BMW has been breaking a lot of company norms lately. Just recently, the company announced its first turbo motor in many years. Before that, it was revealed that the next M3 would have a V8 engine, instead of a traditional inline-configuration engine. And now, Chairman Helmut Panke has acknowledged that a BMW M7 might be a possibility, after all. The company has long said it wouldn’t be possible to build a hotrod 7-Series and have it meet BMW’s performance and handling standards. You’ve seen the Alpina B7. You’ve seen the G-Power G7. But an M7 would have to be different. In an interview with Auto Motor und Sport, Panke said BMW wouldn’t just shoehorn a massive engine into the 7-Series. In other words, an M7 would not be BMW’s version of an AMG S-Class, but something even sportier. Panke also commented that his company is trying to decide how to follow up to the Z8, which was largely considered to be a flop.
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03/30, 12:33 PM
posted by:
wickedated
With the upcoming Audi S8 and the new S-Class AMG line up, BMW should definitely take a shot at developing the M7. Should we say V12 700hp?
03/30, 12:52 PM
posted by:
Joel A
My next ride’s an M? YES! PLEASE bring to the U.S.!!!!
http://www.thebmwblog.com/bmw-7-series-my-next-ride/
03/30, 12:56 PM
posted by:
Downshift
Make it lighter.
03/30, 1:02 PM
posted by:
///mach3
Heck, why not put a bi-turbo on the the V10? Since BMW is making all these radical changes – I recall when they’d a) never make a turbo and b) never make an M7 – they may as well go for the full monty! Let’s see ‘em hit biig numbers like 800 hp/800 ft/lb. Of course, it’d take a re-design of their engine, as I don’t think the M designers had turbo in mind when they created the high-revvin’ V10…
03/30, 1:04 PM
posted by:
///mach3
Better yet, bring back the 8 series.. on second thought, no… don’t ruin one of the (if not the) best design to ever come from BMW.
03/30, 1:17 PM
posted by:
Scott
I, personally, highly doubt that we’ll see an E65 M7. I had heard the 760 was going to get a power boost to about 500, but this far into the car’s lifecycle it just doesn’t seem worthwhile. Look for the next gen 7 to be lighter, more compact, and designed from the start with the notion of the M7 in mind. Now that BMW’s sales are at all time highs, they have more money to throw around on fun brand-image-enhancing projects like an M7. I’d expect that the focus of a such a vehicle would be how light can we make it with expensive parts. Forced induction might be a good idea due to weight savings, but I’m not so sure an M5-derived V12 NA with around 650HP wouldn’t be more than adequate…
03/30, 2:48 PM
posted by:
Tony
//mach3,
BMW never said they’d never make a turbo. They did in fact make a turbo for the 2002tii. The only issues with turbos was their inherit power lag, which when taking a turn at high speeds is the last thing you want, and is also the reason why there aren’t a lot of 2002tiis today that are in one piece (quite a few got nice and friendly with the trees on the side of the road…).
With the new bi-turbos that BMW has developed for the Euro 530d and the upcoming 335(c)i, BMW has been able to virtually eliminate the lag associated with turbos. You can read about it here:
http://www.worldcarfans.com/news.cfm/newsid/2060220.012/country/bmw/bmw/bmw-unveils-new-biturbo-petrol-straight-six-engine
As for the M7, as the article states, BMW never thought that they could make the 7 series a true ‘M’. Remember, an M is not just a car with a big powerful motor: it’s a beast that can hang with best of Porsche and Ferraris on a racetrack that has left and right turns. Imagine a 5000 pound sedan doing that… it’s not easy!
But hey, if they can shave off 350 pounds or so and make sure that the 7 series still has the optimal 50:50 weight distribution, then why not make an M7?
–ant
04/03, 11:50 PM
posted by:
Sean
BMW said their M division wouldnt turbo their cars. They did it last 30 years ago though and recently with the 535D and are coming out with the 335.
The M7 could be a possibility, 750 weighs like 4400lbs Not sure on the 760 but they would probably do a V12 derived from the V10 M5 engine make it do 600 hp, lots of carbon fiber and aluminum pannels. They could make the thing weigh like 4000lbs they could pull it off.
04/04, 12:50 PM
posted by:
asdf
testing
08/19, 8:54 PM
posted by:
330steve
I think BMW could make an M7 by taking the Mclaren F1 engine and reviving it. Bringing it down to a 6.0L with 625-650 bhp and 500 lbs of torque. This with a SMG trans. An M6 style with Carbon-fiber roof, hood, and trunk. Alloy rims and an aluminum suspension. Using an Upgraded 750li platform.