Spy Shots: Is BMW working on an M7?
Don't get us wrong; we've got no beef with enormously powerful luxury vehicles. In fact, we love 'em. But while Mercedes' AMG division has shoehorned their bestial power plants into all manner of vehicles big and small, BMW's Motorsport division has always drawn a line in the Bavarian sand. They'd tune the 3 Series and the 5 Series along with a handful of coupes and convertibles, but that's where it ended. But that line seems to be eroding, as spy shots of what could be an M7 sedan have been snapped soon after the news of M-tuned X5 and X6 crossovers.It's hard to tell from the shots exactly what we're looking at, but it appears to be a sportified version of the latest-generation 7 Series (codename F01), complete with quad exhaust tips and lightweight painted wheels. Of course, it could be a tuner special, a simple M-Sport appearance package or an Alpina version, but then why would the BMW badges be covered? If it is an M7, it would be a first for BMW, and could, according to speculation, derive its power from a twin-turbo V12 with over 600 horsepower. Coupled with some weight reduction, the BMW M7 could give the the Mercedes S63 AMG and Audi S8 a run for their money, of which there is plenty at stake in this stratospheric sub-segment. And as with the reported emergence of an xDrive 7 Series, the Bavarians might be growing tired of seeing their customers leave town for Stuttgart or Ingolstadt. Props to RJ for the tip!
[Source: MotorTips]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
garlinski 8:51AM (1/13/2009)
I like it. I'll never be able to afford it, but i like it. Very subtle.
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123Rigved 9:01AM (1/13/2009)
the m7 is damn cool !
guys check out this cool video of the BMW M7 -
http://www.techreviews4u.com/2009/01/13/offtopic-bmw-m7/
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Mike 9:00AM (1/13/2009)
As I've said again and again: a tuned 7 is not in the true spirit of the ///Motorsport division (this car will NEVER see a track), but is definitely a smart business decision...
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geo.stewart 9:48AM (1/13/2009)
yep./
"always drawn a line in the sand?"
I think its been more of an issue of not having anything to shove in the 7 series because they havent held back anywhere else. As soon as they did an M-XUV, they lost any right they had to pick on AMG.
Eric C 10:35AM (1/13/2009)
There has not been an M XUV.
They have done various "Sport" versions of the X series but no M.
SOhp101 11:26AM (1/13/2009)
How many M3/M5 owners really take their cars to the track?
I'm not saying none of them do it, but I can bet that the very large majority of them don't.
Fooman 3:48PM (1/13/2009)
I still think this is an Alpina mule, in which case the BMW badges would still be covered, as Alpina cars use the Alpina badge. It kinda makes sense for Alpina's next b7 to run the m5/m6 engine with a supercharger. That would be in the 600-700 hp range, and the quad exhaust makes sense.
BMW has stated many many times there will not be a M7, nor a M1 (while a CSL like 1 series may happen and is in truth would be an M car like the 850 csi which for somewhat obvious reasons was not called the M8)
DJ 9:01AM (1/13/2009)
If the CS Concept is really dead, then this makes total sense
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Justin 9:27AM (1/13/2009)
Ingolstadt is in Bavaria too, you know.
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Andrew 9:20AM (1/13/2009)
"Of course, it could be a tuner special, a simple M-Sport appearance package or an Alpina version, but then why would the BMW badges be covered?"
I thought that was standard practice in many European countries, to remove the badges from your BMW or Benz, especially high-performance models, so as not to appear flashy and ostentatious. Imagine, subdlety and humility - the exact opposite of the USA where fake "M" and "Type R" badges and faux fender vents abound.
I do occasionally see VW's without badges around here, and while I'm not a fan of removing them entirely, I do appreciate the "sleeper" look more than the in-your-face look.
Anyway, while it is likely they will have an M7 or at least an "M-sport" package, and it would make sense to have M compete with AMG across the entire line... the photo doesn't prove anything one way or another.
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Tourian 9:52AM (1/13/2009)
"I thought that was standard practice in many European countries, to remove the badges from your BMW or Benz, especially high-performance models, so as not to appear flashy and ostentatious."
Hmmm, I always thought of it for the opposite. Say for instance you drove the cheapest S-class or 7series with the smallest engine, like a 420SEL or 735i (older models yes). Once you take the badges off, the model badges not the company emblem, nobody can tell and you look just like the V8's/V12's,etc etc to many people.
Brandon 10:06AM (1/13/2009)
I see what you mean with the covering of the badges, but ALL of them are covered, hiding even the branding of the car.
I MAYBE can see an owner hiding what TYPE of BMW it is, but not the fact that is IS a BMW...
SOhp101 11:29AM (1/13/2009)
I think this is just simply a result of some people that prefer the look of no badges at all... especially during an automotive trend that veers towards bigger and bigger sizes (ever take a good look at the C-Class MB badge on the grill lately? or take almost any recently debuted car/SUV for that matter).
Eroke 9:38AM (1/13/2009)
I saw this car in Münich in the middle of october, and are almost certain it´s the upcoming V12. But wouldn´t mind a M7, thats for sure....
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Eddie 9:37AM (1/13/2009)
I hope BMW builds an M7. Why let the S63/S65, S8, XJR have all the fun?
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Geeky1 12:54PM (1/13/2009)
Indeed. I'm more of a Mercedes person, personally, but there's a lot more power to be had out of the M275 than the 604hp they're holding it at in the S/CL/SL65 (likely to keep the transmission from puking all over itself the first time the driver punches it... the 5g-tronic isn't all that robust to begin with and 738ft-lbs of torque in a 5000lb+ automobile is asking a lot of any transmission).
Hopefully a ~650-700hp 7 series would be enough motivation to get them to fire back with 800+hp. Not sure what I'd do with all that power-I punched it in the wet at about 25mph in an 07 S600 the other day while getting onto the freeway and the traction control light didn't go out until it was into 3rd gear, and it's not exactly a challenge to set it off on dry pavement either-but I want it anyhow.
Tourian 9:54AM (1/13/2009)
I agree with geo.stewart. I remember an interview wit hone of the M division directors or eningeers where he said the 7 series chassis was just too big and unwieldy to ever be a M. But WTF is up with these M SUV's? So I think they've already gone back on that and an M7 makes total sense. Maybe if there's a Transporter 4, he'll be back in a BMW.
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Khalid 10:22AM (1/13/2009)
Bmw is probably coming up with some sort of V12 version to satisfy demand in Dubai and Russia. But I don't think this is it, the lack of bmw emblems means its most likely a tuner, hamann possibly?
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CH 10:26AM (1/13/2009)
Hmm seems kind of odd to cover all the badges of the car, as it is pretty obvious that it is a BMW. Except, and that is my guess, this is the Alpina B7, then it would make sense since they have own badges for their packages. Or since it is in Ulm (as stated in the comments of the source) it could be a Hamann package, they also always change the badges for their own bird thingy. (On their website it says the F01 is "coming soon")
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DJ_Swammi 10:31AM (1/13/2009)
Brand, meet water. Now get down.
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