New BMW 7 series launches tomorrow

Stallingrad

If the image leaked from their online configuration is anything to go by this is just another disappointing, butt ugly BMW. It looks like a Chinese knock off. With the S-class so dominant you wonder why they did not go for something that carved out its own niche. We shall see more tomorrow...

Special Circumstances

Stallingrad wrote: »

It looks like a Chinese knock off.

Could be worse - some of the chinese knock offs of the Mini look better than the latest genuine 5 door.

Effects

Special Circumstances wrote: »

some of the chinese knock offs of the Mini look better than the latest genuine 5 door.

No they don't.

ofcork

Shades of the 3 series about that looks ok to me.

Roger Mellie Man on the Telly

What kind of human being buys a brand new 7 series? It seems to not fill any niche in the market whatsoever.

I can understand buying one as a 3k luxobarge, but not new.

jimgoose

Bleh. Not a patch on a new V8 XJ.

pred racer

Meh. Doesn't look special at all

Truckermal

pred racer wrote: »

Meh. Doesn't look special at all

Definitely especially a A8..

Voodoomelon

I thought they'd start a new trend with the front end as they normally do, but it's just a big ass 3 series which is not a good looking car.

It's unlucky the way the development cycle falls for the 7 in relation to the S-class. The S is always nearly a full generation ahead by the time the 7 series hits showrooms. You could argue that BMW always have a solid 2 years to work on what the S-class has brought to the segment with their latest model, but by then the 7 would have been in development for 5 odd years.

I think BMW took a step backwards with the last model in relation to the interiors, they'll have to come up with something pretty special to match the S-class. I've a feeling though that BMW never really target S-class customers, they seem to think making it a better handling car and more engaging to drive than the S is enough and everything else takes backstage. It really isn't any more.

I hope they haven't strapped on a few gimmicks like gesture control and self parking and hoped that it's enough. The carbon integration is impressive however.

mickdw

The current generation S Class would appear to be pretty much in a whole new class sitting above 7 series and A8.
The S really is something special whereas that new 7 is just average looking.
Merc are getting it together. C Class looks the business too.

Special Circumstances

mickdw wrote: »

The current generation S Class would appear to be pretty much in a whole new class sitting above 7 series and A8.
The S really is something special whereas that new 7 is just average looking.
Merc are getting it together. C Class looks the business too.

Yeah but does it have strap on gesture control???

listermint

I quite like the New 3 Series.


But i cannot abide that 7 Series, it has a wiff of Lazy Large Kia off it. Its just simply not cool whatsoever.


whatever happened to timeless cars like the E38.


BMW needs a good slap across the head.

goochy

the outgoing 7 was handsome far too like 5 i thought i knew my cars but with 7 has to be close up to spot its a 7

goochy

the outgoing 7 was handsome far too like 5 i thought i knew my cars but with 7 has to be close up to spot its a 7

goochy

the outgoing 7 was handsome far too like 5 i thought i knew my cars but with 7 has to be close up to spot its a 7

goochy

the outgoing 7 was handsome far too like 5 i thought i knew my cars but with 7 has to be close up to spot its a 7

porsche959

Recent 7 series have been boremobiles on the styling front, nothing to re-capture the brutish elegance of the Mark 2.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_7_Series_%28E32%29

BMJD

It looks like the unfortunate spawn of a 3 Series and Skoda Superb.

Foxhole Norman

Looks horrible.

mickdw

Special Circumstances wrote: »

Yeah but does it have strap on gesture control???

What's this gesture control ?

kyote00

Gesture control....

Car automatically acts like a **** on the road so the driver doesnt have to....:P

D_BEAR

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Viyt2aIOG8

mickdw

D_BEAR wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Viyt2aIOG8

Its not bad to be fair but it's just more of the same really.
If the roll in and out of the garage is the best they can perform on the press video, I wouldn't think the driverless functions are up to much

Bigus

I'd say Tesla are having a good laugh at the screen interface , among other things !

Great idea for Mercedes to go down the comfort route with their latest models leaving BMW to rush around the Nurburgring . Who the hell wants a sporty LIMO ?

MuppetCheck

Some of those functions aren't exactly cutting edge...some are also extremely tacky.

I don't mind the looks, I think it's colour sensitive but it's an improvement on the current model imo.

Voodoomelon

I've come around a bit, looks quite sharp, if a little unchanged from the bonnet backwards. I'd be confident it has the best on screen tech of all German rivals.

galljga1

So goochy, what do you think of the outgoing 7?

BMJD

They renamed the back seats "the executive lounge"

Feck off

homer90

Voodoomelon wrote: »

I've come around a bit, looks quite sharp, if a little unchanged from the bonnet backwards. I'd be confident it has the best on screen tech of all German rivals.

Agreed, almost Bangle like, depends on what angle I'm looking at !!

Not sure if this segment has the presence it once had, everything seems 'too' generic from a styling point across the range. (IMO)

MuppetCheck

I don't think the M-Sport spec has suited the last 2 or 3 generations. I'd much prefer a well optioned standard model.

