New lightweight platform will be given carbon fiber body panels to hit record lows in weight.
BMW is working on a replacement for their flagship sedan, the 7 Series. The next generation 7 Series has been spied on test multiple times in Europe and in the Middle East (for hot weather testing).
A report on Auto News states that the car will be unveiled at next year's Frankfurt Motor Show, which is scheduled to take place in September.
The new 7 Series will be based on the German carmaker's all-new '35up' lightweight scalable platform that is made of carbon fiber and aluminium. The roof, hood and bootlid of the 7 Series will be made from carbon fiber entirely, the report states. Also, the 35up platform, which would be a rear-wheel drive one, would underpin successors of the 3, 5 and 6 Series.
The new 7 Series will borrow design inspiration from the Vision Future Luxury Concept that was shown at the Beijing Motor Show this year. The concept previewed a modern and stylish luxury sedan with coach doors (suicide doors). Power for the sedan will come from six-, eight- and even twelve-cylinder engines firing both petrol and diesel (except the V12 petrol).
BMW India assembles the 7 Series at the Chennai plant from CKD kits. This should continue when the next generation model launches in 2016.
Competitors: Mercedes S Class, Audi A8, Jaguar XJ
Expected Price: INR 1 crore upwards, ex-Showroom
Launching in: Late 2015 or early 2016
[Source - Auto News]
