Design
In 2007, BMW unveiled a concept car at the Shanghai Motor Show. That car, called the CS concept, was reported to reflect the styling direction of the new 2009 7 Series. In finished form, the new 7 Series borrows some styling cues from the sleek show car, but little else. Overall, the all-new flagship sedan from BMW offers little in revolutionary styling; in fact, it is quite conservative. The front of the 5-passenger sedan sports generous trademark BMW kidney grilles that are flanked by four covered headlamps and new LED daytime running lights. Below the grill, the 3-segmented air intake from its predecessor has been consolidated into one large blacked-out opening. The hood appears taller, most likely to accommodate a larger range of dynamic engine choices in the future. The side of the broad sedan features the automaker’s familiar crease and BMW’s traditional styling mark, the Hofmeister kink on the C-pillar. The rear of the new 7 Series exposes dual exhaust pipes, which had been removed on its predecessor. As in the previous model, a chrome strip just below the deck lid connects the tail lamps—now with prominent LED bulbs.
The interior reflects the same evolutionary design of the exterior. Anyone familiar with the current 7 Series will recognize the multi-adjustable seats, split armrests, and instrument layout. The transmission stalk, moved up to the steering column in the previous model, has returned to the console between the driver and passenger seats where it resides besides the next-generation iDrive controller. The iDrive system, BMW’s answer to an all-inclusive single controller for the infotainment center, has been updated to be easier to use and offer drivers more functionality.
