Debuts tomorrow

Several allegedly official images with BMW's Beijing-bound concept have surfaced the web, prior to tomorrow's official introduction.

It turns out the "exclusive design study" BMW talked about earlier this week is the Vision Future Luxury and most likely provides a sneak preview of the next generation 7-Series or possibly a rumored and more luxurious 9-Series sitting on top of the range. We don't have details about the car's dimensions but it seems to be longer than the 7-Series, especially when taking a look at that very long and sleek hood.

The concept seems to be a follow-up to the Gran Lusso Coupe concept but with rear doors and a modified front bumper. The B-pillar has been eliminated and BMW has opted for scissor doors for an easier access in what appears to be a very luxurious cabin with slim seats, wood accents and a carbon fiber trim.

Check back soon for full details.

Could this be the luxury saloon concept that BMW plans to reveal at the Beijing Auto Show in China on April 20? It certainly looks like it, but we won’t know for sure until tomorrow.

Purportedly sourced from BMW's media brochure, they show a large sedan with styling heavily influenced by the Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupe V12 displayed at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2013.

Previous reports suggested that the study was made to hint at a larger 9-Series sedan, but it's also possible that BMW is giving us an idea of the styling and technological direction it will take with the next 7-Series, itself expected to debut at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show (see spy pics here).

If more information comes out, we'll update this post. In the meantime, feel free to voice your thoughts below.

BMW’s new concept for the 2014 Beijing Auto Show isn’t the 7-Series-aping mega sedan that we were expecting, but it does pack enough technologies, premiummaterials and innovations to be worthy of a new BMW flagship. The concept is the BMW Vision Future Luxury, and as its name suggests it hints at what’s to come from the German automaker. For fans of Cliffs Notes, what’s to come is efficient design, lightweight construction, vehicle electrification, and an advanced interface.

Efficient Design
The design of the Vision Future Luxury is an evolution of the look we first saw on last year’s Gran Lusso Coupe, which BMW built to mark the start of a partnership with Italian design house Pininfarina. The front is dominated by the car’s grille, which looks to be bigger than any previous BMW grille we’ve seen. We can also see slit-like laser headlights, below which sit a pair of air curtains.

Moving rearward, a coupe-like profile and sloping trunk lid significantly reduce drag and work in conjunction with tautly sculpted exterior surfaces that help channel air. Other elements include an air breather system at the rear of the front wheel arches, a C-pillar with internal air channeling, and openings in the rear apron which vent air from the rear wheel arches. The final touch is organic LED (OLED) elements for the tail-lights that pave the way for a completely new treatment of the typical BMW L-shaped lights.

OLEDs consist of wafer-thin organic semiconductor layers positioned between two electrodes. The light-emitting polymer layer is roughly 400 times thinner than a human hair and do not require reflectors in order to produce the desired broad light dispersion, thus they can open up completely new ways of using light in and around the vehicle.

Lightweight Construction
BMW says the Vision Future Luxury has been developed using lightweight principles originally developed for its eco-friendly i range of vehicles, although the automaker doesn’t go into great detail yet. We do know that carbon fiber is a key material in the construction of the concept. The lightweight stuff is visible in the doors, under the seats and the shortened B-pillar. A full B-pillar as used in the past is dispensed with, as the carbon construction allows the seat frames to be integrated into the load-bearing structure. Combined with suicide-style rear doors, the lack of a full B-pillar allows for a wide opening for passengers getting into the rear of the car.

There are further expressions of innovative design, though. For example, the specific geometry and functions of an individual component are created from one and the same layered composite structure, comprising many different levels and materials. In the cabin, for example, an initial base layer of fine carbon fabric is followed by a functional level featuring user interface components, control and display interfaces and lighting functions, which in turn is followed by a further structural, load-bearing layer of aluminum for additional strength. Finally, the top layers comprise the premium materials one expects in a luxury car such as wood and leather. Specific materials found in the Vision Future Luxury concept include aniline leather, lime wood and silk carpet.

This principle is expected to feature in a new modular platform BMW is developing for its future models, sized from the 3-Series up. The first recipient of the new platform is expected to be the next-generation 7-Series, due in time for the 2016 model year.

