The image might be grainy making it difficult to see the details with clarity, this is the sixth-generation BMW 7-Series. Autocar was able to snap a screenshot of the new full-size luxury sedan as it popped up on one of BMW’s online configurators.
According to the official teaser video, we should expect the new 7-Series to drop on June 10th – this coming Wednesday – equipped with BMW Laserlight technology (but not for America) and powered by a selection of gasoline engines ranging from a 3.0L I6 and 4.0L V8 to a 6.0L V12. A couple of turbodiesels –2.0L I4 and 3.0L I6 – are also expected.
Underpinned by a modified version of the platform doing duty in the 3- and 4-Series, the next 7-Series will additionally make extensive use of aluminum, magnesium, high-strength steel and carbon-fibre reinforced plastic in order to save weight.
There is NO CAR UNDER $100,000 that can even hope to compare with the Mercedes Benz W222.
+More leg space both front and back than just about anything else.
+Better interior design (by far).
+Better interior material options
+Far superior ride.
Anyone who wants to argue that the “7 drives better because of its balancing” may have a point, but when we are sitting in that W222 waiting in bumper to bumper traffic – there are NO CURVES.
Nothing but COMFORT.
“sitting in that W222 waiting in bumper to bumper traffic – there are NO CURVES”
‘Cuz you’re daydreaming of Melody Lee?
I have to agree with BTSR. The S-Class is probably the best CAR under $250,000 or short of a Bentley or Rolls-Royce Ghost.
If this were China, I’d agree with you. Heck, in New York, I _do_ agree with you. But given the target market for this car in the U.S., I’d argue that the simple pretense of “driver’s car” will still claim a bunch of sales in this car’s target market: 60+ rich guys who live in the suburbs, don’t go into the city all that much, and want something comfy and prestigious to drive to the country club and back, but think the Mercedes is too old and boat-like for them. (They already have a boat or two for that.)
And that’s exactly who will buy the 7 Series. The thing is, there just aren’t as many of these people as there are the ones who buy the S Class. Another problem for the 7 is that there are now other options for drivers (perceived or actual), like the Panamera, A8 and Tesla. I don’t see this new 7 making any headway at all against its competitors. It’s really more of the same, and IMO, not really that great looking.
“want something comfy and prestigious to drive to the country club and back”
Isn’t that the SL customer?
You’ve completely written off the new 7-series based on a fuzzy leaked photo and teaser video?
As an unabashed Audiphile, I’ll gladly admit that the S-Class owns this segment, without question, and with good reason. The A8 would be my distant second choice, followed by the 7 Series as an even more distant third.
I have two clients who recently dumped their 7s. One moved to a Merc and one moved down to a 535 because in his mind there was no real value to the 7.
My friend has a 2014 740i M-sport, she likes big cars and how BMW’s drive but after riding in it I also felt the 5-series was 80-90% of a 7-series for 2/3 of the price. This is coming from a current BMW owner, I would also buy the S-class over a current 7-series but I will be curious to see this new model. MBZ outsells all these models combined so I have the impression BMW is not looking to take the crown but offer a decent competitor.
Apparently they cannot figure out how to build an engine with over .5 liters per cyclinder. Boring engines for a boring design. Its ridiculous that they would design their flagship to resemble their lease special.
BMW uses a standard cylinder design across all engines so all engine displacements are in multiples of 500cc.
However, that is not a problem – engines are still BMW strong point. It’s the increasingly dull designs and lackluster interiors that could really use some work.
The new B48 2.0l in the MINI and 2-series engine has a smaller bore and longer stroke than the existing N20, so the drivel BMW has put about that 500 cc cylinders are ideal is contradicted by the actual cylinder shape changing, which alters all the other parameters. Smaller bore, smaller valves, different flame length, position of injector and so on.
This is all nutty professor and urban legend guff to suit the marketing boys. Personally, I have it on good authority that 397.6 cc is ideal. It came to me in a dream.
There’s a reason why all of the German manufacturers are moving towards 500cc per cylinder. It’s not a weakness like you perceive, but on the cutting edge of engine design theory.
http://blog.caranddriver.com/why-0-5-liter-cylinders-will-soon-dominate-automotive-engine-design/
Personally, I’m 0% interested in being on the cutting edge of anything with the vehicles I purchase.
I guess if others are into though it’s their money to spend.
Being on the cutting edge of anything means your a test subject. Unfortunately, unlike say an IPhone where tens of millions of people are at risk of not buying the phone, or no longer buying from Apple, an auto manufacturer can say screw the consumer when the problem only exists in 50k vehicles.