Also that car is too big to be white. A 3 series might just about get away with it...just...but for launch photos that looks ungainly.

Voodoomelon

The second white picture in particular. Looks like a slammed, tacked up Lexus.

mickdw

In general I like the look of m sport bmws but that white 7 series absolutely lacks class.

goochy

i think the current 7 only makes sense in lwb form or 740d form . beshoffs have a 2010 740d for under e 33k which wouldntbe bad buy.

goochy

i think the current 7 only makes sense in lwb form or 740d form . beshoffs have a 2010 740d for under e 33k which wouldntbe bad buy.

Cienciano

Roger Mellie Man on the Telly wrote: »

What kind of human being buys a brand new 7 series? It seems to not fill any niche in the market whatsoever.

I can understand buying one as a 3k luxobarge, but not new.

Rich people.

mailforkev

Roger Mellie Man on the Telly wrote: »

What kind of human being buys a brand new 7 series? It seems to not fill any niche in the market whatsoever.

My parents' next door neighbours used to have an E38. Back then you bought a new 7 series because it looked cool as fcuk and you could pretend to be The Transporter.

Then BMW replaced it with an ugly blob. The neighbours replaced it with a Merc.

Oafley Jones

I wonder if the Bangle years permanently scarred BMW.
Love or loathe them he was at least trying something different and ever since they promoted him out of the job their mantra seems to be to not upset anyone with anything that radical for their core series. You'd think the new 7 series would signal the next generation of BMW design language, but no it's just bits and pieces of what's gone before writ large. The interior is especially tedious. Nice as I'm sure it is to sit in you wouldn't be surprised if that dash belonged to a lot older car.

landmarkjohn

I guess most of this discussion is about aesthetics but to dismiss a 7 series new or old based purely on aesthetics would be folly IMO. There is a whole lot more to the experience i.e. being a passenger or driving one. The right E65 is a fantastic car, as was the E38 and the E32.

The "ugly blob" E65 looks do improve with familiarity, the facelift 2005/6 on looks better, and I always think about it like an ugly baby, if it's your baby you love it ;-)

Stallingrad

Oafley Jones wrote: »

The interior is especially tedious. Nice as I'm sure it is to sit in you wouldn't be surprised if that dash belonged to a lot older car.

All that brushed aluminum trim and quilted leather, both not a big feature of past BMW's, really smacks of trying to replicate the S-class. Most of that silver trim looks like it was an afterthought. No one talks about ergonomics anymore, its all about how the bling, and how the switches feel and look. Don't get me started on that stupid strip lighting on the dash, FFS.

Stallingrad

This guy is so ashamed he's taking the badge off.

landmarkjohn

Looks like it might have got the scroll wheel volume control on the steering wheel like an Audi, a welcome addition.

landmarkjohn

goochy wrote: »

the outgoing 7 was handsome far too like 5 i thought i knew my cars but with 7 has to be close up to spot its a 7

One of the styling cues of a 7 series is the size of the kidney grills, it has the biggest across the range, if it is in your rear view mirror it is prominent.

blingrhino

After watching that promotional video , i would wonder what level of spec is standard for the irish market.
Almost all of the cool features are probably optional unless you spec a 760iL.

Tea 1000

Why only a 730d diesel option? They should have the 740d too.

Cienciano

Stallingrad wrote: »

All that brushed aluminum trim and quilted leather, both not a big feature of past BMW's, really smacks of trying to replicate the S-class. Most of that silver trim looks like it was an afterthought. No one talks about ergonomics anymore, its all about how the bling, and how the switches feel and look. Don't get me started on that stupid strip lighting on the dash, FFS.

In fairness, that looks pretty amazing to me

Tea 1000 wrote: »

Why only a 730d diesel option? They should have the 740d too.

BMW have stated they're releasing a special 1.8d 7 series for the irish market

r3nu4l

Cienciano wrote: »

In fairness, that looks pretty amazing to me

Horses for courses I suppose. It looks absolutely hideous to me. Tacky! Certainly not classy or refined. /shiver!

BMW have stated they're releasing a special 1.8d 7 series for the irish market

Nothing would surprise me coming from BMW

goochy

interior quality simalar to current s class which some plp also think is glitzy and tacky . at least its not bland and quality is good. still love a lwb jag xj myself they deserve morw success !

James Delaney

Yeah - the Scroll Volume 'facility' has been on the Opel Zafura since 2000 - Nice Touch & improvement for a car costing €100k ???

Tea 1000

r3nu4l wrote: »

Horses for courses I suppose. It looks absolutely hideous to me. Tacky! Certainly not classy or refined. /shiver!




Nothing would surprise me coming from BMW

Out of interest, post up an interior that you consider classy.
I like that interior. Not the best ever or anything, but I don't think it's bad.

HandsomeDan

Looks awesome. Haters gonna hate - they be jealous.

Stallingrad

Looking at the BMW website they really have gone crazy on the tech and luxury, very impressive, just hope it works, remember the first E60's? Also looks well from some angles, maybe it is better in the flesh.