Vehicle Electrification
BMW hasn’t mentioned what powertrain is found in the Vision Future Luxury, although we know it’s an electrified setup because of the eDrive badge on the trunk. The fact that the concept also features exhaust pipes suggests that a plug-in hybrid system has been utilized. With vehicles like the 2015 i8, BMW has shown that a plug-in hybrid system can be both powerful and efficient.

Advanced Interface
The Vision Future Luxury features a new style of user interface that provides improved integration of BMW ConnectedDrive services. The driver is surrounded by a wrap-around cluster of three intermeshing displays, creating the typical BMW driver-centric cockpit. The left-hand display mainly presents vehicle-related information, while in the center a programmable cluster displays speedometer, rev counter and other information, as well as context-adaptive supplementary data, which is displayed as and when relevant. Meanwhile, the right-hand display--the Driver Information Display--provides additional infotainment information and is controllable via a touch-sensitive interface. The driver also has the option of controlling all these functions by voice command, and further information can be supplied via a head-up display.

Part of the Driver Information Display also includes a section for the front passenger. Applications like booking opera tickets online direct from the vehicle via the BMW ConnectedDrive Luxury Concierge service can be displayed here, where they don’t risk distracting the driver. The relevant functions can be controlled by the passenger using the iDrive control and touch-sensitive interface.

With the Vision Future Luxury, those riding the back also have something to look forward to. They’ll find a pair of displays and a detachable tablet that can also control vehicle functions and access ConnectedDrive services. Everything from trip-related information like speed and journey time to information relating to concierge services can be displayed here. It is also possible to use online entertainment content like internet-based video and music streaming as well as gaming.

With its arrival at the 2014 Beijing Auto Show this weekend, the BMW Vision Future Luxury furnishes a long-term outlook on the perception of modern luxury for the BMW brand. Let us know what you think of the concept in the comments section below, and to see what else on show in Beijing simply head to our dedicated hub.

The 2016 BMW 7-Series has been spied undergoing testing in Germany.

Set to tackle the redesigned Mercedes S-Class, the next-generation model is heavily camouflaged but it appears to have similar dimensions to the outgoing model. Nothing is official but the previous reports have indicated the car could measure approximately 5010mm long, 1815mm wide and 1425mm tall.

Under the hood, we can expect an assortment of familiar engines. There could also be a plug-in hybrid variant as well as an M770i xDrive that could use a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8enigne that produces approximately 475 hp (354 kW) and 480 lb-ft (650 Nm) of torque.

Regardless of what powers the model, the next-generation 7-Series is expected to be significantly lighter than its predecessor as the model is expected to ride on a lightweight structure that uses steel, aluminum and carbon fiber. If previous reports pan out, the model could drop as much as 450 lbs (204 kg).

Could lose 204 kg (450 lbs)

Our spies recorded a short clip with the next generation BMW 7-Series while undergoing some winter testing ahead of what will probably be a 2015 reveal.

The all-new 7-Series will have just about the same proportions as the current model while the design will most likely be an evolution rather than a revolution.

Just like in previous spy photos, the spotted prototype appears to have a more raked windscreen and a sloping roofline while at the back there are two massive trapezoidal exhausts.

It will reportedly use a new platform which combines steel with aluminum and carbon fiber that could shave off as much as 450 lbs (204 kg) from the flagship's curb weight. Engine lineup is expected to be very generous and will likely include a V8 4.0-liter twin-turbo powering a rumored M770i xDrive which will have about 475 bhp (354 kW) and 480 lb-ft (650 Nm). This will be the range-topping version as according to our sources BMW isn't planning a fully-fledged M7.

BMW could decide to show the new 7-Series in the second half of 2015 before an early 2016 market launch.

Mercedes-Benz has certainly raised the bar on all levels in the full-size luxury sedan segment with its freshly launched S-Class, but it's just a matter of time before its arch rivals answer back with their own proposals, starting with BMW and its next 7-Series saloon.

You've probably seen the spy shots of the new luxo-bimmer and now, thanks to French magazine L'Automobile, we can share with you a video of the Bavarian brand's engineers pushing the G11-codenamed model on the snow in northern Europe.

The French are reporting that, according to their sources, BMW is working on a similar technology to the Mercedes Magic Body Control, which is a sensor-based system utilizing cameras to monitor the road ahead and adjust the suspension settings.

