7 Series (F01) [Spy Shots] BMW (F01) 7-Series Facelift (Spy pics & info)

[klier]

I'm not trying to be a hater or BMW fanboy here, but the W221 S class is simply ugly, period. I really don't dig the fat styling, bloated design and stupid gimmicks. Both the E and C are MUCH better looking imho.

Though I must say, I have high hopes for the W222. It appears to be loosing most ugly design details. Let's just hope it doesn't gain any ugly ones, since MB design can be hit or miss these days....

 

[coolraoul]

When it was released, I though the F01 absolutely remarkable, with the exception of the nostrils of course. I loved the elegance, understatement, and interior.
However, I now am feeling it has aged alreadeady, and doesn't impress me much any more. Still good-looking, but no "want-factor".

The W221, well... I think it's not one of the best-looking S ever. The wheel-arches, but also the windowlines, are not that totally convincing, even if the LWB is much better. And the pre-FL headlamps looked quite empty.
The fact that the interior is an e65 rip-off is not helping its cause either.

But despite its flaws, I think it has more character than the BMW, more personnality, more appeal. It's more noticeable, more upmarket. Evokes more in fact, I think.

However, one has to be said... None of them come close the visual perfection of a late D3 S8. Interior as exterior, that was pure hotness. God I love that car, it might be technically inferior, it is such a sexy, prestigious, artistic piece of a car...

Put the technical perfection of a W221 in the shape of a D3 S8 and you have the best car on sale today, by far.

 

[Padi]

I'm not trying to be a hater or BMW fanboy here, but the W221 S class is simply ugly, period. I really don't dig the fat styling, bloated design and stupid gimmicks. Both the E and C are MUCH better looking imho.

Though I must say, I have high hopes for the W222. It appears to be loosing most ugly design details. Let's just hope it doesn't gain any ugly ones, since MB design can be hit or miss these days....

Exactly my feelings too though I'm not so sure about the next S either cause I hated the ocean concept and I hate the Cls rear lights too which will both probably be seen on the W222. Well as long as they keep the E and C away from that design..

IMO the 7er should just get a ledlight option, new rear light graphics and possibly new kidneys

 

[SKY]

When it was released, I though the F01 absolutely remarkable, with the exception of the nostrils of course. I loved the elegance, understatement, and interior.
However, I now am feeling it has aged alreadeady, and doesn't impress me much any more. Still good-looking, but no "want-factor".

The W221, well... I think it's not one of the best-looking S ever. The wheel-arches, but also the windowlines, are not that totally convincing, even if the LWB is much better. And the pre-FL headlamps looked quite empty.
The fact that the interior is an e65 rip-off is not helping its cause either.

But despite its flaws, I think it has more character than the BMW, more personnality, more appeal. It's more noticeable, more upmarket. Evokes more in fact, I think.

However, one has to be said... None of them come close the visual perfection of a late D3 S8. Interior as exterior, that was pure hotness. God I love that car, it might be technically inferior, it is such a sexy, prestigious, artistic piece of a car...

Put the technical perfection of a W221 in the shape of a D3 S8 and you have the best car on sale today, by far.

Fantastic analysis. My thoughts 100%. I also agree in the D3 S8 thing. The bullet shape that car had, and the striking combination of sporty elegance were the clue of its success.

That´s the main concern I´ve always had with every S-Class with the exception of the W220, they´ve never look athletic in standard trim. Thje current LCI W221 looks very very bland without any exotic rims or AMG pack.

 

[K-A]

I actually saw an A8 today, at a distance, and it looked very good. Not something I'd buy, but you have to find the right angle and element, and it has some presence. Was Bentley-esque in a way. Most of that comes from the size and proportions, as the design and detailing are really not too convincingly premium, IMO.

 

[bum-man]

I don't expect the facelift to help the F01 much when competitors get their updates too, here's why...

The biggest problem that the F01 faces are the cars it competes with, they are very much competent (in a lot of cases better) while still being able to differentiate themselves from their lesser siblings both visually and in equipment.

From a visual perspective the F01 LWB is an oddity as its roof line gives off an undesirable hunched look coupled with the sudden chopping of the rear lid; previous generation BMW's have this and manage to look great but somehow it just looks unfinished/strange on the F01. Unfortunately, cars sheet metal are rarely changed during a mid-cycle change over so I don't expect the facelift to correct the problems.

Of course there is the F01 SWB, and it happens to look much better in profile. However there is one glaring issue, the F10... I think BMW has more or less shot themselves in the foot by making the F10 a much cheaper SWB F01 competitor. The F10 is ultimately the better car here being based on then same platform with much more development time for everything else. It's also doing BMW no favors by making both cars so strikingly similar in appearance inside and out.

In the end I think it will be another long grueling 4 year journey for the BMW 7er much like the previous generation.

 

[klier]

In the end I think it will be another long grueling 4 year journey for the BMW 7er much like the previous generation.

In the end you're just guessing/hoping
Look at the 7er sales, they more than good. Better than the S class in a lot of markets.

 

[SCOTT27]

Actually the 7er is pretty sustainable. It has definite markets and the choice to launch the facelifted car alongside the production version of the BMW Gran Coupe next April in Beijing , China shows it's popularity in Asia.

The Chinese market has extensively swallwed up two recent 7er additions - The Specific China "Individual" models and the Steinway & Sons special editions. The new car gets slight surface changes around the nose and full LED headlight option, as well as New Rear light graphics but the big news is the adoption of the 8-speed automatic transmission.

