So much for the planned June 10 global unveiling. The 2016 G11 BMW 7 Series has been leaked online, with very revealing official pictures (presumably) accidentally uploaded to BMW’s Austrian website. More than just pictures, technical details – including the long options list – are now known too.

The overall look of BMW’s upcoming answer to the W222 Mercedes-Benz S-Class isn’t exactly the world’s best-kept secret. Spyshots of the flagship model, fully uncovered at that, had been circulated as early as January 2015. Today’s leaks do give is a much closer look at the new 7er, though, both inside and out.

What’s new is M Sport exterior package for the next-gen Seven – revealed here for the first time. Like on other BMW models, this adds on a completely unique, more aggressive front bumper and matching lightweight wheels. Standard alloys range from 17- to 20-inches in size.

For the Austrian market – and most likely Europe in general – the 7 Series will initially be offered with three engines options. The 730d (available in standard rear-wheel drive or xDrive) starts the range, with a 3.0 litre turbodiesel motor with 265 PS and fuel economy as low as 4.5 litres per 100 km (22.2 km/l).

Next up is the 740i. Here, a turbocharged 3.0 litre straight-six petrol engine takes charge, making 326 PS and a claimed fuel consumption of 6.6 l/100 km (15.2 km/l). At the top of the range (for now, before a V12 option is out) is the 750i, with a 4.4 litre twin-turbo V8 engine that’s good for 450 PS and 8.1 l/100 km (12.3 km/l).

Transferring power down to the wheels is an eight-speed Sport Automatic transmission – the same as in the outgoing F01/F02 models. It at least gets a new-look electronic gear selector that’s fashioned in glossy black and aluminium silver inside the cockpit.

Speaking of the interior, we now have a pretty good idea of how the new 7 Series looks like inside. Nothing ground-breaking here, of course, but it looks like there will be plenty of customisation options offered: from black, cream, light brown, dark mocha to even maroon leather/Alcantara to choose from.

Other options include (but not limited to) Adaptive LED headlights, Surround View camera, Night Vision, Head-up display, Active Cruise Control with Stop&Go, Harman Kardon surround sound system and a rear-seat entertainment system with seat and iDrive controls on the fold-down centre armrest.

As before, a four-seat configuration will also be available, with a tall centre tunnel dividing the two rear seats. A BMW Individual rear cooler box, a four-zone climate control system and a panoramic sunroof can be specified too. Other highlights include fancy exterior floor lighting and the option of having ceramic interior trim.

We’ll know more about the G11 BMW 7 Series come June 10. With these leaked into, though, do you think it’ll be a match for Merc’s mighty W222 S-Class?
http://paultan.org/2015/06/08/2016-g11-bmw-7-series-pictures-and-details-leaked/g11-bmw-7-series-leak-0026/