The next 7-Series will most probably break cover at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show.

According to reports out of Germany, BMW could be working on an extra-long wheelbase 7-Series to battle the extra-long wheelbase Mercedes S-Class.

Details are virtually nonexistent, but the rumors could make sense as the model would not only give BMW an S-Class XXL competitor but also another stepping stone to Rolls-Royce. As an example, the 760Li starts at $141,200 in the United States while the Rolls-Royce Ghost costs nearly $100,000 more.

The 2016 7-Series is expected to ride on a lightweight architecture that uses aluminum, steel and carbon fiber. Nothing is official but previous reports have indicated this could enable the sedan to weigh as much as 204 kg (450 lbs) less than its predecessor.

One of the first early prototypes of the next iteration of BMW's 7-Series with the internal code-name G11, has been caught out in the open in Northern Sweden undergoing winter testing.

There's too much camouflage on the car, let alone that many parts on both ends of the prototype, such as the lights, are non-production items, to have a definitive idea of what the G11 looks like, but the lines of the body seem slimmer, especially at the rear end of the saloon, continuing a trend that started with the current F01/F02 generation.

BMW officials have confirmed that the next 7-Series will be the first regular model after the i3 hatchback and i8 hybrid sports coupe to adopt the use of carbon fiber along with aluminum and steel in its construction, a move that will help make the large sedan lighter than the current model, and in the process, improve performance, handling and fuel economy.

The new 7-Series will be offered in two wheelbase lengths, standard and extended, with engine options to likely include a mix of straight-six, V8 and V12 turbocharged petrol units, a pair of diesels, and a petrol-electric hybrid version. An M Performance variant (not an M7) may also be in the cards.

Promises to be lighter and more efficient than its predecessor

The 2015 BMW 7-Series has been spied undergoing testing on the Nürburgring for the first time.

Dressed in heavy camouflage, the prototype appears to have an evolutionary design with similar proportions to the outgoing model. While there isn't much to see, the car has a prominent grille, an upward sweeping beltline and a dual exhaust system.

Regardless of what it looks like, the redesigned 7-Series is expected to ride on a lightweight platform that uses aluminum, carbon fiber and steel. This could enable the sedan to weigh 204 kg (450 lbs) less than its predecessor.

Engine options remain unconfirmed but previous reports have indicated the model could be offered with a 260 bhp (194 kW) four-cylinder, a 340 bhp (254 kW) six-cylinder and a 460 bhp (343 kW) V8. We can also expect at least one plug-in hybrid variant and, possibly, a new M770i xDrive with a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 that has approximately 475 bhp (354 kW) and 480 lb-ft (650 Nm) of torque.

To look significantly different than current model

The all-new BMW 7-Series has been spied once again but this time it appears to have a different design.

Earlier this month we should you what we believed at that point to be the next generation of the 5-Series. However, we were wrong as a reliable source – who learned from a BMW insider – told us those pictures actually depicted the all-new 7-Series. That car has made a comeback today and by the looks of things the next generation of the 7-Series will look a lot different than the current model.

We immediately notice the door handles are extremely close to the window line and there seems to be a considerably bulky C-pillar, while the body of the car appears to be a lot wider than what we are used to see on the current BMW flagship. Thanks to this latest batch of spy photos we also take a closer and clearer look at the massive dual exhaust which most likely will be retained on the production-ready model.

From what we know so far, the 2015 BMW 7-Series is expected to shave off as much as 450 lbs (204 kg) thanks to a lightweight platform which mixes aluminum with carbon fiber and steel. Engine lineup is rumored to begin with a four-cylinder packing 260 bhp (194 kW) and end with a V8 4.0-liter twin-turbo delivering 475 bhp (354 kW) and 480 lb-ft (650 Nm) in what will be a range-topping M770i xDrive.

These are the latest spy shots of a prototype for the 2016 BMW 7-Series, the next generation of the German automaker’s flagship sedan due in late 2015 or early the following year. BMW is taking an evolutionary approach with the styling of its next 7-Series, code-named the G11, although the latest prototype does reveal a slightly sporty demeanor characterized by its low and wide front.

