First look inside the new BMW 7 Series

The upcoming BMW 7 Series has been spotted testing again, ahead of its launch in the UK early next year. The pictures in our gallery also give us our first look at the inside of the luxury limousine, previewing a disguised interior layout and covered dashboard design.

BMW appears to be sticking to a tried and tested formula on the new 7 saloon, with a similar dash design and familiar layout to the one you’ll find on the outgoing car. There’s a large central screen and iDrive scroll wheel, which sits alongside the recognisable joystick-style gearlever on the centre console. There’s no conventional handbrake either, hinting that the new 7 will feature an electronic setup to save space inside the cabin.

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It’s hard to tell from these pictures, but it looks like the 7 Series will use a customisable instrument binnacle, similar to that found on Merc’s flagship S-Class. The top of the dashboard and the entire passenger side of the interior have been covered in a dark material in the test car, but expect high quality woods, metals and plastics to feature on production models next year. We can see some smart aluminium switchgear and neat climate control buttons – but it’s evident BMW wants to play it safe with its new 7 Series.

Despite being an all-new car, it’s the same story outside, where the changes look largely evolutionary rather than revolutionary. However, the biggest changes will no doubt be under the skin. Back in October we reported that the new 7 Series could borrow technology from the BMW i3 and i8, designed to save weight and improve fuel consumption.

Director of BMW Group Design, Adrian van Hooydonk, told Auto Express: “Things that we’ve learned in the i brand, in terms of carbon fibre and lightweight construction, that too will filter into the other brands. Next year we are launching a car where we have really worked hard to lower the weight, and that was partly achieved with carbon fibre.”

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At the front there’s a more squared-off grille and a set of sharper LED headlights. It’s hard to make out from these heavily disguised pictures, but expect to see a set of large air intakes in the bumper and some bold creases on the bonnet when the car is officially revealed next year.

At the back we expect a cleaner and more grown-up design than before, taking inspiration from the popular 5 Series saloon. The car in these pictures appears to be a long-wheelbase L version, and the large twin exhausts suggest that this could be the range-topping V12 – though engine options are yet to be confirmed.

Prices and specs will be revealed closer to the car’s unveil, but expect a slight premium over the current entry-level £58,275 BMW 730d SE.