宝马近日宣布，将开发定位在7系以上的更豪华车型，当然，该车售价也将进一步提升。宝马开发部门主管Klaus Froehlich近日对媒体表示，宝马正在开发售价在15万欧元（约合人民币109.5万元）以上的新车。而目前在德国销售的价格最高750Li xDrive售价为115100欧元（约合人民币84万元）。不过，宝马刚刚在日内瓦车展发布的M760Li Excellence售价将超过750Li。宝马正在开发的高端车型将填补7系和劳斯莱斯之间的空白，其直接竞争车型就是奔驰-迈巴赫系列。目前还不清楚，这款车是7系的衍生车型还是一款全新车型，比如8系车。不过，Froehlich已经表示，宝马不会像迈巴赫那样推出轴距增加4-5英寸，同时增加更多镀铬装饰件的车型。宝马将在今年晚些时候推出一款纪念车厂成立一百周年的限量版7系Centennial Edition。该车将采用更豪华内装，增加更多标配，外观也将进行改款。
BMW preparing high-end models to go after Mercedes-Maybach
BMW has announced it’s working on more luxurious models that will be positioned above the 7 Series flagship and will obviously come with a price to match the status.
Speaking to Automotive News, BMW’s development chief Klaus Froehlich said the company is developing new models which will cost $170,000 (€150,000) and more. For the sake of comparison, the most expensive 7 Series on sale today in Germany is the 750Li xDrive which begins at €115,100. It will soon be dethroned by the M760Li Excellence that debuted earlier this month in Geneva.
These new additions to the range will bridge the huge gap between the 7 Series and Rolls-Royce, and will compete directly with Daimler's Mercedes-Maybach division. It’s unclear at this point whether the new luxurious models will be higher end derivatives of the 7 Series and/or if BMW is cooking up an entirely different family of models, such as an 8 Series.
A while back we’ve heard the confirmed X7 three-row SUV is set to spawn a posh four-seater version and chances are this is one of the models hinted by the company official. What we do know is BMW will not follow the recipe used by Mercedes-Maybach, with Froehlich saying the Bavarians won’t do “4 or 5 wheelbases [in length] and add varyingly thick chrome packages.”
Chances are we will get a taste of what’s to come later this year when BMW will allegedly unveil a limited-run 7 Series Centennial Edition. As the name implies, it will serve as a celebration for BMW’s 100th birthday and will reportedly come with a more premium interior, special exterior tweaks, and a plethora of standard equipment.