Other new details include the exhaust pipe exits for the 2016 7-Series as well as the latest take on BMW’s signature Hofmeister kink. Once again, both regular and long-wheelbase versions of the car are expected.

While the exterior doesn’t depart dramatically from the look of the current model, the platform underpinning the 2016 7-Series will be heavily updated. BMW is revolutionizing the way it builds its cars in an effort to converge with increasing environmental consciousness, as well as ever-tightening emissions regulations coming into action across the globe. This means lighter construction, more fuel-efficient engines and some never-before-seen EfficientDynamics technologies such as thermoelectric devices for its future cars.

Lightweight construction
Using construction techniques learned from developing the new i3 and i8 electrified vehicles, the structure of the 2016 7-Series is likely to incorporate a mix of materials, with carbon fiber used in addition to conventional aluminum and steel. Weight savings could total between 300 and 400 pounds over the current model, which weighs close to 4,400 pounds in some guises.

Expect to see lightweight carbon fiber panels used for the roof, hood, and trunk lid. The lighter weight should not only improve economy, but also the handling, braking performance and acceleration.

Standard powertrain options for the U.S. market will likely include six-, eight- and twelve-cylinder engines, all with direct-injection and turbocharging technologies. Though there have been reports a V-12 may not be included this time around, this is unlikely given the popularity of past V-12 models and the fuel-saving improvements coming in the future.

The 2016 7-Series will also see the introduction of a plug-in hybrid model, possibly developed with technology borrowed from Toyota. For performance fans, expect a new M Performance model fitted with a twin-turbocharged V-8. It appears the M Division isn’t interested in using a full-size sedan for one of its dedicated M cars--and rightly so.

Advanced technology
As for technology, expect a myriad of traffic warning systems and convenience features such as self parking and even some autonomous driving capability. BMW recently announced a partnership with supply firm Continental to further develop its autonomous car technology, which should debut on this 2016 7-Series.

You can also expect the latest in connectivity, which BMW has partnered with Harman to develop. The new 7-Series should offer full WiFi capability, downloadable apps, 3D maps with real-time traffic and weather updates, and increased voice activation. You can see a preview of some of BMW's current connectivity technology grouped under its ConnectDrive umbrella by clicking here.

Stay tuned for updates as development of the 2016 BMW 7-Series continues.

The next-generation BMW 7 Series has been spied cold weather testing in Sweden.

The new sedan will also gain a long-wheelbase variant, though AutoGuide‘s spy photographers caught the standard model on camera. It’s expected that the next-generation flagship sedan from the German automaker will go on a strict diet thanks to lightweight materials like carbon fiber being used for its body.

Also in the works is a plug-in hybrid variant, as BMW looks to enhance the fuel economy of its lineup. The 2016 BMW 7 Series is expected to make its official debut at next year’s Frankfurt Motor Show.

BMW's new Concept car unveiled today at China's Beijing Motor Show Visions the future for the brand's next generation 7-Series Luxury sedan. Word play aside, this was confirmed by BMW officials who put an end to previous speculation that the study may hint at a bigger and more opulent 9-Series sedan.

While the futuristic exterior evokes last year's Pininfarina-designed Gran Lusso V12 Coupe with a sleek looking rear end and a drowsier front with truly massive double kidney grilles (as one of our commentators put it, "there won't be enough space for headlights if the front grille continues to grow like that"), the interior is completely new featuring ample doses of wood, leather and carbon fiber.

The rear compartment is accessed through rear hinged suicide-style doors and offers first-class space for two, with both passengers getting detachable tablets, a retractable table and deeply contoured single seats. Up front, the driver is greeted by a wrap-around cluster of three interlinked displays and an elevated lower center console that houses a new iDrive controller.

There are plenty of new generation tech features such as a new head up display that projects information directly in the driver’s line of sight onto the road, Laserlight headlamps that are said to have "concentrated, parallel light beam up to ten times more intense than that of an LED system", and new organic LED (OLED) tail lamps,

"We use visionary concept vehicles like the BMW Vision Future Luxury to show where we may be going with these themes in the future, and to give us new inspiration and motivation," said BMW design boss Karim Habib. "The BMW Vision Future Luxury – with its innovative technologies and with meticulous precision and quality in every detail – takes our thinking on modern luxury a logical stage further.”