BMW 7 Series caught testing on video

The 2016 BMW 7 Series has again been caught undergoing testing and this time on video. The compilation shows the prototype parked in the BMW yard as well as drifting on an ice road. Codenamed G11, the car is still in the early stages of development and has been caught testing quite a few times now. We expect the car to be showcased in early 2015 before a 2016 launch.

Though the 2016 7 Series uses a completely new platform, the new car will retain its dimensions and will continue to be offered in both regular and long wheelbase versions. The new underpinnings ditch the current steel monocoque construction to combine steel with aluminum and carbon fiber. This will see the car lose around 200kg. We can also expect lightweight carbon fiber panels used for the roof, hood, and trunk lid. The spy pictures and video show us heavily camouflaged cars which makes it difficult to identify the details. The car features a more raked windscreen and a sloping roofline compared to the current car. The door handles are placed close to the window line while the rear features massive trapezoidal exhausts. 

The new 7 Series will be offered with a range of V6, V8 and V12 engines mated to a new ZF-engineered nine-speed automatic gearbox. Rumours suggest that a plug-in version, developed with technology borrowed from Toyota, is also in the works. Owing to lost weight, we expect the performance figures and handling to improve along with fuel efficiency.

Source: WCF