hey if you have a look at the spy pics off the interiro they do resemble a few things off the chop off the interiro we have seen recently the speedo dials look same or simalar the steering is very simalar the i drive knob is different but placed in the same place hope the menu buttons wont be black on the 7er and they should be alimium or silver like the s class ....but from the spy pics they look very close to the chop obviously it will be much better quality and finish but design looks similar which is not a big improvement on the current 7er really looks like bmw are gone shy or taking it easy in terms off changes...buy the way nice watch the guy in the pic's got..also the air vents are simalar to the chop

Really? Said who? I'm betting it will have something quite similar to what Mercedes has done with the digital cluster. Spyshots from a few months ago showed that the cluster is still heavily disguished by a fake, "mechanical" cluster system... Something lies beneath waiting to surprise us...

I don't think it is/was fake. If you compare the spy pic from January '08 to the pics of the dashboard mock-up model which appeared online last week, you can see, it's all there: scroll wheel on the steering wheel, instrument cluster featuring a combination of classic speedo/tacho and displays, new iDrive Controller,..., you name it. So I think we already saw the real deal back in january.

Jan. 18th 2008:

last week:

If i have the time, i'll find the report and load it up...

I guess a simple counter to that would be, why bother having a small LCD screen in the instrument cluster when you can put the same information at the driver's eye level with BMW's HUD system.

Have a good look. Have a really good look. Especially at the base of the LCD screens and the thin rubber sheet placed over the top to act as a temporary cluster and also hide what lies beneath. You can see the bottom on the tacho's is coming from the LCD screen. The rest is hidden beneath the sheet covering.

Have a really good look at this one guys. Nothing escapes the eyes of a Neurosurgeon :P

EDIT: Thought I'd use my kickass skills with paint to show the areas that I am talking about. Have a good look...

It seems you're right.

The interior mock-up pic in AutoBild is representative ... Design wise. Of course there have been some detail changes made after the earlier prototype but the general design stays as portrayed in that AB photo. As said many times before: design leaning much on X5 / X6 dash layout, with some familiar touches from E65.

So, yes - the spy pics & the mock-up photo are showing same piece of interior.

Mind that iDrive knob cover in the spy photo is fake! The knob is positioned as seen in X5 / X6, not like in E65 - as the cover on spy photo suggests.

With X5 / X6 design / quality layout BMW have established a perfect platform to work on. In F01 they will go one step further - more detailing, richer trim but in general the design is similar - but not same. We are talking about central dash & console here ... that's the car's "operating center" ... of course the operating units (iDrive controller, e-Shifter, HVAC controls, Hi-Fi unit etc) are same. Since they are (or will be) present also in other BMW models.

More individual design? Expect that in the new BMW flagship - the 4dr GT. Which will be the new flagship of BMW brand in every term: design, technology, quality, price segment etc. While - as one of you've said - 7er is transforming into a "large executive sedan". But will still be fresh & avant-garde, but definitely not as daring as E65 - all due to making space for the new (extra-extravagant - as seen on CS) flagship.

So, is it true the 7er is losing some if the special character established with E65? IMO it is. But it will still feature some special features & detailing which will made the car special enough ... while fitting perfectly in BMW model range.

And again: everybody who expected the new "big-bang revolution" in design with the F01 7er were wrong! As said many times before: the new generation design will be all about refining & evolving. But some models will still bring some new design features which can be named as "small revolution" or "evolutionary revolution". Some new design cues as seen on CS Concept (larger grille, shark-like nose, new LED tail lights, Hofmeister kink echo, ...) are coming ... together with flame surfacing evolved: even sharper convex / concave shifts - with sharper creases, even more sculptured body panels, even more creases ... but the lines are more fluid this time.

In this generation of cars some other models will be the design pioneers ... F01 7er is not one of them.


***

Who will love or hate the new 7er?

IMO nobody will hate it. Or perhaps the hardest opponents of iDrive system & flame surfacing. But they hate all BMWs.

Some will be disappointed since F01 is not as revolutionary & design pioneer as E65 was, and to "ordinary", "bland" & "boring" compared to E65.
But as said: it was not F01 7er's task & aim this time to shock & to stand out - as it was the task of E65 ("To make a new bold long-term statement for BMW brand" - as Chris once said). Other upcoming models will get such a role this time.
Also not to be ignored: a new BMW flagship is coming - the 4dr GT. Therefore F01 had to be more restrained & elegant this time : to make a sharper contrast to the extravagant new upcoming flagship. So - all to differentiate the characters to the max. Also the new F10 5er will be sportier as before - also to move away from F01.


Who will love the F01?

IMO most of people will. The car has much "instant eye-pleasing" design than E65 has. It is bringing a so-beloved E38 sporty spirit back while still remaining massive & having a huge road presence. Also the avant-garde styling is still there: expressive & significant sharp flame surfacing, and some other interesting details. Also the interior is avant-garde but not controversial any more - also due to the fact we got used to BMW designs & styling.

Not to mention the facts the F01 will be packed with WORKING high-tech. And, much better driving dynamics as E65. BMW will again set a benchmark in large luxury sedan segment.


****

So, the ones who want to stand out will be a bit disappointed this ... since F01 won't stand out from BMW model line as E65 was as its introduction. F01 is merely "just another modern BMW". But versus the other similar cars in the road the car will definitely stand out. It has a HUGE road presence - yet this time without being (too) provocative. Versus the current rival model line (S, A8, LS, XJ, QP, Pheaton, even Flying Spur) the car just shines ... I'm not aware how will the new A8, QP & XJ look like but Im' sure 7er will do very well. But vs the S-class & LS ... F01 looks so much up-scale & extremely aggressively dynamic ... very formidable.

Eni is right , it will be a love or hate situation with the 7er all over again.
Whilst some thought the E65 was radical on launch at 2001, I remember at 1994 with the launch of the E38 some thought it was too bland.

Anyway my mail box has had many questions regarding "please show us the car" So I have given in - Convoy on the move... Here is a slight teaser taken yesterday. My Nokia N93 taken through an open window.




Up early today because we are heading up the coast to Highway 1 (1200 KM) of coastal beauty. Then throughout the course of our stay to 90 Mile Beach and onto Haast Pass and Abel Tasman National Park ( More of a location scouting for the Z4 , someone told me of it in a restaurant and their photos of this tranquil area were very beautiful. For this I imagine the Z4 in Alpine White to give a contrast between white sand and crystal blue ocean.

Is the car far on the right side, having a car and a bus behind, a new 7er or what?