BMW 7-series (2009): new spy photos

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BMW is putting the finishing touches to its new 7-series limo that it will unveil in summer 2008. The main change for the fifth-generation 7-series is the newfound adoption of style over the chunky brutalism of today’s E65 model – and our latest spy photos reveal plenty about the new limo.

Take the front end of the new BMW 7-series, for instance. There’s still a smattering of black cladding and swirly monochrome tape disguising the exact shape of the four-door in our scoop photos, but it’s plain to see the twin kidney grille is noticeably larger. The headlamps in production spec will have a pronounced eyebrow running across the top of the light unit, which is more tapered than today’s heavy-handed lamp.

Today’s Seven was the harbinger of change at BMW, as Chris Bangle unleashed the full force of his flame surfacing on Munich’s first production car in 2001. The new model heralds a return to more elegant design, according to those who’ve been given a sneak preview.

An elegant BMW 7-series?! Surely some mistake...

You can knock the looks of today’s Seven, but you can’t knock its success. It is in fact the most successful limo Munich’s ever produced, with especially strong sales in the US and Asia.

But as well as a newfound style, the new 7-series ushers in a fresh emphasis on high technology and a flurry of new engine choices.