BMW 7 Series again sets the benchmark
The all-new fifth generation of the BMW 7 Series radiates a natural presence, inherent sportiness and an elegance born of precision in concept and execution. A new V-8 engine with direct injection and twin turbochargers expresses BMW EfficientDynamics at the highest level of performance. The 4.4-liter, twin-turbo V-8 delivers 400 hp and 450lb-ft of torque. New, exclusive BMW driver-assistance systems and comfort-related features further add to a truly exceptional driving and riding experience.

Inside the new 7, the ambiance is luxurious, of transcendent quality and - most important of all - inviting. The driver-oriented control center features Black Panel technology. More functions than ever are conveniently accessible to the driver from the multi-function steering wheel.

The new 7 is BMW's first passenger car with multi-link double-wishbone front suspension. The new Integral V rear suspension incorporates extensive use of aluminum. On the long wheelbase 750Li, self-leveling air suspension is standard. Also new, and a world premiere: Integral Active Steering, which adds speed-sensitive rear-wheel steering. With the standard Driving Dynamics Control, the driver can choose between four settings for shock-absorber firmness, transmission shift characteristics, engine-throttle response and power-steering assist.

An array of innovative driver-assistance options unique in the luxury segment includes Active Cruise Control with new stop-and-go capability, Lane Departure Warning, Active Blind Spot Detection, Head-up Display, High Beam Assistant, BMW Night Vision with new Pedestrian Detection, Side View and Back-up Cameras.

All of this will make the new 7 once again the benchmark for performance, luxury, efficiency and safety when it arrives in the US in early 2009.

KGP Spy Report

Development of the Rolls Royce RR has been ramped up as of late, and the new wave of prototypes have yielded our first glimpses of the "Baby Rolls." Although the overall interior is still very well covered, we can see some hints that lots of wood will be put to use on RR4's dash. A starter button is placed on the dash to the right of the steering wheel. We had to wait until an engineer got behind the wheel to nab some shots of a new iDrive-style controller residing on the center console. Separate buttons for "Tel" and "Nav" can be discerned in our close-up shot of the new controller.

We must assume that the new interface is closely related to the new iDrive system about to launch in the new 7-series. However, there are clear differences between the control knob in the new 7-series and this RR4 prototype, so it seems that BMW will be careful to avoid any parts-bin feel to their new "entry-level" Rolls.

This set contains interior shots of two separate RR4 prototypes—one has what appears to be a steering wheel from the '09 7-series, while the second test vehicle has a fully badged Rolls-Royce wheel, with revised switches that give us the true look of the new Roller's steering wheel.

The RR4 is expected to arrive as a 2010 model with a price ranging between $250,000 -$280,000—about 100-grand less than Rolls Royce's flagship Phantom. The RR4 will share many components with the '09 7-series, but we're beginning to see that those shared bits will definitely lie beneath the surface

NM Limited-Edition 2009 BMW® Individual 7 Series Sedan

With complete freedom, designers and engineers create truly liberating driving experiences. That's exactly what happened with the all-new BMW flagship 7 Series. Looking for the ultimate in innovation, exhilaration, and luxury? We've got the sedan for you. The all-new BMW 7 Series has an '09 launch date, but you can own an incredibly rare edition of this Ultimate Driving Machine®: Our NM limited-edition 2009 BMW Individual 7 Series Sedan. Our exclusive NM cars have a history of selling out in minutes. Literally. To commemorate 31 years of the 7 Series in the USA, we've got just 31 available for purchase. So here's the deal.

The machine (that you will crave uncontrollably): A totally new 4.4 liter V-8 engine with twin turbo and high-precision direct injection that generates 400 horse power and can crank out 450 lb.-ft. of torque. An all-new suspension design that delivers unmatched handling, Dynamic Damping Control, Active Roll Stabilization, and all-new Integral Active Steering. Legendary BMW luxury including 20-way heated and ventilated front seats, premium sound system and entertainment server. Superior navigation with Real Time Traffic, voice activation, and Head-Up Display. Improved safety features with a more rigid chassis, run-flat tires, rear- and side-view cameras, active blind-spot detection system, and all-new Night Vision to detect pedestrians.

