7 Series [Spy shots] BMW 7er (G11) Spy Pics & Info

[klier]

Looking at these two photos, it appears somebody had to take the white sheeting off which was hiding the car.

That's exactly what happened. It was Schiphol, btw

I can't help but feel that this is an intentional leak to drum up hype.

My hope is that they want to downplay the expectations so we will be pleasantly surprised with the real thing.
Just like those interior shots we got a couple of weeks back; where are the shots taken by that man and his phone inside the car? My guess: that guy is working for BMW and it was carefully planned. We see these new interior shots looking much better already and in the next batch it will likely again be better with even more production trim.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

That's exactly what happened. It was Schiphol, btw

If, as Scott says, it was going to London to film scenes in Mission Impossible, then it makes no sense to transport it by plane, and via Schiphol. Presumably the car started out in Munich, in which case it would be much easier, cheaper and more secure to just put it in the back of a truck and take it via the Channel Tunnel. This leak wouldn't have happened had they done that. So I suspect it's going somewhere outside Europe.

 

[klier]

Well the pics come from the Facebook page of a Swiss BMW fanclub, maybe we'll read more about it shortly. I read somewhere it was Schiphol yesterday, but I can't find the article/source.

 

[SKY]

If it is intentional then I find it a bad tactic. It is a nice spec car, with nice color and nice rims. Sure an M version will be better, but this makes everyone know how the car looks like 6 months before the official debut.

About the change in the design team, I don't think it is related to this car. If I remember correctly, it was the executive the one who prefered, which will probably be a matter of figures.

Let's to get that pesimistic this early. We were expecting more but this car is not terrible by any means.

 

[SCOTT27]

If, as Scott says, it was going to London to film scenes in Mission Impossible, then it makes no sense to transport it by plane, and via Schiphol. Presumably the car started out in Munich, in which case it would be much easier, cheaper and more secure to just put it in the back of a truck and take it via the Channel Tunnel. This leak wouldn't have happened had they done that. So I suspect it's going somewhere outside Europe.

They are filming overseas for Mission:Impossible now but I have confirmed that this is not one of those cars.

 

[klier]

Let's to get that pesimistic this early. We were expecting more but this car is not terrible by any means.

I don't know, right now it looks like a facelifted E65.
I don't like it at all from any of those exterior pics.

 

[SCOTT27]

Don't bring the S-class into this. The S-class has not stagnated like the 7 has. Mercedes has proven with the S-class that you can offer something new without alienating existing customers. It has one of the highest loyalty rates in the industry. Theres something inherently familiar about every S-class, yet they look entirely different. To make the w222 they did not stick a w221 in the microwave for 5 seconds like BMW has done with this 7.

At the end of the day I think BMW actually lacks self confidence at this end of the market. It's the only reason I can put to explain this tepid design conservatism. They have been teasing and hinting of a spectacular range of upper end vehicles for almost a decade now, yet they consistently fail to deliver. They really need to bring the VFL to some sort of reality.

Oh well, let's hope it blows us away from an engineering point of view.

I will bring the S-Klasse into it because it is entirely relevant. I give you credit and say you are correct but the S-Klasse has and always will be the innovation showcase for Mercedes-Benz just as the 7er is for BMW.
It progresses , it grows it sets new standards for the brand and segment. But Mercedes can approach the S-Klasse differently because it does not have a high end luxury brand but therefore rules the affordable luxury segment.
BMW cannot intrude into Rolls-Royce territory too much but can be uniquely positioned to provide a new vision of future luxury in between both brands.

The S-Klasse is no longer exclusive as it was the resurgence of Rolls-Royce and Bentley have moved the goal posts that offer something entirely new that customers want , an exclusivity that oozes out of these brands and a higher status than the S-Klasse.
Given Mercedes desire to be seen in the high end class sums up its problem due to its popularity - No one is trading up!
In the end in some quasi way its a bit like a Korean car attempting to mix and match with the Germans with increased detail and equipment for a lower price but yet the status does not appeal to these owners because they prefer the epitome of German luxury or in this case a hand crafted one of a kind luxury product.

Its the entire opposite in the affordable luxury segment though it has that status appeal and ambience for that segment which is why it is popular because people they are trading up.
The S-Klasse has always been the luxury go between for rejeauvination. And the 7er for physical driving. That has not changed. Neither is the fact the S-Klasse shows the brands current innovations as has always been the story, the lure.
The same as the 7er . Both 7er and S-Klasse customers are loyal to the affordable luxury sedan and will drive nothing but.

Both the S-Klasse and G11 are evolutionary in design because of the conservativeness of the segments requirements , style is popular and being completely radical from a design perspective is completely out of the question due to the investment and that both cars must appeal to their respective audiences. The customer has to feel familiar yet embrace the new as in everyday life there is progress but not just in our cars.

