The large grille, which appears nowadays in some BMW models, is not new. It’s a plan that BMW has been keeping secret since the 1990s. Then the Bavarians built a prototype with a huge grid.
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The BMW ZBF-7er prototype has been hidden for 30 years. He anticipated a future generation 7 Series. It had a grille that would have shocked at the time and a futuristic cabin. The story of the model hidden from the eyes of the world for three decades appeared in a new episode “Inside BMW Group Classic”.
In the vlog posted on YouTube, appears Joji Nagashima, the designer who was part of the team that worked on the 3 Series E36 and the Z3 roadster. In the 1990s, he was also a member of the team that designed the ZBF-7er prototype.
It was the period when the 7 Series E38 was in production. ZBF had more generous proportions. The front was striking. A huge grid appeared there. It was too much for the ’90s. BMW fans were not prepared to receive it in either the latest generation 7 Series or the X7, much less in the would be 4.
The intimidating grille, the elongated headlights and the straight hood provided a determined air. The chrome details are the only elements with a decorative role in the sedan with a sober look.
Prototype BMW ZBF 7-er – handles that disappear in doors and video cameras instead of mirrors
It is clear that the prototype practically jumped over years of industry development. To optimize the vehicle from an aerodynamic point of view, BMW has installed handles that disappear into the doors. The limousine also had cameras instead of side mirrors, a feature that did not appear in the series models until the Audi e-tron and Honda e, almost three decades later.
For the concept, larger wheels were ordered, because the largest available at the time was 19 inches.
On board, the touch screen and on-board instrumentation are combined under the same cover. A futuristic approach that we see in series models only today. The physical buttons were elegantly aligned on the middle tunnel and on the dashboard. Thus, drawers were installed in the free space in the center console.
For the rear passengers, BMW has integrated laptops into the backrests of the front seats and folding tables. A switch appears there that seems to be the ancestor of the iDrive system, which made its debut in the 7 Series, but only in 2001.
The prototype in the images could have a 5.4-liter V12 engine, taken from the limousine then in production. The unit was capable of developing 326 horsepower and 490 Nm of torque.
Joji Nagashima says that BMW bosses had positive reactions to the prototype. However, it was never presented to the public. Instead, he hid for almost 30 years.
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