The NM luxe treatment (that only yours will have): This amazing machine has the absolute most premium amenities available on a BMW. The inside is furnished with our exquisite Champagne Merino leather and Alcantara® headliner. The outside finish: our exclusive, 31-autos-only iridescent Diopside Black; 19" alloy wheels; and illuminated Neiman Marcus entry sills.

The deal sealer (as if you needed one): A once-in-a-lifetime European adventure to meet your new BMW and the engineers and designers who helped create it. Our exclusive trip includes two business-class tickets on Lufthansa® from New York, gourmet meals, luxury hotel for four nights including Munich and the French Riviera, and rare insider access to BMW. The adventure is scheduled for April 2009, so there's plenty of time to clear your calendar.

The details (to get in on the best automotive experience of your life): Visit BMWUSA.com to learn more, then get ready to place your order by calling 1-866-303-2696 beginning at noon EDT on October 16, 2008. And start brushing up on your German.

[Neiman Marcus]

Well, the 7-Series hybrid does have start-stop technology to cut off the idling engine in traffic, as well as use of BMW's regenerative braking system to store up power in the lithium-ion battery. However, BMW isn't exactly humble about the car's green credentials, as the battery pack is prominently on display in the trunk, not to mention the exterior's massive 'Efficient' graphics. The only mention of fuel-economy numbers is that they will be 15% less, but we're not exactly sure what that's 15% less than — especially as it's just a concept car. Still, expect to see this hybrid torque-heavy beast of a 7-series to hit showroom floors sometime. [BMW via carscoop]

Suitability Parameters:
Speed Merchants: No
Fashion Victims: Yes
Treehuggers: No
Mack Daddies: Yes
Tuner Crowd: No
Hairdressers: No
Penny Pinchers: No
Euro Snobs: Yes
Working Stiffs: No
Technogeeks: Yes
Poseurs: Yes
Soccer Moms: No
Nascar Dads: No
Golfing Grandparents: No
Very Serious Businessmen: Yes
Sheiklets: Yes

Also Consider:
• Audi A8
• Mercedes S-Class
• Lexus LS600h L
• Jaguar XJ
• 2001 BMW 740i Sport
• a used Bentley Arnage and a good mechanic
• Soviet-era ZIL Limo

Vitals:
• Manufacturer: BMW
• Model year: 2008
• Base Price: $78,900
• Price as Tested: $93,470
• Engine type: 4.8-liter DOHC 32-valve V8
• Horsepower: 360 @ 6,300 RPM
• Torque: 360 @ 3,400 RPM
• Transmission: 6-speed Automatic
• Curb Weight: 4552lbs
• LxWxH: 203.9" x 74.9" x 58.4"
• Wheelbase: 123.2"
• 0 - 60 mph: 5.8 seconds
• EPA Fuel economy city/highway: 15/23 MPG
• NHTSA crash test rating: N/A

Also See:
• 2008 BMW 750Li, Part One
• 2008 BMW 750Li, Part Two

Acceleration: ***
The 360 HP from the 4.8-liter V8 certainly isn't disappointing, but you won't be wowed by it either. That's not to say anything bad about the engine, it's just the car it's been fitted to — weighing in at 4552 lb — is massive. Of course, this is all relatively speaking, because you still have more straight-line punch than any limo this side of a Presidential motorcade has a right to.

Braking: ***
Nothing you wouldn't expect here. The brakes work well, but then this is a huge car, so they'd better. Though our car had developed a bit of a squeal, it was probably from flipping so many tricks during its life as a press car.

Ride: ***
Compromising the ride for the sake of more involved handling would have been excusable in a standard-length 750i. But in the limoized 750Li, ride should take a bit more precedence. Perhaps my gripes would have been addressed if the car simply had thicker rubber on smaller wheels, but the suspension itself felt like it should have been more compliant.

Handling: ***
There's no doubt BMW knows how to make a car handle well. That said, trying to give it extra sporting credentials by fitting huge rims and low-profile tires seems rather silly. This is no sports sedan. It's a massive car from every angle, and you're really not going to be pitching its extended wheelbase sideways going around corners. That weight that you're constantly reminded of on tighter turns translates to a very planted sensation on high-speed expressway ramps. Just don’t mention low-speed corners — the gimmicky variable-ratio steering and long wheelbase combine to ruin those for the big 7-series.

