Spied: Is the BMW M7 testing in plain sight?

[lemetier]

Originally Posted by Cuz5150

Wait wait wait.....in before, " NO M mirrors"

And seats!!! Where are the ///M Seats?

Some of these comments are quite humorous.

"the M7 would sell like crazy no pointless exercise"

- No it would be about as successful as the VW Passat W8/Phaeton, Aston Martin Rapide, and stand alone Maybach attempt.

"Could maybe just be a M sport version? A 7 series with performance parts and maybe an option for a more aggressive tune thru M Performance?"

- Already exists and goes on sale early next year?

"I think it's important that BMW offers this car because is needed in the market. The Audi S8 and MB S-Amg for more than 15 years selling well. I agree it could take a V8 with 600 HP or 650 HP V12 T. BMW wakes up and starts selling this car."

- Possibly the Alpina B7 (600hp V8) or M760i (610hp V12TT) fit that description?

"An S65 competitor?"

- Only at the price point; a price point in a class which is dominated by one brand...Bentley. All the other diners at the table are simply fighting over scraps. If they cannot bring the same Status cache or loyalty to the game, they will starve.

Performance wise, the S65 is not very impressive.

0-60
MB S65: 4.1sec
MB S63: 3.7sec
BMW 750Lix: 4.3sec
Audi S8+: 3.3sec
Alpina B7: 3.6sec (mfr estimate)
BMW ///M760Lix: 3.4sec (mfr estimate)

1/4mi
MB S65: 12.4sec @ 112.3mph
MB S63: 12.1 sec @ 115.5mph
BMW 750Lix: 12.7sec @ 111.9mph
Audi S8+: 11.6sec @ 121.1mph

Alpina B7 and M760i 1/4 will be under 11.5 and in the 123-126mph range. The M760i will be the faster of the two despite its weight disadvantage. They both have the same gear ratios and very similar peak power numbers, but the M760i has 100% of its torque available from 1500rpm to over 5000rpm with a shallower drop off, where as the Alpina is limited to 80% up to 3000rpm and falls off at 5000rpm.

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by MParallel

Interesting.

Those wheels look pretty bad in plain all black.

Agreed. And too small...needs 20 or 21 inchers at least.

[makonto]

doesn't seem like M7 at all.

[lemetier]

Originally Posted by stvding

1000 hp from V12??

The basic engine (N74B66TÜ) itself is capable of over 900bhp without issue. It already has a beefed up forged crankshaft, cracked con-rods, and Mahle pistons similar to the S63B44TÜ. What becomes the issue is thermal management and intake air volume. Even if the tiny little turbos with their 0.7bar peak pressure were exchanged for Twin Scroll units or even two supplementary electric units with the boost upped to 1.5bar peak MAP as with the S63TÜ, there isn't enough space to move the intercoolers to the front to overcome heat-soak and definitely not enough intake area to feed the required AFR in a G11/12. As is, the M760i is probably producing closer to 700bhp at the crank in good conditions (Sea Level and ISA Temps) and doesn't have much more to reliably give.

[Eddien123]

Originally Posted by X3paul

Not really. Much rather have a proper NA engine rwd manual sports car (like porsche does) than another heavy M(arketing) pointless exercise than only can be driven in germany at speeds that a 740d could too. A z2 would get my money. This wouldnt

Exactly. Long live the past m cars

[bb1510]

Could this be a very early test mule for the 8 series?

[lemetier]

Originally Posted by bb1510

Could this be a very early test mule for the 8 series?

Doubtful. Has been suggested that the 8/9 Series will use an all Aluminium/Carbon version of CLAR that will first debut with the Phantom Replacement, Project Cullinan, and eventually the Ghost Family replacement. 8/9 Series will be focused on Luxury so ///M component as seen fitted are out of place for that. These two cars were used as other test mules not too long ago, so refitting of major chassis structure components doesn't fit the time line either.

This is a powertrain/systems mule for on site cold weather testing. Since the G30 is going to a 48v electrical system, and it's F90 M5 Derivative is claimed to have some serious tech advancements, a Gxx 7 affords more space to hide equipment while keeping it in a place it can be accessed for physical analysis or changes, and hold more recording instrumentation.

[GFK007]

An M7 on top of the m760 and the B7 would be a bit much...