Yesterday BMW released new pictures of its 2009 7-Series. Visually, the new 7-Series looks more curved and less like the controvirsial angular looks of the previous generation, however the 7-Series still looks like a natural continuation to the previous generation. The instrument cluster echos a return to traditional styling with simple, four dial setup and the transmission selector has been transferred from the steering column to the center console. The new car is both larger and heavier than the previous generation, however the design helps hide this and potential customers are unlikely to be able to notice this.
There is an array of specable features including Active Blind Spot Detection, Night Vision with new Pedestrian Detection, Side View and Back-up Cameras and more, all of which help it compete with the Mercedes S-class. Power in the new 750i (the only spec BMW refered to in the US release) is up by 40bhp to 400bhp from the previous generations 360bhp. However the European release speced the 3-Liter R6-Turbodiesel (730d), 3-Liter-R6-Biturbo (730i) and 4.4-Liter-V8-Biturbo (745i) as having outputs of 245bhp, 326bhp and 407bhp respectively with Torque levels being 540 Nm, 450 Nm and 600 Nm. The idrive system (once reffered to as ‘idistract’ by Jeremy Clarkeson) also includes the built in Owners manual where drivers will be able to access every detail of the cars performance and information. The car is expected to appear at the Paris show where GTspirit.com will be covering it’s unvieling, and deliveries will begin in Spring 2009.
ugly
Quite in line with the other BMW models. Although this is a lot saver design than the previous 7-series model. The love-it-or-hate-it from the old model is gone, let’s see how this affects sales.
nooooo….
why did they do that?
It looks way to nice and not as aggressive as the previous one.
I’m not sure if this new model will sell well
The front and back both look bulbous and wierd but I think it is a step in the right direction, definately a BMW.
Of course it’s ugly, yet it’s also
the most beautiful bmw from a long
time.
If you look at the front from the side it looks a lot like the Maserati Quattroporte.
@avalancher: I think the new M3 is one of the most beautiful BMW’s in a while.
I wouldn’t say the M3 is beautiful, it’s too aggressive to be beautiful.
BMW’s are functional, and thats all they need to be.
God! even Passat looks better!! fire damn BMW designer. he deservs to designing Wash-board not cars!!! i hate mercedes, but it looks much much better
If i was buying it I would not even go look at it, I would just go to MBZ dealer and pick up a S 550 without thinking twice.
Then the design is weaker and sucks, and honestly i have zero lust for it, and it doesnt offer anything more than my E39 M5..