Apparently, the Bavarian automaker has been entertaining the idea of supersizing the twin grilles on its premium vehicles for at least a quarter of a century.
Pictured here is a concept car dubbed the ZBF 7er. It anticipated the E65 BMW 7-Series that came to replace the E38 generation in 2001. Note especially the similarities of their side windows along with sleek details like compact video cameras instead of side mirrors and pop-out door handles.
Like the standard 7-Series, the prototype sports a radiator grille with vertical fins and a thin chrome bezel. However, its dimensions and shape are much closer to those of the current M3 and M4. It is a pity the rear end is not shown anywhere.
Even though the ZBF 7er was largely just a mock-up, most of it is still made out of metal. The wheels measure more than 19 inches across and come shod in custom tires with manually carved tread.
Interior highlights include wooden décor, compact laptops built into the front seat backs, and a rear-row table with a remote control for easy access to various in-car functions. BMW claims that there are plenty of electronic systems on board, including even an early version of the iDrive system that debuted on the 7-Series.