Inside BMW Group Classic

Mani59 · 07-15-2021, 05:06 AM

Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

The next episode in these fantastic videos from BMW Group Classic.

Quote:

Witness — the BMW ZBF 7er! All the smooth luxury is there, but this is no ordinary 7 series. With its hand-cut tyres, specially crafted body and cameras for wing-mirrors, this BMW concept goes beyond ordinary sophistication. Want to find out more? Let Joji Nagashima, BMW exterior design expert, tell you the whole story.

CoffeeLife · 07-15-2021, 06:42 AM

Sigh… so this is what helped start it all…

BMWCCA1 · 07-15-2021, 06:53 AM

Cross between a Rolls and the new 4-series—neither being designs that should be emulated!

J-RO · 07-15-2021, 06:57 AM

Yuck

EMB-89 · 07-15-2021, 07:03 AM

They didn't even show us the rear. Though, I could make out a "mini bangle butt".

MKParris · 07-15-2021, 08:03 AM

and we wonder why they all look like a lexus now....hmmm

TGG · 07-15-2021, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMWCCA1

Cross between a Rolls and the new 4-series—neither being designs that should be emulated!

Awful!

cc3 · 07-15-2021, 08:29 AM

Just when I thought BMW couldn't make a car look worse they produce this!! Wow that's grim they really are losing the plot

Sedan_Clan · 07-15-2021, 08:48 AM

I like that this guy has been with BMW 30 years. It crushes the perception that some of these designers are new to the brand, when the reality is design focus is just changing/progressing. I wonder what the average tenure is for the designers at the company.

Mani59 · 07-15-2021, 10:37 AM

Mr. Nagashima has been involved in some of the best BMW designs from the 90's and 00's in my opinion. The E36 and E90 3er, E36/6 (i think) Z3 and the E39 5er.

Clearly BMW decided to release a video of this specific ZBF 7er because of all the comments on the 4er / M3/M4 kidney grill

BMWRL · 07-15-2021, 11:27 AM

These videos are really great, hope BMW Classic keeps putting them out and we get to see other secret BMWs.

F32Fleet · 07-15-2021, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoffeeLife

Sigh… so this is what helped start it all…

BMW bought the naming rights for Rolls Royce from VW in 1998. I think this design was intended to be a competitor to RR or a RR in disquise.

zamboni · 07-15-2021, 12:31 PM

Now BMW bring out this released to justify the released of big grille design I don't get it.

Darth One · 07-15-2021, 03:16 PM

No hate for Nagashima-san, in a 30-year career you'll inevitably produce a stinker or two.

But dear God, couldn't you have destroyed the damn thing with fire so that no one would see it years later and get some ideas?

SCOTT26 · 07-15-2021, 05:24 PM

This concept was ahead of its time. As was the entire E65 series.
There are ideas shown that have made it to other 7 generations and certainly upcoming future ones.

Drj161 · 07-15-2021, 06:17 PM

This looks like terrible Photoshop designs. It also seems like BMW is trying to justify they're grill decision by taking an old 7 series and dragging the grill down, then claiming it was there from the start. Really looks like the memes where people take the current grill and elongate it, calling it The New design

buckybadger · 07-15-2021, 10:43 PM

The grill looks alright on this car because it is still not that big in relation to the length.

speedmaster20d · 07-15-2021, 11:42 PM

I guess Japanese people are good at many things, but designing a German vehicle is not one of them.

ADEe92 · 07-16-2021, 12:06 AM

BMW have always thrown out some pretty awful looking bitsy concept cars before they hone the ideas into decent ones for production models. Pity the grille might from the 7 prototype not be one of those...