Gearbox: **
The six-speed automatic transmission operates smoothly in normal mode, perfect for normal driving. Switch it to sport mode and it holds gears a bit longer and becomes a tad bit annoying. But whatever you do, please do not put the gearbox in manual mode unless you're in a completely confined area where nobody can see you make a fool out of yourself. Even after a week with the car, I was constantly upshifting when I wanted to downshift and downshifting when I wanted to upshift. Of course, that was after spending an entire afternoon looking for the downshift buttons on the back of the wheel in the first place...or were those the upshift buttons?

Audio: ****
As you'd expect from an optional $1800 "premium sound package," the audio system sounds quite nice. However, the price doesn't include the extra $600 you'll pay for Sirius, and the $350 for the HD radio tuner. There's also an auxiliary jack for your MP3 player. But despite all this, the car shows its age by having an obsession with CDs. There's an in-dash disc player, an additional pop-out CD changer, and a complicated disc holder that wastes space in the center console.

Toys: *****
Luxury used to be about keeping the occupants as calm as possible. Now, luxury has become synonymous with keeping everyone in the car as busy as possible. The 7-Series excels here. Obviously, there's the iDrive system, which by itself will keep you plenty busy. Then there's the $2200 night vision system, which is useless since it doesn't use a heads-up projection, instead displaying in the dash on the main screen. Combined with the $2400 active cruise control radar, which brakes for you in emergencies, you might be able to get away with just driving around with your HID lights turned off. The best toys on this car are the five power-operated sunshades for the back seat passengers. You get one for each side, a tiny one for each quarter window, and a big one for the rear. Of course, you've got your standard heated seats front and rear too.

Value: *
Cars like this suffer massive depreciation, so next to used examples just a year or two old, new ones simply don’t represent good value. With the all-new 2009 7-series just around the corner, if you really must have a new one, it probably makes sense to wait for that.

Overall: **
The 2008 7-series isn’t a bad car; you just know that BMW knows how to build something better. The range-topping model for the entire company, it should be the ultimate expression of everything BMW is capable of. Instead it represents everything that’s wrong in Bavaria. The company wanted to challenge its customers with this car, and it has, but it’s failed to offer them a reward for the effort they put in. The Ultimate Driving Machine should be all about reward, but here, it’s all about frustration.

Also See:
• 2008 BMW 750Li, Part One
• 2008 BMW 750Li, Part Three

The challenge that BMW presented to the market came on two fronts: the exterior and the interior.

The exterior is to blame for most of the 7-series’ criticism. Here, toned down since 2006, the ultimate production vehicle expression of Bangle’s “Flame Surfacing” design ethos looks much less radical, than it did seven years ago. Always a well-proportioned car, it attacked those basic building blocks with antagonistic, concave lines that upset the eye as it flowed along the car. The result is a both strangely emotive yet cold and precise, perverting the traditional feminine grace associated with car design into something that’s more David Cronenborg than Robert Zemeckis. Today, the 750Li looks utterly distinctive, aloof and elitist; all qualities other designers of expensive cars seek to imitate both in concept and in detail. You don’t look at the car and think “beautiful.” But if you think about it, you think “perversely attractive." Challenge met.

The interior also proved controversial, but for one reason alone: iDrive. Possibly the worst executed best idea ever to find its way into a car, the original version of iDrive never worked like it should. Intended to eliminate the huge number of buttons necessitated by the ever-increasing number of in-car gadgets, it sought to provide one easy and intuitive interface for all of the vehicle’s secondary functions. This 750Li features the second, but not latest revision of the system, which is only marginally less frustrating than the original. We’ve experienced that latest system and are please to report that it finally works as promised and is probably our favorite of the current vehicle-bound human machine interfaces. But the 2nd gen in this 750Li lacks the separate Menu button and simplified four-way movement. If you owned the car, you’d figure it out eventually, but you’d never be happy about it. Strangely though, it’s the least of the interior’s problems.

After dropping Ben off at his house one night, Wes climbed out of the front, where he’d been riding, and into the back, where he preferred to be chauffeured when Ben wasn’t there to make fun of him. On the plus side, it meant I didn’t have to talk to him, but it did make us look like even bigger idiots when we got stuck half way across the parking lot, blocking traffic. I’d inadvertently triggered the electric parking brake during a three-point turn. But lacking any indication that I’d done so, then immediately frustrated by the counter-intuitive gear lever, I couldn’t figure out how to make the car move forward. Several minutes and at least three windscreen washes later — the lever for that is identical to the gear lever, and is located in an identical place — I managed to figure out the problem and begin the long journey to Wes’s hotel.

