Published: Feb 28, 2013

2016 BMW 7 Snapped for the First Time

The next-generation of BMW’s flasgship sedan will be rolled out late 2015.

These are the first images of the upcoming all-new 2016 BMW 7 Series, caught undergoing winter testing in Northern Sweden. Codenamed G11, the next-generation flagship sedan is in the early stages of development, so discussing its potential styling is pointless at this stage. In any case we don't expect it to depart too dramatically from the current model's design.However that’s not the case with the platform underpinning the car.

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BMW is approaching the building of cars from an entirely new perspective in an effort to make them greener, focusing on the use of lightweight materials and fuel-efficient powerplants. Up to around 180 kg will be shaved off by virtue of carbon fiber being thrown into the mix of conventional materials such as steel and aluminum - something BMW has already done when developing the new i3 and i8 EVs. A lighter car improves economy, but also handling and performance. Powertrain options will continue to include six-, eight- and twelve-cylinder units, incorporating direct injection and turbocharging technologies.

A plug-in hybrid will also be introduced, as will a new M Performance model, while expect a raft of advanced technology including self-parking and perhaps even autonomous driving tech, as well as the latest in connectivity such as 3D maps, full WiFi capability and improved voice activation. The 2016 BMW 7 Series is due out in late 2015/early 2016 after a debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2015. Expect plenty of updates on its development in the meantime.