For example the Z1 coupe concept from 1991:

Pretty awful, but elements of it turned up in the e38 - which was a good looking car. A more refined version of the concept arrived as the Z3 coupe (aka the clown shoe) ect.

cb804 · 07-16-2021, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoffeeLife

Sigh… so this is what helped start it all…

The big grills have been around for a long time - 1979 Pontiac Grand Prix. Maybe the whole big grill trend is a just a retro design born again.

wrickem · 07-16-2021, 09:36 AM

I don't know what BMW is thinking with these big new grills, they're ruining the heritage! Just horrible

FCX5 · 07-16-2021, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoffeeLife

Sigh… so this is what helped start it all…

Looks quite stately and very Rolls Royce-like. The big grill works on such a large luxury car. I like the clean lines. The interior design is also nice. Given when this design appeared it is definitely a classic design for BMW

07-15-2021, 06:42 AM	#2
CoffeeLife Coffee Every Day 418 Rep 369 Posts Drives: 2020 & 2021 M2C Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: South Korea iTrader: (3) Garage List 2021 BMW M2C [10.00]	Sigh… so this is what helped start it all… Attached Images __________________ 2021 M2c 6MT - [Daily Driver] \| CAE Shifter \| RR Exhaust 2020 M2c DCT - [Race Car] \| REMUS Race Exhaust \| TAROX R380-R Enduro Brake Set \| AST 5100 Suspension \| Pinnacle Motorsports Roll Bar \| P4P Polycarbonate Windows \| BR Motorsport EL Midpipe \| Bimmerworld TA5R Wheels \| APR AERO \| KMP Gen 3 Pro Steering Wheel....many more
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07-15-2021, 06:53 AM	#3
BMWCCA1 BMW Owner Since 1971 2697 Rep 1,592 Posts Drives: 1964 700 Sport Cabriolet Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Central Virginia iTrader: (2) Garage List 2013 BMW 128i [10.00]	Cross between a Rolls and the new 4-series—neither being designs that should be emulated!
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07-15-2021, 06:57 AM	#4
J-RO Colonel 2987 Rep 2,882 Posts Drives: 2024 M240ix BMW X1 28i Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: A Place I Like To Call “You’ll See” iTrader: (0)	Yuck
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07-15-2021, 07:03 AM	#5
EMB-89 Enlisted Member 20 Rep 35 Posts Drives: BMW 320i Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Pretoria iTrader: (0)	They didn't even show us the rear. Though, I could make out a "mini bangle butt".
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07-15-2021, 08:03 AM	#6
MKParris Major 976 Rep 1,125 Posts Drives: M3CX Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: South Florida iTrader: (0) Garage List 2022 M3 Comp Xdrive [0.00]	and we wonder why they all look like a lexus now....hmmm __________________ Sold: 2008 335i, 2015 M3, 2018 M3, 2020 M2 Comp, 2022 M3 CompX, 2024 M2 6-Spd Current: 2025 Civic Type R
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07-15-2021, 08:29 AM	#8
cc3 Major 649 Rep 1,333 Posts Drives: 1M, GT4, M2 M140i G40 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: .UK iTrader: (0)	Just when I thought BMW couldn't make a car look worse they produce this!! Wow that's grim they really are losing the plot
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07-15-2021, 08:48 AM	#9
Sedan_Clan Law Enforcer 30152 Rep 23,409 Posts Drives: '22 Chalk Gray Porsche C2S Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: ..in your rearview!!! iTrader: (26)	I like that this guy has been with BMW 30 years. It crushes the perception that some of these designers are new to the brand, when the reality is design focus is just changing/progressing. I wonder what the average tenure is for the designers at the company.
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07-15-2021, 10:37 AM	#10
Mani59 Moderator 21813 Rep 8,553 Posts Drives: F87 LCI M2 & G26 i4 35 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Leicestershire iTrader: (1)	Mr. Nagashima has been involved in some of the best BMW designs from the 90's and 00's in my opinion. The E36 and E90 3er, E36/6 (i think) Z3 and the E39 5er. Clearly BMW decided to release a video of this specific ZBF 7er because of all the comments on the 4er / M3/M4 kidney grill __________________ Visit my (mostly) BMW Gallery here or my BMW Miniature Model Collection here