Even in the last years of it's life the 7er was Asia's most popular luxury sedan , which is why the S-Klasse interior imitates the E65/E66, the younger tech-savvy population took to the car with it's complex egronomics such as the iDrive. But someone had to be first and that was BMW with a production driver-car interface. But when you compare the generations of iDrive throughout this decade you can see the progression since the E65/E66.

S-Klasse and 7er go through the cycles of evolution one watches the other. But in the cycles of evolution the S-Klasse and the 7er retain the loyal customer who move through the generations.

The next S-Klasse which was leaked in that picture could even be premiered in Beijing next year as the Chinese market will be the goal for all Premium manufacturers. Which is why the current model is still selling in China and why the Maybach might not die afterall thanks to the Chinese market.

 

[SKY]

I have already finished doing an extensive work about BMW, and I can assure you the 7er figures are quite good.

 

[donkeykong]

I actually saw an A8 today, at a distance, and it looked very good. Not something I'd buy, but you have to find the right angle and element, and it has some presence. Was Bentley-esque in a way. Most of that comes from the size and proportions, as the design and detailing are really not too convincingly premium, IMO.

The new A8 has a polarizing design from some angles you say wow,and from others it's a complete head scratcher. I hope they rectify things with new the S8,because the old one was just money from every angle.

 

[klier]

LCD gauges coming for refreshed BMW 5 and 7 Series models

BMW Blog

 

[donkeykong]

^ I saw this ealier,but will have to wait to the next generation 7er to see it.

 

[Deleted member 25]

I seriously hope not, the BMW dashboard is one of the most symbolic of the entire insudtry and the current ones are just perfect.

 

[NarutoRamen]

S-Klasse and 7er go through the cycles of evolution one watches the other. But in the cycles of evolution the S-Klasse and the 7er retain the loyal customer who move through the generations.

The next S-Klasse which was leaked in that picture could even be premiered in Beijing next year as the Chinese market will be the goal for all Premium manufacturers. Which is why the current model is still selling in China and why the Maybach might not die afterall thanks to the Chinese market.

Well, I don't know what kind of figures and research numbers you guys have, but China isn't looking good for economic viability. There are multitudes of indicators popping up about China's rising economic issues that has to do with inflating their GDP artificially, thus people are pouring there money in there and some are making out like bandits. But overall, they are headed on a crash course.

To sum it up, many companies are so heavily focusing on China in the short term, that it appears everyone is losing sight of the long term economic indicators.

 

[K-A]

Well, I don't know what kind of figures and research numbers you guys have, but China isn't looking good for economic viability. There are multitudes of indicators popping up about China's rising economic issues that has to do with inflating their GDP artificially, thus people are pouring there money in there and some are making out like bandits. But overall, they are headed on a crash course.

To sum it up, many companies are so heavily focusing on China in the short term, that it appears everyone is losing sight of the long term economic indicators.

Looks like China is trying to follow America's path. They should take notes! Capitalism is the only way to go in life, but Capitalism-obssessed-greed gets us all in trouble sooner or later.

I REALLY hope the 7'er doesn't get a stupid LCD display. I hate the one in the W221. Just another thing to go wrong and cost a ton, giving these cars miserable long term value/resale value. Plus, nothing beats the real thing right in front of your face.... Why does having a computerized imitation make it more premium? I don't get it. It's like they find ways to pour money into the wrong areas, so they can spin it/market it as something techy, so to give people a higher sense of worth from these cars. Wrong areas to focus on, IMO.

 

[klier]

^ I saw this ealier,but will have to wait to the next generation 7er to see it.

LOL, since when are you the expert on BMW?
Wait for the next generation? Says who?

 

[Human]

I seriously hope not, the BMW dashboard is one of the most symbolic of the entire insudtry and the current ones are just perfect.

I 2nd that!

And K-A has a good point on the subject as well

 

[bombardier01]

The current-generation BMW 7 Series, or F01 to you Bimmerphiles, was launched in 2009. After the German luxobarge hit the streets, Audi and Jaguar decided to launch their own redesigned flagship sedans. Mercedes-Benz will soon step out with an updated S-Class, and that means BMW will need to give its 7 Series a touch-up. Spy photographers managed to capture a camo-clad 7 hiding some of the newly updated exterior features.

If you look at the photographs closely, you can see that BMW will add an LED strip above the headlights. The front bumper has been redesigned, and the turn signals now sit on the side mirrors. Out back, a revised rear bumper wraps up the exterior upgrades. As the camo tape eventually comes off, we expect to find more nuanced updates before a lightly re-skinned production version hits an upcoming auto show stage.

BMW 7 Series nip/tuck spotted — Autoblog

 

[SKY]

So, the entire front lights interior cluster will change. I wonder if the twin eyes will have the style of the new F30 3er or remain totally circular. The kidneys for the moment remain the same, and the front bumper seems to be a bit different, but not radically different. I wonder if BMW will still put that chrome piece on the side of the car for the indicator, now that they are moving to the mirrors. The rear already looks better with that bumper with an additional horizontal line, but looks a bit like the Lexus LS.

I like what I see. The 7er is a nive car and with a few touches here and there they will make it look fresh. The yellow angel eyes and the fron bumper are the worst part of it, and they will be changed the next year. I hope they change the steering wheel for a more spoty one, and they will have it.

 

[Taxidriver]

Didn't they want to change the shape of the kidneys???