 

[klier]

We DON'T want to read about the S klasse in this threas Scott. At all.

 

[SCOTT27]

We DON'T want to read about the S klasse in this threas Scott. At all.

It had to be said because it is important to how progress has changed in how the S-Klasse is perceived.

 

[klier]

Perceived in your eyes, and other will see that differently. It's simply not a subject to be discussed here, it's entirely besides the point. We don't have to include the S class into understanding the 7er, that's nonsense.

Why don't you instead tell us when the headlights appear to be drawn by a 5 year old? And why they are so overly HUGE?

 

[Busty]

^SCOTT I guess most of us get your argument (which is also the one of BMW marketing).

But even if they did not want to make the G11 an ultimate luxury car to not threaten RR, they might have made it more dynamic and sharp looking. I think that is what bothers many people.

 

[Monster]

BMW cannot intrude into Rolls-Royce territory too much

My main issue with the new 7 series is the interior design, for the past 3 generations, the 7 series has set the design theme for the rest of the range to follow. however from what we have seen so far, the interior of the G11 is combination of the F01 and the F30, it isn't progressive enough. I really though the G11's interior will be a luxury interpretation of the layered interior design from the i8, which was the case in the Vision Future Luxury concept.

 

[Deleted member 25]

So we all agree that a bag of cojones is needed, but for who ? The Board or AVH-KH's team ?

 

[Human]

We DON'T want to read about the S klasse in this threas Scott. At all.

I see your point Klier (Happy New Year!) yet as I said and I honestly agree with Scott's take on the fact(s) that:

* It's a BMW first. Thank goodness it's still a B M W

* It carries the DNA we as BMW enthusiasts wished for: Sporty profile, Narrow shark-nose and broad rear with superb tail light design.

* Conservative in a typical BMW sense in that it carries FO1 genes and some yummy E38 ones also!

* The cabin and dash brings typical driver orientated design, family familiar and sporty yet elegant and minimalistic.

I believe the chassis tech and engines will be just as satisfying!

In the end and my point is it's as I said THE Antidote to cars I really respect for their opulence, luxury and prowess. It's Thank God! *Not an S-class, Rolls-Royce, Bentley or Maybach. It does not have diamond stitched leather covering it's dash or 4 square meter of Burr-Walnut in front of the driver, clean and not overdone nor near as opulent and in some cases cluttered as the respected cars mentioned.

So. It's a BMW in every sense of the word and BMW made me happy

(After the X6's Mercedes-crease at the back I became worried)

 

[tomazino]

I think that "that thing" happened again:
Klier from one past thread:

Yup the car looks like a crappy AMS photoshop or something. Hard to believe this is actual real.....

few pages later:

Ok finally some proper pics! Looks different already.

ps. its about VFL concept.

 

[klier]

I think that "that thing" happened again:

True, a new BMW always needs to seriously grow on me. But this time I don't have any [roper pics to get used to, so these last images keep haunting my head.

 

[Wunderkind]

Scott,

One thing that has not progressed, let alone change, is that the 7-Series has always been a big 5-Series. This one is no different. Don't try to sell us the crap about how the 7-Series cannot encroach upon the Rolls Royce territory. They belong to two different markets, if you don't get it, maybe you should become the next Head of your M Division.

You can say what you want about the S-Class as someone from BMW. But the fact remains that the S-Class is the gold standard of the market segment.

My family has had our V222 S500 for 3 months now and it is fantastic. I cannot see how we would ever change from the S-Class to the 7-Series.

Please go tell your superiors that it is disappointing to see that BMW are still utterly incapable of making anything decent larger than a 5-series. This is coming from someone who has a 850i in the garage (I'd burn it if it wasn't for my dad, it's way too much trouble to keep it road-worthy).

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

So this is my crazy theory is as to why the new design, both inside and outside, is so conservative is because the way the car is constructed. Since so much was invested in developing this new chassis platform "35up" (BTW, I've also heard it being called "OKL" and "CARL") that in order to minimize risk, they implemented a design that's not too "out there."

Consider the E65: The design was "out there." The interface and tech were "out there." But BMW got lucky with that in that then-emerging markets like China, Russia, India, etc. gobbled it up and maintained its sales lead despite being critically panned for its design and initial iDrive interface. BMW's board probably realized that today it would be downright difficult to replicate that kind of luck so they decided that let's put all that new construction and tech in an inoffensive-looking package and reap the rewards. Now, I am not saying this is what happened. This a HUGE speculation on my part and I could be 200% wrong about this, but that's the only way I can see why they went with this approach.