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07-15-2021, 11:27 AM	#11
BMWRL Captain 593 Rep 617 Posts Drives: 528xi Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (0)	These videos are really great, hope BMW Classic keeps putting them out and we get to see other secret BMWs. __________________ Is there really anything besides a BMW?
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07-15-2021, 12:31 PM	#13
zamboni I want to drive a Zamboni 1230 Rep 5,637 Posts Drives: 13 E93 M3 18 F80 M3 16 K71 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Monte Sereno, CA iTrader: (7) Garage List 16 K71 F800GT [10.00] 2018 F80 M3 [10.00] 2013 BMW E93 M3 [10.00]	Now BMW bring out this released to justify the released of big grille design I don't get it. __________________ 18 F80 Imola Red 6MT 16 K71 F800GT Montego Blue 13 E93 M3 Melbourne Red 2000 E46,2006 E90,09 E82,13 E93 328i,14 F30 335i,18 F80 M3 My next vehicle would be a Zamboni
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07-15-2021, 03:16 PM	#14
Darth One drunk poster 6475 Rep 3,648 Posts Drives: M4 GTS \| E46 M3 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: FL iTrader: (0)	No hate for Nagashima-san, in a 30-year career you'll inevitably produce a stinker or two. But dear God, couldn't you have destroyed the damn thing with fire so that no one would see it years later and get some ideas?
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07-15-2021, 05:24 PM	#15
SCOTT26 Major General 5541 Rep 5,824 Posts Drives: A big F-off German Truck. Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: WORLDWIDE iTrader: (0)	This concept was ahead of its time. As was the entire E65 series. There are ideas shown that have made it to other 7 generations and certainly upcoming future ones. __________________ The M850i is evidence that BMW have got their mojo back when it comes to dynamic sports cars...
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07-15-2021, 06:17 PM	#16
Drj161 First Lieutenant 595 Rep 359 Posts Drives: bmw x5 e53 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: New York iTrader: (0)	This looks like terrible Photoshop designs. It also seems like BMW is trying to justify they're grill decision by taking an old 7 series and dragging the grill down, then claiming it was there from the start. Really looks like the memes where people take the current grill and elongate it, calling it The New design
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-15-2021, 10:43 PM	#17
buckybadger BMW forever! 1752 Rep 2,688 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: San Diego, CA iTrader: (0)	The grill looks alright on this car because it is still not that big in relation to the length. __________________ 2025 BMW M3C 2020 BMW X5 2019 BMW M2C
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07-15-2021, 11:42 PM	#18
speedmaster20d Lieutenant 381 Rep 422 Posts Drives: 21 G80 comp BG. 2018 F80(sold) Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: South Bay iTrader: (0)	I guess Japanese people are good at many things, but designing a German vehicle is not one of them. __________________ 2018 M3 Competition SO II : sold 2021 M3 Competition BG : sold 2024 M3 competition IOMG : current
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07-16-2021, 12:06 AM	#19
ADEe92 First Lieutenant 252 Rep 319 Posts Drives: e92 320d sport plus edition Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: South Australia iTrader: (0) Garage List 2013 320d [0.00] 1988 320i with M30B35 [0.00]	BMW have always thrown out some pretty awful looking bitsy concept cars before they hone the ideas into decent ones for production models. Pity the grille might from the 7 prototype not be one of those... For example the Z1 coupe concept from 1991: Pretty awful, but elements of it turned up in the e38 - which was a good looking car. A more refined version of the concept arrived as the Z3 coupe (aka the clown shoe) ect.
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07-16-2021, 09:36 AM	#21
wrickem reads things 2872 Rep 4,063 Posts Drives: DD - '24 840-x drive coupe Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: lambertville/Sea Girt NJ iTrader: (0)	I don't know what BMW is thinking with these big new grills, they're ruining the heritage! Just horrible Attached Images
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