This photo may or may not be a photo of the all-new 2009 BMW 7-Series. The car pictured here does have many of the same details of the prototypes that have been caught testing, but it could be a really good photoshop.
It remains to be seen if this is what the new 7-Series will look like when it is officially unveiled. It is rumored that we could see it sometime this fall.
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Comments (26)
If its the real next-gen BMW 7series, I dont think it can compete with the MB S-class or even Audi A8. Exterior kinda ugly.
Posted by will | April 16, 2008 4:53 PM
Posted on April 16, 2008 16:53
All BMWs look the same to me.
Posted by Tommy Boy | April 16, 2008 5:42 PM
Posted on April 16, 2008 17:42
its almost to conservative
Posted by o | April 16, 2008 5:55 PM
Posted on April 16, 2008 17:55
They keep making their cars look more and more like Pontiacs
Posted by Prelo | April 16, 2008 6:34 PM
Posted on April 16, 2008 18:34
They look kinda Korean to me. Or maybe the headlights resemble the Australian Holden, I don't know. The curvature on the (now bigger) grille is odd, its like a Buick, only separated in a kidney shape.
Didn't like it at all. Hope this is not it.
When the new Infiniti Q is due? If it's as good as the M35/45, we'll have another BMW beater.
Posted by Sphere | April 16, 2008 6:54 PM
Posted on April 16, 2008 18:54
"All BMWs look the same to me."
/agree. Great engineering, but for the money, can't BMW make it more attractive or distinctive? Most ppl can't tell the difference between this or a 3-series.
Posted by Kell | April 16, 2008 6:56 PM
Posted on April 16, 2008 18:56
Gee, a cross between a Volvo and a Ford, nice job!
Posted by harryo | April 16, 2008 8:08 PM
Posted on April 16, 2008 20:08
it is defenitively a 7-series. Photoshop 7.
Posted by the dorque retard | April 16, 2008 8:36 PM
Posted on April 16, 2008 20:36
Anything to lose any Dangle design touches is a benefit here.
Posted by longdxcommuter | April 16, 2008 8:52 PM
Posted on April 16, 2008 20:52
It's a photoshop.
It's just an enlarged 3 series, not a real car.
I don't really understand why everyone is on here criticizing BMW's designs and especially the next gen 7 series. This isn't it...
Posted by Cheap Car Lover | April 16, 2008 10:57 PM
Posted on April 16, 2008 22:57
i think that this lost some of the... elegance (if that's the right word) or presence the old 7 series(es) had. judging from the front, it doesnt look like it costs $50k more than a 3 series
Posted by Eddie | April 16, 2008 11:13 PM
Posted on April 16, 2008 23:13
OK..... So what dose the next gen 7 series look like? I meen if you're going to show a car, show us the car you're talking about.
Posted by Tommy Boy | April 17, 2008 10:53 AM
Posted on April 17, 2008 10:53
can someone say jaguar s type
Posted by unknown | April 17, 2008 12:27 PM
Posted on April 17, 2008 12:27
Ughh...
I hope not.
Having been a previous generation 7 series owner (pre bangle),
I can definitely say that BMW had alienated a lot of 7 series drivers with the Bangled 2002 redesign, and at the same time attracted new fans with the Bangled versions.
As many drivers, and onlookers know, the 100k+ market is very sensitive to radical design changes... and if you were to compare the 2 generations side by side...
it was a huge leap for BMW to introduce such a large change, on their flagship model.
(Often the demographic you catered to, are high powered professionals, executives, CEO's with very discerning, eclectic tastes.)
I'm sure the bean counters in Bavaria, know the truth; especially when it comes time to compile those quarterly, and annual earnings reports to shareholders. Along with the designers, who have since been replaced.
Ehem.
The current 2008 edition, has softened up since the 2002 introduction, and actually looks decent now. IMO
Another issue was Idrive...
While I didn't necessarily hate the Idrive introduction.
It served to alienate a few drivers as well.
(it's not all THAT hard to figure out.)
While Bangle, did start, and set a trend in motion back then...
He probably should have left the "flame surfacing" intro to the Z4 alone...
but then again I am a bit biased, I really liked the classic roadster look of the Z3 (heck I like old classic designs, period.), and respect the Z4's edgy style.
People in the big sedan market segment are also very fickle, and have very very long, and unforgiving memories.
If the above pic is any representation... it would seem BMW is taking a rather conservative route to try and appease old school fanatics, and I don't know if they're going to win back many customers either...
But then again, there is much to be said about brand loyalty.
As in the case of a few of the neighbours here, that still drive the 7 series... lets just say they get very impassioned when we start discussing their 7 series...
In short, it's a love hate relationship.
"Love the way it drives, detest the abhorred design statement, expletive, expletive............."
No worries though, life goes on... most previously interested buyers I know in the segment, have since moved onto other vehicles. (either the S-class, or A8 series from Audi)
Either way, it's a tough spot to be in, as a designer.
