7 Series (G11/G12) [Spy shots] BMW 7er (G11) Spy Pics & Info

[SKY]

Three things about the interior:

- The steering wheel os influenced by the i8 and VFC. Looks good.
- The new gear level is fugly. Really.
- The plastic buttons remain. Move on, BMW.

 

[SCOTT27]

Yes the proportions allow a less upright but more dynamic flowing roofline than before yet still make the requirements in competitive rear headroom expected for a large limousine like the 7er.
But that has always been the 7er's forte in each generation to look more sportier than the rival S -Klasse. Its one tradition carried through each generation including the much-maligned E65 which has a more dynamic rounded roofline.
Free from disguise the actual car has a technical look to symbolise cutting edge engineering and technology.

We have a new pool in the office on seeing who "blinks first" when some information is learned later this year.
I am expecting more articles appearing in the automotive media relating to "Next Generation" models to try and control the narrative even though they will be years away from a car that is just over 12 months to launch.

 

[SCOTT27]

Three things about the interior:

- The steering wheel os influenced by the i8 and VFC. Looks good.
- The new gear level is fugly. Really.
- The plastic buttons remain. Move on, BMW.

Prototype parts are not fully respondent of the finished article.
The Gear lever conforms to the more minimalist appearance of the car and is evolutionary from the current BMW auto/Sport auto transmission. Besides 7er owners on the E65 did not like the steering wheel mounted gearstick column as they felt it was too Mercedes-like which is why the transmission went back to the centre console.

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

I think we have no issue with the lever's placement, but more its appearance.

 

[EMpower]

And you can see the cloth covering the screen at the passenger side.

So they are using a second screen for passenger instead of the Dual View center screen?

 

[lukeswiss]

Hi everybody!

The second part on interior quality and craftmanship is what I don't comprehend. Don't get me wrong, many reviewers make similar claims but whenever my collegues and I 'tested' the S-Class (in various trims and up to the S65), most of us were disappointed. The cues say 'Bentley' or 'Rolls' but what you feel is far from that. Vents, keys for A/C, power windows, seats etc., the door pockets .... may all look good but don't deliver on their visual promises. The predecessor was much more conservative but also seemed (to me) more sophisticated in the combination and execution of materials. Now: Do I overlook something when I say 'that's not perfect' or have standards for perfection changed?

I sometimes read about the F01 interior not standing a chance against this new S-Class. Honestly, for a car approaching the end of its cycle, everything's absolutely fine. Its biggest problem might be the resemblance with the 5er interior. Still: if I had the loose cash, I'd rather go for the simple and straight 7er (or A8) than for the overly bling-bling, inconsistent S. In terms of driving, all of them are pretty great, anyway.

Do you think weight saving measures have an effect on the perceived quality of things ? Things I'd noticed with the new S-Class were that many things didn't feel as substantial. Door handles, both outside and inside felt 'cheap' to me, but I wasn't sure if it was just because they also felt very light.

 

[klier]

So they are using a second screen for passenger instead of the Dual View center screen?

Probably both. I see no reason to not use a dual view center screen, but the second screen is coming with certainty.

 

[SKY]

I think we have no issue with the lever's placement, but more its appearance.

Exactly. With cars like this I think the best option wpuld be the one Ferrari uses, or even Jaguar. I understand BMW wants to offer a more driver focused look, and their current gear shifter looks very nice, but this one does not.

 

[Busty]

Three things about the interior:

- The steering wheel os influenced by the i8 and VFC. Looks good.
- The new gear level is fugly. Really.
- The plastic buttons remain. Move on, BMW.

The shifter looks awkward in the spy shots but will be pretty cool in the end. Not as ornamental as in the VFL but more high-class than the current one. I'd also prefer a more technical solution but I'm not asked . The thing with the plastic buttons is a never-ending story. In our team we discussed aluminum (not particularly for the G11 but in general) and it was turned down. Very importantly, several clinics have shown that most BMW customers don't go for bling and even find the current A8 too much. I personally think that there is middle ground between the one approach and the other and repeatedly proposed an apple-like look. The only time when I saw that realized somehow was in the 328 Hommage. Nevertheless, the layering that characterizes future BMW cars has a special appeal and will probably grow on some new costumers as well. One other thing is also important: materials - even in the 1 or 3 series - aren't nearly as cheap as many people think. The requirements are just different. A certain playfulness is requested. I do not particularly like it but I understand that producing Audi clones doesn't make sense either.

Do you think weight saving measures have an effect on the perceived quality of things ? Things I'd noticed with the new S-Class were that many things didn't feel as substantial. Door handles, both outside and inside felt 'cheap' to me, but I wasn't sure if it was just because they also felt very light.

First of all, I absolutely agree with your observations. Honestly, I don't know hard data on the relationship between such measures and perceived quality but based on my feeling I'd say: yes and no. YES, heavier sometimes may feel more 'solid'. When this is your approach. Preferences or judgments of quality vary a lot. It's not just a matter of taste but a matter of approach. Your approach may be weight ... or touch, smell, sound, association. In clinics, I'm surprised how few participants ask about the finish of the final product, they rarely complain about the fact that they aren't allowed to really touch the models. To me, for instance, the sound of a closing G-class or SEC door is of a much higher 'quality' than in most modern luxury cars. I couldn't judge a car without listening to it or touching it. Getting back to the new S-class: I just do not get over the vents where 'brushed aluminum' after some millimeters fades to raw plastic. Or the inside of the doors! Its antecessor is so beautifully executed, the control for the windows and seats (brushed), the door opener and a door pocket opener (chrome) and the inside material of the door pocket and the door handle .... the current one imo is rescued only by nice Burmester speakers..... However, there are many people who like it and I guess their approach must be a different one. They judge the stylistic elements, the associations (british touch, lounge style, demonstrative - though not very innovative - high-tech) rather than their execution. And that's absolutely legitimate.