With a freshly cleaned view of Detroit’s night time roads ahead of me, the 367 HP, 4.8-liter V8 made quick work of the on ramp and cruised effortlessly on the highway, as any big BMW should. Problems arrived on the off-ramp 30 miles later though, the variable ratio steering switching from tight for speed to loose for maneuvering unexpectedly, so turning the feel-free wheel what I guessed was the appropriate amount nearly had us running off the road. Nor did it cope with the corner well, the 5.5” extended wheelbase eliminating the 7-series’ credentials as a driver’s car.

That long wheelbase makes for an incredibly spacious back seat, but that back seat is where the 750Li’s ability to cosset its passengers ends. The suspension is still tuned for driving, meaning too many of Michigan’s concrete expansion joints make their way up through the big wheels and into the cabin for Wes to have a truly relaxed experience (yes, he complained about it too).

Nor is the driver’s seat a relaxing place to be. iDrive, despite its noble intentions, does very little to eliminate overcomplication from the 7-series’ interior. Not only is it impossible to adjust your seat (there are four buttons arranged in a seat shape on the center console, controlled by a knob that twists, clicks and pushes in multiple directions) but things that you use frequently, liked the indicators, don’t work like they should, if at all. If you drive multiple cars — as we’d assume any 7-series owner would — you’ll find yourself constantly signaling instead of canceling. From the outside, you must look like a drunk driver, swerving all over the road, looking for buttons and levers, indicating merrily all the while in the opposite direction of travel.

We eventually arrived back at the hotel tired, frustrated and relieved to be out of the car safely, having managed to avoid hitting anyone, anything, or being taken to the loony bin for erratic driving. If this doesn’t sound like an experience you’d associate with luxury, then you’re not alone. The next day, climbing into my ancient 633CSi, complete with non-functional air conditioning and a broken rear quarter window, I was able to make the long drive home relaxed in the knowledge that my car would do what I told it. I may not have looked aloof or elite, but at least I was comfortable in its manually adjusted seat.

BMW designed this 7-series to make us think. And it does — that we want a car capable of both cosseting its passengers and rewarding its drivers rather than punishing both. At this price level, in this class, that car isn’t currently available. Let’s hope that with the 2009 BMW 7-series, it will be.

Also See:
• 2008 BMW 750Li, Part Two
• 2008 BMW 750Li, Part Three

As the 2010 Chevy Camaro Concept showed, there's a benefit to sticking to your styling guns (though, ironically, recent BMWs have been rolling refutations of that notion). We're especially taken with the extended, set-back cockpit design shown in the drawings. Hopefully, that design will translate into other models.

[Source: BMW]

THE NEW BMW 7 SERIES

* World's first Night Vision system with individual pedestrian recognition
* World's first production car with front side view camera
* First BMW Saloon with speed-related Integral Active Steering
* First BMW with Lane Change Warning
* BMW 7 Series to feature EfficientDynamics for class-leading CO2 emissions and fuel consumption

The launch of the fifth generation of the BMW 7 Series sets a new benchmark in automotive luxury, technical innovation and class-leading driving dynamics, combined with emissions reducing and fuel saving technology.

The flagship of the BMW model range debuts in November with a host of world firsts and will initially be offered with a choice of three powerplants, one diesel and two petrol engines. The two petrol-powered cars will be offered with a long-wheelbase body too. All three engines produce more power yet use less fuel and produce less emissions than the models they replace.
Model

Power
hp

Torque Nm

Zero - 62mph Seconds
0 - 62

Top Speed Mph

Combined
Mpg

CO2 Emissions g/km

BMW 730d

245

540

7.2

153

39.2

192

BMW 740i

326

450

5.9

155*

28.5

232

BMW 740Li

326

450

6.0

155*

28.2

235

BMW 750i

407

600

5.2

155*

24.8

266

BMW 750Li

407

600

5.3

155*

24.8

266

* Electronically-limited.

The BMW 730d sets a new benchmark in terms of drivetrain performance. The new all-aluminium 3.0-litre straight-six cylinder diesel engine produces 245hp at 4,000rpm. Its effortless real world driving smoothness comes courtesy of a peak torque figure of 540Nm attained from 1,750rpm through to 3,000rpm.

