7 Series [Spy Shots] BMW G11/G12 LCI in the works...

[Tapsa70]

Quite early for an update if this is true:

SPIED: Is this possibly the upcoming BMW 7 Series LCI

 

[manuelf]

I think presentation of G11 was 09/2015. So a LCI end of 2018 would be "normal"? Dunno if it is too early, to have LCI mules driving around one year before official release?

 

[SKY]

@Carmaker1 was the first one to mention this a few months back.

Really surprissed to see this. The G11 is such a nice design in my eyes. I could only see the front lights being improved on an early facelift.

I also find surprissing the S-Class is selling that much better to be honest.

 

[sako97]

@Carmaker1 was the first one to mention this a few months back.

Really surprissed to see this. The G11 is such a nice design in my eyes. I could only see the front lights being improved on an early facelift.

I also find surprissing the S-Class is selling that much better to be honest.

Surprised? Sales of the of the 7 have been quite slow, particularly in the U.S market. Incentives have become the norm to move sitting units. There was murmuring from BMWUSA to dealers hinting that the LCI will be signficant by BMW standards to further distinguish it from the 5 series.

Months Jan. to May

Don't want to turn this into yet another 7 vs. S debate, but even with the S facelift going on sale in about the month, the S saloon moved over twice as many units in May.

The F01 used to be neck and neck with the W221 until the W222 went on sale.

Sources: Manufacturers, ANDC
Mercedes-Benz S-Class US car sales figures
BMW 7-series US car sales figures

 

[Grosser]

Pepople buy S Class because of reputation, same way when people buy 3 series over C class. Maybe next gen 7 series will have more sales than S class.

 

[SKY]

Well, I didn'y know the difference in sales was that significant.

Curious to see what changes BMW brings to the 7er in order to differenciate it more from the 5er.

 

[Merc1]

People don't realize, but the current S-Class completely steamrolled the entire segment in the U.S. In 2014 the S-Class outsold the Lexus LS, Audi A8 and BMW 7-Series combined. Think about that for a sec. That has never been done before. This S-Class owns this segment and I said it when the 7-Series was revealed, it lost what little BMW driving excitement it had before. The BMW spec sheet reads just like the S-Class' so there really isn't any outstanding reason to buy a 7 over a S. If they are doing a facelift this early it's been pulled up to combat the fact that this 7 has made no impact on the S-Class. That said, the M760i is smoking hot. I'll take on please.

M

 

[SKY]

Not sure the problem is the 7er looking too close to the 5er, wince the S-Class looks more similar to the E-Class and still sells better.

I wonder if the next 7er will be released before the W223, since the FL will be coming soon and the W222, if it continues selling this good, might have an 8 year life cycle like the W221.

 

[klier]

The BMW spec sheet reads just like the S-Class' so there really isn't any outstanding reason to buy a 7 over a S.
M

Well, the 7er doesn't drive like a boat and doesn't have a tasteless interior....

 

[SCOTT27]

Sales may not have met expectations in the US but BMW also sell the 7er outwith the US market.
In fact if you look at the US market in the premium segment sales for import manufacturers are driven by SUV models.
Globally you see the 7er posting increase every month helped even more by the availability of the 740e and the M760Li.
The G11/G12 7er arrived on the market in October 2015 so it is still too early for an LCI.
The 7er on the trailer relates to an older prototype but with additional features not deemed eligible for production as of yet.

The big money for the luxury market in the US will be the introduction of the very first after two earlier attempts BMW X7 and BMW are keen to avoid the mistakes made with the GLE/GLS-Klasse in which one is just a longer wheelbase. Something that will hopefully be rectified for the next generation of GLS-Klasse.

 

[sako97]

Sales may not have met expectations in the US but BMW also sell the 7er outwith the US market.
In fact if you look at the US market in the premium segment sales for import manufacturers are driven by SUV models.
Globally you see the 7er posting increase every month helped even more by the availability of the 740e and the M760Li.
The G11/G12 7er arrived on the market in October 2015 so it is still too early for an LCI.
The 7er on the trailer relates to an older prototype but with additional features not deemed eligible for production as of yet.

The big money for the luxury market in the US will be the introduction of the very first after two earlier attempts BMW X7 and BMW are keen to avoid the mistakes made with the GLE/GLS-Klasse in which one is just a longer wheelbase. Something that will hopefully be rectified for the next generation of GLS-Klasse.

The large SUV market is growing, but the large limousine sector is as lucrative as ever. Recently from Bloomberg:

This is regarding the 7 on a global level.

BMW plans 7-series coupe to boost sales of top model line, report says

 

[empower77]

People don't realize, but the current S-Class completely steamrolled the entire segment in the U.S. In 2014 the S-Class outsold the Lexus LS, Audi A8 and BMW 7-Series combined. Think about that for a sec. That has never been done before. This S-Class owns this segment and I said it when the 7-Series was revealed, it lost what little BMW driving excitement it had before. The BMW spec sheet reads just like the S-Class' so there really isn't any outstanding reason to buy a 7 over a S. If they are doing a facelift this early it's been pulled up to combat the fact that this 7 has made no impact on the S-Class. That said, the M760i is smoking hot. I'll take on please.