Very personally, I came to the conclusion that authenticity for me is the most important thing when judging 'quality'. I wanna feel warmth on wooden surfaces and cold on aluminum and prefer honest plastic to poorly covered one. Good thing for BMW: they will extensively use real and functional carbonfibre which to me appears very high-tech and -quality but is light at the same time (that's why I love the i's). So, NO, from this perspective.

 

[Sunny]

^Awesome post busty. Pretty much reflects my thoughts on most things interior. I hate bling in the interior of a car. And if you have to have bling, make it authentic, not plastic dipped in metal.

The new A3 interior is about my ideal amount of 'bling' for a luxury car.

 

[EnI]

What BMW cars still lack is PERCEIVED quality. Caution: don't confuse perceived quality with bling!

When you see a plastic or a foamy etc part - does it look like an upscale or a cheap solution. Sure tactile (soft vs hard) feedback is also important but the visual one is even more: even if the plastic is hard, people usually perceive it as OK if it's looking upscale.

Therefore IMHO plastic & foamy parts in BMW interiors should LOOK more upscale. The problem is they usually look too grainy & not smooth enough to be perceived as upscale. Or in some cases too smooth & too shiny (when it comes to raw plastic).

OK, I know BMW owners don't like blingy interiors but ... still BMW has to be careful not to lose it ... and end up with interiors looking of same perceived quality (or even worse) than eg VW, Ford, Peugeot etc. If / when MB, Audi, Lexus (and soon Alfa Romeo) set the bar higher, BMW SHOULD & HAVE TO FOLLOW - otherwise people won't be willing to PAY the asking price anymore - due to sub-par perceived quality. It's a psychological issue.

But sure ... product clinics are useful & the feedback the company got there is definitely a genuine one ... And if people don't mind much about "cheap" interiors - and obviously they don't since BMW cars sell well - I guess BMW are OK with that ... especially when it's cost effective for them.

 

[klier]

Indeed, fantastic post @Busty.

Very, very well put.

I personally dislike the MB bling bling with a passion. Looks horrible, without substance and without the real quality to back it all up.

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

Well, I think metal buttons can be used without it being over the top blingy. The first thing that comes to mind is having buttons done in aluminum with either or a brushed or satin finished, akin to those high-end stereos. Or maybe a nickel finish. In a BMW, I, too, would advise against excess chrome.

 

[EnI]

Well, I think metal buttons can be used without it being over the top blingy. The first thing that comes to mind is having buttons done in aluminum with either or a brushed or satin finished, akin to those high-end stereos. Or maybe a nickel finish. In a BMW, I, too, would advise against excess chrome.

The problem is THEY ARE NEVER METAL! They are only coated with THIN layer. But the core is PLASTIC!

 

[SKY]

Indeed, fantastic post @Busty.

Very, very well put.

I personally dislike the MB bling bling with a passion. Looks horrible, without substance and without the real quality to back it all up.

It really depends on the model. The A-Class is bling without quallity backing it. But the S, S-Coupe, C and GT really feature some fantastic materials coupled with design. That's why I talk about the metal buttons. It's nice to avoid plastic and go instead for the leather and the metal combination.

I hope this is some early interior, because I see plastic buttons.

 

[Deleted member 1071]

Yes the proportions allow a less upright but more dynamic flowing roofline than before yet still make the requirements in competitive rear headroom expected for a large limousine like the 7er.
But that has always been the 7er's forte in each generation to look more sportier than the rival S -Klasse. Its one tradition carried through each generation including the much-maligned E65 which has a more dynamic rounded roofline.
Free from disguise the actual car has a technical look to symbolise cutting edge engineering and technology.

We have a new pool in the office on seeing who "blinks first" when some information is learned later this year.
I am expecting more articles appearing in the automotive media relating to "Next Generation" models to try and control the narrative even though they will be years away from a car that is just over 12 months to launch.

Quite true. I actually found the E65s' greenhouse to be rather "sporty"-much in contrast to the remainder of the car.

 

[klier]

I hope this is some early interior, because I see plastic buttons.

Well that is one thing we can be sure of

 

[Yaz]

LOL @ the BMW crowd advocating the use of plastics in a $100k+ premium car. Have you seen plastic buttons after a decade in a hot climate? You don't wanna even touch them.

A screen on the passenger side? For what? What about when the air bag deploys?

Besides 7er owners on the E65 did not like the steering wheel mounted gearstick column as they felt it was too Mercedes-like which is why the transmission went back to the centre console.

Last time I checked BMW used the column mounted shifter before Mercedes. Get your sh!t together.

 

[LaArtist]

^u know they like to create their own realitities

 

[Betty Swollocks]

^u know they like to create their own reality's..

* realities.