The 2,993cc powerplant posts the lowest ever CO2 figure of any previous BMW 7 Series and it is also the most economical 7 Series ever. Its 192g/km emission figure is class-leading for conventionally powered luxury cars, while no other competitor comes close to its 39.2mpg combined consumption figure. It can accelerate from zero to 62mph in 7.2 seconds and has a 153mph top speed.

To put the BMW 730d's competitive advantage in context this luxurious vehicle records near identical fuel consumption and CO2 emissions to the Mercedes C320CDi - a car that is two market segments below the 7 Series and is smaller and lighter than the BMW.

The impressive performance of the 730d is, in part, possible due to third-generation common-rail direct injection technology, incorporating piezo injectors, that operates at a peak pressure of 1,800 bar. This system ensures a near perfect combustion process. Weighing 185kgs the new six-cylinder diesel engine is also 5kgs lighter than its predecessor.

The BMW 730d is set to be the biggest seller in the UK, accounting for approximately 85 per cent of sales.

The BMW 750i and 750Li are the range flagships. The new 4,395cc V8 engine from the recently launched X6, featuring twin-turbochargers and high-precision direct injection technology, produces 407hp from 5,500rpm to 6,400rpm; impressive figures that are backed up by an equally stunning 600Nm of torque from 1,750rpm to 4,500rpm. Such breathtaking performance sees the BMW 750i accelerate from zero to 62mph in 5.2 seconds (5.3 seconds for the 750Li) before going on to an electronically-limited top speed of 155mph. Consumption on the combined cycle is 24.8mpg, while CO2 emissions equate to 266g/km.

The all-aluminium V8 engine powering the 750i and 750Li also features its own world first - twin-turbochargers and catalysts that are placed within the V-space of the engine block. This not only optimises packaging but the reduction in manifold length and larger cross sections mean the engine breathes better for enhanced performance. Double-VANOS variable valve technology and high-precision direct injection technology further aid engine performance to the degree that all the innovations combine to offer a V8 engine that has an equivalent output of a traditional 12-cylinder unit.

Aimed at customers who prefer the characteristics of a petrol-powered BMW six-cylinder engine, the BMW 740i and 740Li are also offered. Using an internationally-acclaimed 2,979cc powerplant, the BMW 740i musters 326hp and 450Nm of torque for rapid yet serene performance. The twin-turbocharged engine features high-precision direct injection and Double-VANOS variable valve technology to achieve optimum performance. The car accelerates from zero to 62mph in 5.9 seconds (6.0 seconds for the 740Li) before going on to an electronically-limited top speed of 155mph. The 3.0-litre BMW 740i and 740Li post combined fuel consumption figures of 28.5mpg and 28.2mpg respectively, while returning emissions figures of 232g/km and 235g/km.

All BMW 7 Series models come with a six-speed automatic gearbox as standard.

EfficientDynamics
The launch of the new 7 Series means the entire BMW range now comes equipped with EfficientDynamics technologies as standard. With its roof, doors, bonnet and side panels all made from aluminium to dovetail with the principle of lightweight engineering, the BMW 7 Series also has other innovative class-leading technology which improves engine performance, while cutting fuel consumption and emissions.

Brake Energy Regeneration uses the engine's power on overrun, such as braking, to charge the battery for the car's electrical circuit. When the driver is accelerating the alternator disengages so all of the engine's power is channelled towards the car's performance. Other ancillaries, such as the air-conditioning compressor, are also able to disengage to improve the all round performance of the car. This intelligent use of drivetrain power is why EfficientDynamics technology has helped the 7 Series become a class-leader in terms of performance, fuel consumption and emissions.

World firsts
The BMW 7 Series' drivetrain superiority is reinforced with a plethora of automotive firsts. All 7 Series can now be specified with the world's first car available with a Side View camera system. In addition to Park Distance Control that aids slow speed manoeuvring, the front side view camera system provides another tier of driver awareness. With the touch of a button two forward facing cameras mounted in the front bumper can show an overview of traffic conditions on the iDrive display. This allows the driver to negotiate a partially obscured junction, leave a car park or drive through a narrow gate with absolute confidence.

