Smooth surfaces, a hunkered-down stance, and a larger grille will distinguish the new model from the old and also help appease those turned-off by the controversial styling of the current car.

The new 7-series receives a longer wheelbase and wider track, increasing interior space and improving handling. The prototype’s front end also appears much longer than the current model, although its overhangs have been kept short. This design has allowed engineers to push the front axle further out, increasing the car’s footprint and thus improving dynamics. It also gives the car a wheel-at-each corner appearance, making it look smaller than it actually is as well as adding a bit of sportiness to its styling.

Significant changes beneath conservative exterior
While the exterior changes appear to have been kept to a minimum, there are rumoured to be a raft of significant upgrades underneath the new sheet-metal to help push the 7-series ahead of its Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Audi A8 rivals in the technological stakes.

BMW is expected to install a new 8-speed automatic from German transmission specialist ZF that will boost fuel-consumption and performance compared to the current model’s 6-speed unit. There will also be a hybrid option based on the new two-mode hybrid system developed in partnership with General Motors, Daimler and Chrysler.

The hybrid variant will feature a petrol powered engine mated to a compact generator-motor mounted directly onto the gearbox. The electric motor will be powered by an array of lithium-ion batteries in the boot, which can be charged up using conventional brake-energy regeneration technology. Its launch, however, is still several years away.

The powertrain lineup for the new 7-series range will include everything from four-cylinder turbodiesels up to V12 petrol mills. The car will also likely pick up the same 298kW 4.4-litre V8 from the recently introduced X6.

New model will raise the bar in safety and technology
Interior features will include an upgraded radar cruise control system with automatic braking plus a new camera-based lane departure and blind-spot warning system. There’s also the possibility of a new dual-view display screen that allows passengers to watch two different images from a single screen depending on the angle they’re sitting at. This means the front passenger and driver would see two separate images when looking at the single display, a set-up that could potentially be used to display a satnav map for the driver and entertainment programs for passengers simultaneously. A more advanced night vision system with pedestrian and speed sign detection features will also be introduced for this model.

Also seen in the spy images is the prototype for the long wheelbase model, which should be launched several months after the introduction of the standard car. As expected, the stretched model features an extended wheelbase and longer rear doors to accommodate extra space for rear-seat passengers. In Australia, these will be mostly bought by hire car companies, however this model is important for emerging markets where owners usually have their own drivers to chauffeur them around.

Latest BMW models are usually launched in Australia several months after they first go on sale overseas, so expect to see the new range in local showrooms early next year. The hybrid model, if offered in Australia, will likely arrive around 2010 or later.

Next-generation BMW 7-series spy shots

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