Thursday 30th March 2006

BMW admits to M7 possibility

Top-end M car and a Z8 replacement?

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760Li: why no M7?

BMW's chairman Helmut Panke has given an insight into BMW's thinking about future models, especially at the top-end of its ranges.

He refused to rule out the possibility of the company making an M version of the 7-Series -- an M7. According to an interview with him in the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport, US customers are clamouring for an M7, although, having asked the question, you can kind of see why not. Panke said that BMW had yet to make a decision, acknowledging that an M7 couldn't just be about pouring yet more horsepower into the machine. He also said that BMW was pondering how to replace the Z8 sports car -- widely seen as a flop, except perhaps in parts of California.

Panke was also asked if the gap between the top-end BMW-badged car and Rolls-Royce would be filled. Panke replied that the most expensive BMW, the 445bhp V12-powered 760Li long wheelbase which lists at £83,685, is unlikely to be overtaken in terms of price by a BMW-badged vehicle.

However, the costs of a warranty on such a car, an issue currently exercising BMW owners' wallets following a huge price increase, hardly bears thinking about.

Links

• Original story: Auto Motor und Sport
• Related story: BMW responds to warranty critics

[dinkel]

Consider this . . . for 148k BP

[r988]

They should really stick a couple of turbos on it and go S65 hunting

But more likely they will probably take the Audi route and stick the M5 V10 in it and create an uglier alternative to the new V10 S8?

At the moment you can go for the S65 if you want power, or the S8 if you want a more rounded performance/luxury machine, the BMW sits inbetween with no real selling point, not the fastest, not the prettiest, not the best handling. Why buy one?

[NDT]

that's Auto Motor und Sport, not Auto und Motor Sport.

[hendry]

Or get an Alpina B7 with almost as much power as an M5 but wrapped in a package that better suits the boulevard cruiser image.

http://212.227.48.10/downloads/testbe



>> Edited by hendry on Thursday 30th March 13:10

[jagdpanther]

Although this could be a good idea for those who like 7 series BMs I am now pissed off by this......I was planning on building an E38 with uber amounts of power and badging it as M7 as there wasnt one in production...now Im going to have to change my project name

Bollox

[r988]

jagdpanther said:

Although this could be a good idea for those who like 7 series BMs I am now pissed off by this......I was planning on building an E38 with uber amounts of power and badging it as M7 as there wasnt one in production...now Im going to have to change my project name Bollox

how about Jagdpanther going along with the german tank theme

No reason you couldn't badge it an M7 as there wasn't an E38 M7

Previous sporty 7s where always just 'Sport' models.

There are some cool 750iLs with twin turbo set ups getting around, imagine the overtaking power

[jagdpanther]

My idea was something along the lines of a lightened E38 shell & chassis with an 850CSi Mpower V12 (normally puts out 380bhp I think) with skimmed head, stroked & bored, gas flowed, hig performance cams, lightened crank & flywheel, bigger injectors, remapped ECU, and a single supercharger to start with (may upgrade to twin supercharger at a later date depending on output!)

Thats a rough idea of what I was aiming for......but M7 sems soiled now

I might just go for Jagdpanther although Id better not drive through Poland hehehe

(Note this post was not a skit or joke at the sensless loss of countless lives during WW2. So in light of current political correctness in todays society dont take this seriously......ie: back off and get a life )

[hunttheshunt]

Ah but then would it not be more authentic with a Maybach or Porsche block??

[nuez]

M7, just think of the fuel economy! That will sure get the green brigade hot under the collar.

[4WD]

Whatever next. Perhaps a twin engined 2000 bhp 4 ton maybach, with 1mpg, whilst being absolutely no quicker than a CSL. Why stop there. How about a 20,000 bhp coach with satnav and radar assist. Monkeys.

[Marki]

I have grown to like the look of the 7, not as gracefull as the old mod but i like it , and if Audi Merc are making perfomobarges why not BMW

[Gentelman]

nuez said:

M7, just think of the fuel economy! That will sure get the green brigade hot under the collar.

I do consider myself "green" but I must admit that doesn't get me hot much of any place. Now, a nice Z8 replacement (with the M5/6 V10, of course) that would be hot (just not under the collar, if you know what I mean!)