The new BMW 7 Series can be specified with the world's most advanced Night Vision system in a production car. BMW was the first manufacturer to fit Night Vision to a premium car and it has now upgraded this package to include a pedestrian recognition system in another world first. A control unit analyses video data of human behaviour as part of the Night Vision camera's reach and can subsequently alert the driver if it detects a human is moving into the path of the vehicle.

Building on the impressive list of innovations, the 7 Series is the first BMW to feature Lane Change Warning combined with Lane Departure Warning. The latter is a system that first appeared on BMW 5 and 6 Series models and uses a camera to monitor road markings. Should the driver start to stray out of lane, a gentle vibration of the steering wheel provides an alert. However, courtesy of two radars located at either side of the rear bumper, Lane Change Warning adds another level of driver safety. The sensors constantly scan the blind spot either side of the vehicle, up to a distance of 60 metres, and alert the driver to the presence of another vehicle with a triangular symbol in the door mirror housing.

Cars that are specified with Head-up Display and Lane Departure Warning have the added driver benefit of a speed limit warning system. The camera used as part of the Lane Departure Warning system can now also scan oncoming road signs to alert the driver of any impending speed restriction. The current speed limit is then displayed in the Head-up Display. This is the first time a production car has been offered with a speed warning system that can read road signs.

Completing the host of innovations is speed-related Integral Active Steering. A car specified with this optional equipment allows the rear wheels to turn by up to 3º. At slow speeds it is highly manoeuvrable, while at a faster pace it offers enhanced composure and driving dynamics.

Tailormade driving dynamics
The latest generation BMW 7 Series is the first to have Drive Dynamic Control featuring Variable Damping Control as standard. Drive Dynamic Control is the umbrella function that lets a driver customise the characteristics of his or her car. As part of this Variable Damping Control can bet set in comfort, normal, sport, sport + modes. For the first time though these settings are infinitely variable depending on driving style and road surface condition. The selected mode now alters the throttle response, gear change speed and steering feel.

To aid driving dynamics and comfort the 7 Series is the first BMW Saloon to feature race car-like double-wishbone front suspension. This arrangement allows engineers to fine-tune the suspension for the best kinematic configuration. The rear suspension consists of a five-link arrangement made of aluminium which can be further optimised with the inclusion of Adaptive Air Suspension.

The BMW 7 Series comes as standard with Dynamic Stability Control + featuring additional functions such as Hill-Start Assistant, Brake Drying, Brake Pre-tensioning, Soft-stop and Brake Fade Compensation. Dynamic Traction Control can be activated via a button to enable spirited driving or greater traction of slippery surfaces such as snow and ice.

A new interior
The new BMW 7 Series comes with one of the most luxurious interiors of any premium car. In addition to a new iDrive controller and larger 10.2-inch screen, owners will be able to programme frequently selected radio stations or navigation destinations on favourite buttons located on the centre console. For the first time on a BMW the instrument cluster comprises a high-resolution colour display with Black Panel technology. This new style of display makes for greater character clarity and, when not in use, forms a smooth, homogenous black surface that gives the interior an added level of modern elegance.

The 7 Series is the first BMW to enable a customer to upload their favourite music to be stored on the vehicle courtesy of an 8Gb hard drive. In excess of 100 albums can be saved in this way for the driver's enjoyment. Four-zone automatic air-conditioning is fitted as standard while, for the first time, the 7 Series can have a rear seat ventilation system combined with massage function. The air-conditioning system feeds cool air to the seat squab and backrest, while 12 massage bubbles gently knead the occupants' upper body.

The BMW 7 Series comes with BMW ConnectedDrive. This facility features elements such as a dedicated call centre with a concierge service, automatic fault awareness and BMW Assist, the electronic safety net that automatically dials the emergency services in the event of an accident, free of charge for three years.

The BMW 7 Series goes on sale in the UK on 15 November, 2008. Prices will be announced in due course.

After a quick glance we can positively say that despite taking it on the chin for the styling on the current 7-series, it seems BMW has only decided to fix one end of the car. The front end finally looks balanced and although bland, it's at least attractive with the headlights from the CS concept we expected it to receive. The tail end? Well, that's been "blessed" with some really odd, droopy tail lights at the corners. Seems they want to make you look at its ass, even if the only thing you'll do is make fun of it.