Also, I don't think that the styling department is lacking in cojones as indicated by their snazzy looking i range. But when it comes to there core, mainstream items, said cojones seemed to have retracted a bit. Right now that strategy may help with sales in the short-term, but if they keep it up, it will hurt them later on. Historically, one Mercedes-Benz's main design strength is making 4/5ths of the opulence of a RR or Bentley offered to the upper-management/working-rich type folks. BMW's strengths is to offer that opulence in a manner that's more discreet and forward-thinking...it's like you don't always see it but it's there.

Let me put it this way and this goes back to my obession with wood-trim, door panels,etc., so bear with me on this wacky ride...
In the W222, if you look straight-on out from the driver's seat over the steering wheel, and you use peripheral vision to view the cabin, you are very aware of the wood trim being there. It has a tendency to pop out because M-B wants to impart that parlour-room feel.
In the F01, from the same perspective, if you use your peripheral view, you are not as aware of the trimming despite there being the same amount (if not more) of the wood trim. You only notice if you turn you head a bit and look at it straight-on. The brilliant way they implemented those elements, it doesn't overwhelm the eyes yet is still properly high-end without it being too trendy.

My main issue with the new 7 series is the interior design, for the past 3 generations, the 7 series has set the design theme for the rest of the range to follow. however from what we have seen so far, the interior of the G11 is combination of the F01 and the F30, it isn't progressive enough. I really though the G11's interior will be a luxury interpretation of the layered interior design from the i8, which was the case in the Vision Future Luxury concept.

And Monster brings a fantastic point. This interior design idiom has been present since, in my opinion, the F30. Can we infer, this is what we'll see for the next 5er, 3er, etc.?

 

[kiki voinea]

2015 BMW... Wake UP ! Still no cover for the camera...

 

[SKY]

The first and most important thing to understand, IMO, is how important our view is. We are german car enthusiasts. We love cars. And a lot of us love BMW. If someone comes and says we just a bunch of freaks on a forum, to hell with him/her (not saying this for SCOTT). It is important as a consumer to give the feedback to the brand executives. And I am sure someone at BMW reads this.

We all said back in the day the F20 1er front looked like crap. If the designer of the car had been here, he would have given us a proper explanation about why the front was like this. Kind of the same way Scott tryed to deffend it. Well, in the end, it does not matter. We did not like it. And still don´t. And guess who was right? US. BMW has now changed the front end because it was true it looked like crap. And the LCI will bring a much improved design.

Regarding this 7er. BMW had the pieces. They created a couple of concepts with interesting design ideas, but in the end they sticked with the same old ones. There is nothing from the VFL on this car. As I said to @tomazino a few weeks back, it is the same case as with the CS. We were told we would love the F01 if we liked the CS. Well, there was very little of the CS in the F01 design. Almost nothing bare a couple design ideas. Why BMW does not try with some angular hoff kink? Or offer some variation on their well-known straight shoulder line? They have featured this on both the CS and the VFL, yet it never reaches production. We have the same side profile, exactly the same side profile, with a softer shoulder line on the rear part, no double hoff kink this time, no lower profile crease, and instead more chrome. Well, OK, it´s not an improvement. It´s just playing with the same pieces. Changing creases for chrome. Simpler and less risky design.

The rear end is the one that deserves more credit. Even when it looks to alike the current BMW line up, at least it offer some changes. What about the front end? Achange in the hood line, a 6er-like front bumper, and the same dull looking frontlights that are connected to the grille. Headlights that look like a tube with a kink at the end. Again, not enough. And I say more, it looks worse than the F01´s front end.

And the interior. The interior will have fantastic materials, nice tech, and everything that is expected on a car like this. The problem is two years ago, MB stepped up the game. Audi seems to know this and the appear to be heading the same direction. And the have Bentley there, and Porsche. You cannot have you flagship´s interior influenced by the lower end sedan (3er). Specially when the F30´s interior is nothing to writte about (to be politically correct). Just look at how the A8 and S-Class door panels look and then look at this. It is clearly not enough. And if you don´t want to look at the competitors, go and compare the G11 doors with the F01 or the F15 X5. This interior would be fantastic on the G30 5er. But it falls short on the 7er.

As I have said, I don´t think this car is a disaster. I don´t think BMW needs a change of head designer. It is just that this model is not enough to top the W222 S-Class in terms of design, and will probably be worse when the new A8 comes. There is no shock to the public. Nothing exciting to look about. And I think this segment is all about this. E65 was a shock back in 2001 (it was not a beauty, but it had something new that shocked the audience).

The other day some people laughed when I said BMW needed a pair of balls sometimes. Well, I bet I won´t be the only one to think that when this car hits the streets.

But, as I have said, I think the G30 5er will be everything this 7er is not.