What do you mean with "some exageration in the execution of these details"?. What are you refering?.

I love the way BMW are evolving the flame surfacing ... there is a nice progress from the latest models like X5, 3er coupe, 1er coupe, X6 to the F01 7er. Very consistent & smooth transition. Without shocks - as experienced with E65 vs previous generation of BMW cars. This time the transition is very smooth. Perhaps this will cause some disappointment since there is no huge jump in design. Yet be aware trends are different today - calling for reduced Zen-like design. More calm yet expressive & deep design. It's Bangle-design matured & refined. Perfect theme for the upcoming recession.

Yet I guess that can cost BMW a design leadership ... till the next generation which will again be more revolutionary & radical. Bangle's last effort before retirement.



Too sharp lines (some), too big grille, distorted proportions (too wide & too low + too large wheels) etc. And differences in lines - sharpness, angles, curvatures etc - that can lead to very different result IRL.

Personally I think everyone has now got over the shock of how radical BMW can be that we have lost the ability to showcase radicality as every has come accustomed to BMW design.

Some within BMW reckon although the CS Concept is giving rave reviews in the design area , if the car was introduced earlier people would hate it.
But you cannot deny that other manufacturers are stretching radicality into their conservative designs.

Although the previous E65 even in it's pre-facelift form has stood the test of time it still has the ability to turn your head and stand out in the traffic.
The 6er and Z4 are without a doubt modern classics.
Although their next incarnations take an evolutionary approach in their design with the Z4 showcasing more emphasis in surface work with lines that connect and form instead of disappearing along the body.

Your not online for 4 days and look what happens... Looks infinte times better then E65 and I was a big fan of that generation 7 Series. Car seems to be very well disguished with that new tape. Interior is still completely covered up and even the instrument cluster looks covered up with a fake tacho etc. over the top. Headreasts look great. I can see the dash is nicely tapered to the drivers side. FINALLY!!!

Exterior lines that are visible look great. Sorry but to me this car looks brillaint. Cannot wait to see it in full glory. I'll have one in short wheel base form and that stonking V8TT please.

God Bless BMW

As said many times by Bangle & van Hooydonk: with the current generation BMW wanted to push the limits / boundaries as further as possible, and in the next generation work on refining & evolving the solutions / design theme.

Current designs were a bold experiment to form a new platform BMW could work on the upcoming generation - evolving it.

So, for the next 7 years radical styling is gone at BMW. Refinement is the key word. Radical will be the new mobility concepts such as SAC, PAS, SAS, GT, microcar etc - but more in general shape than in styling.

But in the year 2015 ... Design revolution ver. 2.0 begins.

BMW and Cadillac have this in common. Cadillac's new look was ugly too on the first try, first generation CTS, but now it looks much better..2nd generation CTS. I expect this 7-Series to look way better than the mess of the current car.

M

These pics from world car fans do the car way more justice.... You can see the character lines a lot better.

BMW 7 Series Spied with Only Light Camoflage

Hi everyone

it is not often that I post here even though I make sure that all GCF news and debate are part of my daily fix! I hope that my post can lead to an interesting debate (and Scott, I certainly would not mind your perspective).

If this has been debated before, then apologies. I do not get the time to go through every post in detail, but I am pretty certain that this has not yet been discussed.

My question surrounds that standard tyre fitment on the new F01/02. It is no secret that most UK publications have bashed nearly every post E60 BMW for their standard fitment of run-flat tyres. There has obviously been a huge advancement in the technology around these tyres, but even so, it is quite obvious that the stiffer sidewalls create a harsher ride compared to standard tyres (I know of many a 130i driver who has changed the runflats for standard tires to get away from the "jouncy" ride).

This creates an interesting situation for the F01/02 and the upcoming F10 (5?). BMW has used the standard fitment of run-flat's as a differentiator and I for one would like the benefit on my wife's car (especially here in South Africa), but BMW has taken a severe bashing from a large contingent of motoring journalists over this strategy. In fact I would say that BMW's poorer showing in comparison tests since the E65 was released (across most run-flat shod models) was by and large due to the poor ride characteristics offered by the run-flats as opposed to the competition, who all still favour "normal" rubber.

This brings me to my actual point. I am pretty sure that BMW want to outdo the S-Class with the F01, it has been a constant goal to de-throne the king, but nobody has really come close. If the F01 is run-flat shod then I fear that it may already be an a disadvantage - there is just no way that one can make any concessions in ride quality in the super luxury class - the car will be flamed by every motoring journalist around if it has a compromised ride.

With all of the spy-shots of F01 mules, I am actually surprised that nobody has got a close up of one of the tyres (which should clearly show RFT on the side). I have found this frustrating as it is one area that I am really interested in from a BMW strategy perspective - Will run-flats become standard on all non-M BMW's?

An interesting point that one could use against my perspective is that the entire new range of BMW engineered Rolls-Royce's use run-flat tyres. Michelin PAX if I am not mistaken. If one looks closely as the sidewalls on these most recent FEP F01'ers, one can easily make out a small Michelin logo.

Do you think that these hyper-expensive Michelin PAX run-flats will be used as standard fitment on the new range of luxury BMW's?

Or do you think that BMW is confident that standard run-flats are good enough? (In the class, if they are keen for the top dog spot, then I have my doubts).

A third option is that BMW leave out run-flats altogether (as on the E65), but that would be a clear admission on their behalf that they are concerned with the harsh reviews that have been dealt out by motoring journo’s on their models with the standard fitment of run-flats. Even though there is a clear benefit to run-flats, this does not seem to be accredited in vehicle comparisons (which are undoubtedly vitally important from a marketing perspective).

I would be interested to get everyone’s views on this, which I feel is quite an important area relative to the F01.

Regards,
Dylan

hey it looks huge this car ...the mirrors look like thay come of the new c w204

i think if it turns out like the motor athaurity chop it would be nice the rear though not so greeat...

would like to see some more int pics

i see the int pics that we have it seems the air vents slant towards the driver hope the whole centre console is towards the driver that is how a bmw should be in my opinion

i am not a bmw man but i do remember driving the older bmws and it was like a bmw signature to have a driver facing centre console

i like the gear on the steering especially in the s claass it takes a few days to get used to then its nice ,,but the one on the current 7 was not so good my opinion the s and ml is easer to use