M

While I give you that; what is a little misleading in these #s is that the S is the sedan; coupe; convertible and the Maybach. I would think that at least 20-25% of these mothly #s would be other variants than the standard 4 door variant.

That said; the S has owned this segment for decades now and they somehow manage to hit the home run every iteration. Have to give them credit for that.

What I do miss is the drama that the E65/66 7 series had. They actually made an effort on the inside to make it unique; with different switch gear etc; and when the F01/2 rolled around; it was just a bigger 5 series.

 

[Merc1]

While I give you that; what is a little misleading in these #s is that the S is the sedan; coupe; convertible and the Maybach. I would think that at least 20-25% of these mothly #s would be other variants than the standard 4 door variant.

That said; the S has owned this segment for decades now and they somehow manage to hit the home run every iteration. Have to give them credit for that.

What I do miss is the drama that the E65/66 7 series had. They actually made an effort on the inside to make it unique; with different switch gear etc; and when the F01/2 rolled around; it was just a bigger 5 series.

Yes they do, and this S has been the best one yet. All those variants are not near 20-25% either. Ask any dealership.

M

 

[Merc1]

Well, the 7er doesn't drive like a boat and doesn't have a tasteless interior....

Sour grapes. Get over it. S rules the segment, no matter how tasteless YOU think the interior is. It's matterless. S63 is the best driving "boat" ever.

M

 

[martinbo]

And yet, for all its market dominance, I hear rumblings of the pre-facelift W222 being a rather problematic model.
Funny thing is, for all of those huge S-Class volumes, I didn't see one on my recent road trip down to Durban. In a round trip of 1400 km. I saw quite a few G11s though - especially on the longer stretches - and whilst this is meaninglessly anecdotal, one has to ask, where are all those sales of new S-Classes going?
[Equally anecdotally - two years back in Manhattan, all I saw were S-Classes, tons of them!]

My point is, I find the presentation of overall volumes to be banal and uninformative. I'd like to see proper sales breakdowns - by country, by model, by fleet vs private - in order to get a deeper understanding of the luxury limo sales dynamic. I see it like this: if, say, a third of all S-Class sales is going to hospitality and concierge services then why should this matter to private buyers?

But isn't there a thread for the S-Class vs 7er bun fight already?

 

[tristatez28lt1]

I wrote this into the 7 series thread a while ago. BMW isn't happy with the car for various reasons.
1) communication: the communication and marketing around the 7 has been lacking. Not many people know about the carbon construction and the technical advances that were made on the inside (not seen to the naked eye). Sure people know about gesture control and self parking but that's exactly the problem - the perception is gimmicky.
2) the car didn't have a clear purpose or philosophy. It's not the typical BMW drivers car. BMW stretched too far going for the comfort of the s, the driving fun of BMW, and the tech of the A8 D5. Just put as many features and options into the car as possible. The s class strikes gold with that. It's the perfect iteration of the s class and the brand.
3) sales of the 7 haven't been good even though it was (for a while) the only all new car in the segment. Support and incentives have been incredibly high just to move the car off the lot and achieve normal results.

The LCI will come 2018 and it'll be the most expensive and thorough that bmw has ever done. Think MB E class MOPF levels.

 

[BBA]

G11/G12 LCI starts production in March 2019

 

[EnI]

What are you talking about, guys?

1.) 7er sales are doing just fine. 61,500 (+69%) units of 7er sedan were sold worldwide in 2016. While in 2017 (Jan-May) the year-to-date growth was 37.3% (26,300 units sold worldwide). That's very much within expectations, and very much constant sales figure since E65 7er. But the market structure has changed. US is no longer the biggest market for 7er. China is. So, slower sales in US are very much compensated elsewhere. But yes, it's true: SUVs and crossovers (ala SACs) are in strong demand; trending. Therefore X7 is coming, and also next Mk X5/6 sooner than usual. X8 is also being considered.

2.) There will be NO forced & extensive styling facelift for G11 7er but the tech will be upgraded to be on par with upcoming X7 and 8er. Coming as planned : in early 2019.

3.) As you can see BMW have quietly started to exercise (previously announced) 2 facelifts during certain models' life cycle. One is a classic LCI, the other one is more tech oriented update and is packed as extensive MY upgrade. Tech progress is so fast such changes are needed to be on par with rivalas and also with other BMW models.

So, no drama at all. Please stop reading & spreading fake news.

 

[SKY]

Hmm... I tend to trust @EnI a lot when it comes to BMW inside info. But I do believe @bmwblog is one of the best informed BMW websites around as well.

Maybe Horatiu can clarify what he has heard?

 

[Star&Car]

The 7 series has been selling with a big discount in Chinese market for a while now,before that,it just didn't sell.