Love them or hate them...
These are still driver's machines, and they perform very well, and still set the bar in terms of the "fun to drive" factor to the masses.
Just my 2 pence.
Posted by GT Fan | April 17, 2008 1:26 PM
Posted on April 17, 2008 13:26
BMW isn't publicly traded on any market (I know you didn't say they were). They're majority owned by some ridiculously rich Quandt family in Germany and always have been. There are shares of the company, but it's not public.
Posted by Cheap Car Lover | April 17, 2008 5:13 PM
Posted on April 17, 2008 17:13
"Tommy Boy:
All BMWs look the same to me."
He is right, it's true, however on a technical plan, I find that it is different. What do you think?
Posted by paul | April 17, 2008 5:33 PM
Posted on April 17, 2008 17:33
Morever,I find about VWs for example, all of theirs cars don't look the same.
Posted by paul | April 17, 2008 5:36 PM
Posted on April 17, 2008 17:36
Different tech same body, thats all I really see from BMW these days.
(And they say American auto makers are lazy in stile)
Posted by Tommy Boy | April 17, 2008 6:35 PM
Posted on April 17, 2008 18:35
"BMW isn't publicly traded on any market (I know you didn't say they were)."
This is correct.
For clarity, I was referring to institutional, and other, etc etc investors, along with employees.
"They're majority owned by some ridiculously rich Quandt family in Germany and always have been. There are shares of the company, but it's not public."
Yes, they are still majority shareholders/owners.
Back on topic though...
I didn't mean to sound too spiteful of Mr Bangle during my late afternoon diatribe (lunch hour blues).
Not all his designs were as controversial.
Chris Bangle, did oversee, and pen some great designs in his time, which has led to the current 3 series. (Which I find rather pleasing to the eye)
The last generation 3 series, is a good example of his team's work.
As for the "all BMW's look the same"
LOL you should have seen their pre-1996ish lineup...
Everything from that era was so boxy looking, and looked a lot more similar than this current generation.
All the focus on cross over vehicles, is kind of cluttering vehicle lineups from all manufacturer's in my opinion.
But I guess from a financial perspective it's easy money for the manufacturers.
Drives like a car, not quite as big as an SUV, and future ability to use a diesel/smaller more efficient engine.
Sorry, I've gone off topic again.
<---- geek
Posted by GT Fan | April 17, 2008 10:19 PM
Posted on April 17, 2008 22:19
"BMW isn't publicly traded on any market (I know you didn't say they were)."
This is correct.
For clarity, I was referring to institutional, and other, etc etc investors, along with employees.
"They're majority owned by some ridiculously rich Quandt family in Germany and always have been. There are shares of the company, but it's not public."
Yes, they are still majority shareholders/owners.
Back on topic though...
I didn't mean to sound too spiteful of Mr Bangle during my late afternoon diatribe (lunch hour blues).
Not all his designs were as controversial.
Chris Bangle, did oversee, and pen some great designs in his time, which has led to the current 3 series. (Which I find rather pleasing to the eye)
The last generation 3 series, is a good example of his team's work.
As for the "all BMW's look the same"
LOL you should have seen their pre-1996ish lineup...
Everything from that era was so boxy looking, and a lot less variation than this current lineup.
All the focus on cross over vehicles, is kind of cluttering vehicle lineups from all manufacturer's in my opinion.
But I guess from a financial perspective it's easy money for the manufacturers.
Drives like a car, not quite as big as an SUV, and future ability to use a diesel/smaller more efficient engine.
Bah... BMW just replace my e36 generation M3, with a slightly updated M3 without all your current extra tech gizmos, and I'll be a happy camper.
Oh wait... I guess that's what the 1 series is now...
Sorry, I've gone off topic again.
<---- BMW geek
Posted by GT Fan | April 17, 2008 10:25 PM
Posted on April 17, 2008 22:25
whoops double post...
<--big geek
Posted by GT Fan | April 17, 2008 10:29 PM
Posted on April 17, 2008 22:29
WTF? shut up already.
Posted by Chucklehead | April 17, 2008 10:32 PM
Posted on April 17, 2008 22:32
Very, very generic looking. Compare it to the Aztec I drove for years - now that thing had style.
Posted by Tommy Boy | April 19, 2008 8:09 AM
Posted on April 19, 2008 08:09
I think its an improvement over the current 7 series, which only looks good to those who were forced to get used to it. It definitely looks more muscular. But still, something could be done to at least make it not look so....... something.
Posted by Allen | April 21, 2008 1:03 PM
Posted on April 21, 2008 13:03
new 7 seri IQ is about ~25~30
its like trizomi persons
Posted by amir mahmood shasti | April 29, 2008 12:12 PM
Posted on April 29, 2008 12:12
Guys its not too far from the real model, look at the URL attached
Posted by Zaidoun Arbad | July 3, 2008 8:10 AM
Posted on July 3, 2008 08:10