothing, but british cars. Do you hate, just to hate? I'm curious, and try to give me a good answer instead of the usual. =)
Ferrariguy
October 31, 2007 4:48 PM
BMW does not need ten years to match up with MB. They build different kinds of cars. MB more luxury, and BMW more driver oriented approach. It appeals to different customer basis.
Abdullah
November 2, 2007 1:36 PM
abu-fahd Pre-Safe program it's not difficult, bmw if want to make like this program will make better than MB and please don't jude the new 7 series before product. and now we know that new 7 series have Technical highlights include an 8-speed automatic transmission with all-wheel-drive X-Drive system and more .and i want to tell you when i'm stand up for new 7 series that's not mean that's i hate S-claa or i don't like it but actually love s-class so don't be angry and if you want to know what's the safty cars it's called VOLVO S 80 not bmw or mb if you talk about a part the safty in cars
Ferrariguy
October 31, 2007 4:50 PM
By the way, in america, it's not japanese cars killing us. It's all the gas guzzler american SUV's like stupid escalades, H2's, etc.... If anything japanese cars are VERY efficient hybrid or not. The american car companies are starting to realize this. I'm so glad in ways that Toyota is dominating. In the faces of haters, nothing better then that, hahahahahha!!!!!
Ferrariguy
October 31, 2007 4:57 PM
If anything you do know that the german president is pretty pissed at all the gas guzzlers that german car makers are producing. What we may have in the next few years may very well be the last of the great cars, since CAFE laws have been put out and most manufacturers are going to have to go by this. I am surprised you didn't blame german cars for the gas consumption since MANY of the cars are bought by US customers and not european so all the diesels, hybrids, hydrogen don't mean jack shit in america. Americans are all about image in ways, that's why we are one of the biggest markets for these cars. Come to La Jolla, California and you will see exotics like honda civics, and AMG's, M's are a dozen. You will see enzos, Veyrons as well. Talk about gas guzzlers, and environment.
mkM3
October 31, 2007 5:39 PM
Does someone at WCF really believe the S65 V8 from the M3 will be in the 7 series? WTF?
benz_man
November 19, 2007 10:15 PM
Thank You! Way to pricey a piece for a 7 series! Thesew are low production engines. This isnt AMG!
500lbman
October 31, 2007 5:59 PM
Japan does make a very reliable and efficient car. It's too bad their cars are soul-less and boring to drive. The only Japanese car I ever liked driving was a Honda Civic Si. Toyotas are about as boring as they come. And I wish the Japanese would learn how to design a seat you can sit on for more than an hour. German cars are by far the best driving and most refined cars made. There is no comparison. When they get it right on reliability no one will be able to touch them.
Abdullah
November 1, 2007 5:49 AM
bmw 7 series will be become the fourth luxury car after rolls royce , maybach and bentley
Abdullah
November 1, 2007 6:06 AM
all the people like S class 2007 and don't like 7 series why?.........becouse only the design and about the technology the S class 2007 and 7 series are the same may be some technology in bmw it's a valiable before mercedes. note: if any body want to talk to me about the differance between the S class 2007 and 7 series please add me (bmw-individual@hotmail.com)
silversedanman
November 1, 2007 7:14 AM
S class is a little bit better than 7 series. not much though. No one can touch these cars though. 1.S class 2.7 series 3.a8 4.Phaeton 5.American/Lexus
abu-fahd
November 1, 2007 8:37 AM
Mercedes has PRO-SAFE but BMW doesn't . This is big differance. And Abdullah, I will add you to talk.
abu-fahd
November 2, 2007 1:16 AM
AZNMAN, Pre-Safe is one of Pro-Safe group. Get your facts straight !!
AZNMAN
November 2, 2007 4:01 AM
what are you talking about.. Pre-Safe is a safety program developed specifically by mercedes
Abdullah
November 2, 2007 1:43 PM
AZNMAN,you are right may be MB have Pre-Safe may be BMW have safty program better than MB in the new 7 series Who know???????
abu-fahd
November 3, 2007 10:09 AM
Volvo S80 ?? You must read about Mercedes-Benz S-Class . Volvo is nothing comparing with it .
bassam
November 3, 2007 6:37 PM
doesn't it looks like Brilliance Splendor....why?? end of design....?
abu-fahd
November 6, 2007 9:11 PM
Mercedes-Benz is the greatest automaker in the whole world,because it's the first maker made the SRS Airbags,ABS,ESP,ELT seat belts,Pre-Safe and more in safety. That makes people like Mercedes-Benz. Mercedes's lovers are smart !
elsonlau
November 16, 2007 3:56 PM
The BMW 7 Series must beat the Merc S Class. S Class is always the cream of crop. I feel tired of this game.
benz_man
November 19, 2007 10:44 PM
What you all fail to see, while bickering about which company is better, is that Mercedes and BMW are not 100% responsible for these innovations. Abu-fahd, Bosch was responsible for all of the dynamic systems you just listed. Many of the same products are used, but labeled differently by marketing. IE: ESP and DSC, same Bosch innovation. Drexel Meyer did the interiors for the 745, the first CLK and the 08 CTS. Manufacturers hire suppliers! Here's a dirty little secret though... cameras are proliferating into luxury vehicles. The next 7 and the W221 S-class update will both have more complex versions of "Pre-Safe" that tie all of the current onboard sensors together with the camera to create a virtual safety envelope around the car and its passengers. Oh, thats by Bosch too...
bmwaddict
November 21, 2007 6:20 PM
BMW is actually the most bought premium brand in the world. A lot of people post comments here with no knowledge of cars at all.
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