As an aside, the fuel mileage in all of these is less than similar engines in, say, a Camaro. So cutting edge technology, while many times inferior, is somehow better(apparently).
It’s official: I miss Chris Bangle.
You’re not alone.
Funny you should say that, my first thought at seeing the image at top was it looked a lot like the donkey-nosed, baboon-butted 7-series he designed. BMWs have become a lot more stylish since those dark days that owners no longer have to justify their monstrosity by saying “but … it’s the Ultimate Driving Machine”, probably because it no longer is the ultimate driving machine.
^ This.
BMW lost the plot years ago. They just got more complicated and less fun.
Since I don’t wrench, any German car would become an instant money pit; I’ll stick with my Honda products, thanx.
Yawn.
When is there going to be news about cars that we’ll actually see in the wild?
I just spent a week in Silicon Valley and spent a little time up in San Francisco. I saw maybe one 7-series. Teslas were parked on every other street corner, though.
Some article suggestions:
1. Palo Alto is a bizarre world where people with six figure incomes can only afford to live like college kids — so those interesting antique cars are an affordable indulgence, due to local inflation. Some of them must have interesting really stories. For instance, I saw a 4WD conversion van covered in mud parked on the street outside of at apartment building — there has got to me an interesting story there.
2. Is there published market research about who buys cars like the BWW 7 series? How big is the market? I hang around with enough 1%ers that I should be able to see the answers with my own eyes, but I can’t figure out why the market for cars like this is big or profitable enough to be worth serving. FWIW, I have the same questions about Cadillac’s flagships – I don’t aspire to own one, but the business case for them has got to be fascinating and in rarely explained with context.
I live in the Bay Area, and I see more 7-series from the 90’s, and occasionally even from the 80’s, than the modern ones. Or at least I notice them more.
I was just looking at a 90’s 740iL this morning. I always liked that era for the 7’s. They were long luxurious sedans, yet somehow they still looked sleek and streamlined. Not like the slabby luxo-barges of today.
Exactly right. The late Nineties 7 sedans are much nicer looking than the current version.
So legit.
http://i.ytimg.com/vi/DIcrI7XUA7E/hqdefault.jpg
I will always love those.
nah we’re good here, take that away, we dont want it
check this out:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZlCEbgnRcQ4/VP2mEy4iTMI/AAAAAAAABEY/HE–k2-f8uI/s1600/Xe-Audi-A8-2016-Wallpaper-Desktop.jpeg
as i said, look at that, its pretty damn good for what it is
its overly conservative but its tight… hell even the outgoing VW Phaeton is better than that BMW
“Meet the new boss, same as the old boss”
Is it an issue that this is on a “modified platform … in duty in the 3- and 4- Series”? I’m wondering if that platform can ride/handle like traditional 7-series buyers expect. Although it looks the same size as the current 7, is it?
Overheard at the Mustang reveal: “Nice Accord coupe!
Overheard at the 7 series reveal: “That’s a big Accord sedan!”
I really like the way the current Accord looks, but a car that starts around $85,000 needs to look way better than a car that starts around $22,000. Also, a car blessed with rear wheel drive should also look way better than a car with fwd.
I’m very much not in the market for this sort of thing, but I’m prepared to believe that it is slightly more of a driver’s car than the S-class. I would definitely drive them both before deciding between them.
It does arguably look a little subdued but keep in mind that one person’s dull is another person’s tastefully understated.
I think it looks great, if a bit conservative. Its not S-Class gaudy, and its not Audi boring, its just right IMO.
Impala with a BMW nose.
This is the kind of car you buy because you want it, not because you need it. The styling does not generate “want” in me. The current S-class, Jag XJ, and Tesla S are lust-worthy.
I’m starting to think the Tesla S needs an update. It’s looking a bit dated to me.
I look at the first picture and it screams ‘Buick’ to me.
Then in the image below it, I see the misaligned chrome.
My opinion of bmw has declined greatly over the last few years.
(While) there is no “might” about it: that photo is indeed grainy.
nothing special…like a big 3 series. would rather get an a7 or tesla
LOL @ all the people calling this car “boring”. I’d take that over the hideous monstrosity that was the pre-facelift E65 (2002-2005 7er). Yeah it looks like a large 3-series, but the Germans have always subscribed to the school of “one sausage, 3 lengths” so nothing new there. As for the car itself, I can’t think of a single 7er I’d take over the equivalent-era S-class (maybe an E38 740i sport over an early W220), but I’m glad MB has some semblance of competition.