Spy Shots: 2009 BMW 7-Series goes drifting at N�rburgring

[Andrew 30]

The KGP Photography guys caught the new 2009 BMW 7-Series prototype drifting at high-speeds at Nürburgring in Germany. That’s right, the large heavy BMW 7-Series drifting at high-speeds, you have to see the video at edmunds to believe it. Anyway, edmunds is saying that the 2009 BMW 7-Series will be more evolutionary than revolutionary and will tone down the controversial design you see in this year’s model.

According to the folks over at AutoSpies, the new 2009 BMW 7-Series is expected to have a heavy load of new technologies including four camera’s that will help it do parking, backup assistance, around corner sighting, lane departure monitoring. They are also saying that the new 7-Series will have the night-vision/digital speedometer found in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

The car is expected to come in two variants including the base model, internally called the “F01,” which is slightly larger than the current model and a L-model, called “F02,” which is said to have an added space of 5.5 inches for those buyer interested in more room.

BMW and Mercedes have been previously reported to be talking on developing an upper-class hybrid within the next three years, so it’s still up in the air whether if we might just see a 2009 BMW 7-Series hybrid in the next update. The premium hybrid cars from DaimlerChrysler and BMW should give the two companies strong turf to compete with Lexus and its popular LS hybrid along with the GS hybrid.

The 2009 BMW 7-Series should be in US dealerships by Spring of 2009.

Source: edmunds and AutoSpies