Also notable is the new 7 will be abandoning the goofy, column mounted shifter in favor of a more traditional console shift, even if it does look weird. The car will also be getting BMW's internet system, no surprise there, with what appears to be back seat individual monitors which we bet will hook up to the net when the car is in motion. While i-Drive remains, it seems button creep is working it's way into the new 7's cockpit, just as it is for other cars in BMW's lineup. Also, we see faux chrome side vents are continuing their onslaught on our senses with the new 7-Series. Look to hear a lot more about the car very shortly.

Oh and by the way, it's now pretty obvious that "purported" leaked shot of the 2009 BMW 7-Series was more like an "actual" leaked shot. [BMW via WCF]

This new teaser gives us a nice look at the LED headlights that get their style from the sleek CS Concept. We may not be serious golfers, but we can't wait to see what kind of driver this new 7 is going to be. Wait, what? "Driver" is a golf term? Really? Who knew? [roadfly via 7post] hat tip to Jason!

[via Pistonheads via JF @ FastLaneDaily]

The above photo, allegedly the 2009 BMW 7-Series, is making the rounds through the BMW fan forums. While the "photo" is both pretty and sporting some dashing, Honda Civic-inspired headlights, it's almost certainly fake. But just because it's a probably an example of p-shop fakery doesn't mean we can't still have some fun with it. So go ahead and help us dissect the shot by telling us why you think this pic doesn't pass muster in the comments below — and no, it's not a fake just because it's lacking the optional "Flowbee" package. [Bimmerfile via 4wheelsblog]

It looks like this BMW 7-series prototype has some plumbing issues. We don't know what to make of this test, which has yards of tubing emanating from the engine and apparently being routed to a collection device in the front seat. It looks like a Bavarian Shop Vac from hell, but we suspect there is something a bit more technologically advanced going on. Sadly, that's the extent of our knowledge on just what's being tested here. It might make for an ideal "Add Your Own Caption" story, however.

Word on the street is the new 7-series will feature a range of engines including the 272-hp 3.0-liter straight-six, 414-hp V8 and probably some version of the 6.0-liter V12. We hear it'll be out on the streets during the next calendar year, but we hear a lot of things. [World Car Fans]

This spy update is a little different than most. It's not so much about WHAT was photographed; it's more about WHERE it was photographed. While trolling the roads around General Motors' Milford (Michigan) Proving Grounds looking for GM prototypes, we were stunned to see a BMW 7-series prototype approaching us—about one mile from GM's track entrance. We pulled over just in time to snap a series of shots as the new 7-series rolled by, followed by a Mini Cooper apparently serving as a chase car. We had to wait about thirty seconds for traffic to clear enough to permit a U-turn to investigate further, and the delay cost another photo of the 7-series actually entering the GM's Proving Ground entrance. As we rolled up to the light outside the track entrance, the big Bimmer was just disappearing from view as it headed deep into GM territory.

It's a strange sight, indeed, to see another manufacturer's still-secret prototype entering another automaker's test facility. The incongruity can only be explained by one thing: the Global Hybrid Cooperation. The GHC is the Hybrid development program being conducted jointly by Mercedes, BMW and General Motors. This new two-mode Hybrid system was first unveiled on GM's GMT900 sport-utility vehicles, but will soon be adapted for use on the Saturn Vue, as well as for use on light-duty passenger cars—like this new 7-series, for example. BMW's development guru, Burkhard Goschel, explained the reason for the cooperative thusly: "The creation of a shared technology platform for hybrid drives will allow us to more quickly integrate the best technologies on the market." Industry sources suggest that the GHC is the most cost-effective, time-efficient method to play catch-up with the likes of Lexus, Toyota, and Honda, that have been focusing on Hybrids much longer.

DaimlerChrysler and BMW representatives were reportedly on hand for the late-April preview of the two-mode Hybrid system on the GMT900 SUVs, and fielded some questions on their participation in this joint Hybrid program. But when it came time to talk specifics about what BMW vehicles would get the two-mode Hybrid system, conversation ceased, and no details would be provided. This 7-series prototype's visit to the GM Proving Grounds appears to have answered that question without the need for any corporate disclosure. GM will be building the Hybrid transmissions systems for Mercedes and BMW at GM's Baltimore transmission plant, which may have necessitated this 7's visit onto GM Territory. Whether development of the 7-series Hybrid is far enough along to be offered at the launch of the rest of the new 7-series' lineup is not known, but it's development is now clearly under way.