Round Two! 001 Lines Up The New 7 Next To the LS. And The Winner Is?

Of course the BMW has too many lines, it looks like it's out of shape. Reminds me of Nissan, way too bulky. The BMW needs to be clean up, It look like a cheap modified version of the Lexus LS.

The Lexus LS looks way more up-class, cleaner, with much better shape. The BMW needs to go on a diet and shed some weight and trim those love handles and body fat.

I'm pretty sure Lexus will still hold the title for the lowest coefficient aerodynamics in this class. You can even tell by the looks.

And it looks like "The Ultimate Copy Machine" just bought a Lexus and studied for years and ask them selfs "how can we make our car look like Lexus." I would have never thought in all my years that a BMW would never look anything like a Lexus.

I like it BMW was BMW as Mercedes is Mercedes and Audi is Audi. People choose Europeans cars to not have that Japanese styling, but surely BMW than left Europe. They should have left that styling up too the Japan boys.

Seems like all we have left to choose now is Audi and Mercedes, because if I wanted the Japanese look it sure wouldn't be that Fatty BULL Frog 7-series.

BMW should be shameful

— iLexus (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 6:18:50 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -10   

LS looks more like a flagship. 7 looks like a enlaraged 3 series (which may not be a bad thing)

— ghosthunter (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 1:54:46 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -4   

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/1165/lexusbmw2.jpg

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/6791/lexusbmw.jpg

— TurboSpyder (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 2:02:17 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

Wow, I almost fell asleep looking at the front of the Lexus LS.

— Agent004 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 7:25:01 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6   

rofl people who drive LS hate cars? yeah I guess people who buy the maybach and rolls royce really REALLY hate cars, right?

I mean, why woudln't someone wnat a large heavy unsporting package that has sporty suspension and steering instead of super quiet and smooth luxury?

— DinamoR (View Profile)

Posted on 2/27/2009 1:11:08 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

BMW copied Lexus and screwed it up, the Lexus is slightly better aswell.
Neither cars does it for me, would rather have a Jaguar XFR or an Aston Martin Rapide thanks.

— dbsvolante (View Profile)

Posted on 2/27/2009 7:33:31 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Teknik, your photo is absolutely brilliant.

— _43LE (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 3:19:14 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Next up: 7 Series vs. Yugo!

— cococo (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 12:53:50 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 11   

Neither car really has any originality, but the LS is already starting to show its age. I hope the refresh adds some more flare.

The BMW is a lot less stately than it used to be, but I think it looks a lot fitting the class that it is in.

— adamsaf723 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 12:54:43 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

$60k for a stretched camry...hilarious.

— tattedtwice (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 12:57:08 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

So which ones the lexus and which is the bmw?

— Cleankutazn (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 1:22:20 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Pretty much a tie for me. I think the 7 looks more aggressive than the LS, but the LS looks more luxurious. The 7 has better wheels, but the LED headlights on the LS600 blow the beamer's away.

— SanJoseDriver (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 1:43:09 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

The BMW wins, and it have suddenly nothing in common on the back with the Lexus. We dont have many Lexus here in Denmark og Europe we dont have to many BMW 7 series to, but i have seen a couple and it looks outstanding.

— MPowerDK (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 2:18:15 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 9   

compare it next to the A8 than you'll see yourself a winner ; )

— KZ258 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 3:21:58 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -11   

The Lexus looks more elegant and stately, with no unwanted curves, lines etc. The BMW looks like it means business. Almost every curve or line in the BMW is meant for something. Lexus looks like a laid back car, whereas, the BMW looks like it's 'in motion'.
Sometimes i wonder the reason why this Lexus exists! It cannot match the pedigree of the Merc or the sportiness of the BMW. It's more like a 'jack of all trades, but master of none'.
The way Audi is designing it's cars now, we better wait for new Audi A8!

— nite41 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 4:37:27 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -6   

7 series definatley looks like LS from rear. I can't beleive some people here can't see the similarity.

anyway both cars look very nice but to choose a winner with respect to design, To me it's LS.
7 Series got too many lines, wheras LS is more elegant and simple. Not all the lines and curves of 7 series work, from some angles due to too many lines it looks ugly espeically rearwards and the curve in tail lights is also very week IMO.

JUGNU

JUGNU

— JUGNU (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 5:19:30 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -7   

"Wimmer" Come on you don't see ANY resemblance between the rear ends? I find them to be very similar in their design, when you squint your eyes it looks like a black LS sitting next to a silver LS from the rear. In fact the rear of the 7 looks more Asian in its design than the LS, with taillights that unfortunately resemble another lower end Toyota relative called the Avalon. Yes I'm not a fan of the new 7's rear.

However I love everything else about this car including overall exterior (minus the rear) & interior design, plus what I hear about the engine & chassis would be plenty enough in helping me to overlook the rear-end problem & choose it over others in this class.

— MunichRob (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 6:51:44 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

7 series all the way, the LS is butt ugly.

— xj13 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 7:01:04 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6   

Remember Crappy, at you not with you.

— _43LE (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 9:22:16 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Hey pooppy, you do realize the 3series is done by a Japanese designer right? oh how about the last gen 5series.. you guessed it Japanese!!!

— sector (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 10:23:57 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -4   

The 7 is far more aggressive from the front. The rears are very similiar. Lexus certainly did rip off the Hoffmeister kink. I definitely prefer the 7's wheels over the Lexus. That dark blue Lexus in the first pics looks like it has chrome wheels. In my opinion, there is nothing tackier than chrome wheels. I think the 7-Series bests the LS in styling. If I was in this market, the S550 4MATIC would still be my first choice. If the 750i came with xDrive, it would make the decision more difficult.

— HSCenterconsole (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 8:01:50 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

The LS looks more conservative, mundane/boring, and dated, while the 7-series looks looks bolder, more modern, more aggressive, and more athletic. Leave the LS for the old fogies.

BTW, though their may be some similarities with the rear end, the BMW's looks much better - clearly not something Lexus would ever come up with with. Make no mistake. Lexus will always look like a Japanese car.

Now let's wait the next few years for all the other Japanese manufactures to pick up on BMW's design elements (as is always the case).

— Auto_expert (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 9:02:06 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3   

And the moo point of this comparison is???

— vladyxa (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 9:32:48 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

I find the front of the LS too bland for me, but I find the front of the 7 too over-styled-look-at-me. The back end is a toss up since one looks so much like the other. I like the simple elegance of the LS but the aggressiveness of the 7 is nice too, it's just different.

— _43LE (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 9:34:10 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

The Lexus LS looks very much like a huge Camry, even these days at first glance I always think the LS is a refreshed Camry. As far as copying goes, the LS to me ripped the tail lights from the current 5 series and exaggerated them a bit more IMO, also the LS has borrowed a lot of design cues from the previous or outgoing 7 series. read this article. http://www.bmwblog.com/2008/09/28/the-lexus-ls-and-the-2009-bmw-7/
Let's be honest, the previous LS borrowed heavily from the S Classes of old, and the new LS has copies BMW so much that an evolution of the new 7 series was bound to resemble the LS simply because the new 7 is building off the same elements from the model it replaces, plain and simple. However, the new 7, especially in the front to me doesn't look so elegant, it must be the air dam at the bottom, also BMW needs to learn how to execute their designs properly, i find them with too many lines and odd looking facial features in the front of the car especially. I've loved BMW ever since I was 6, but i'm a little bit scared of their designs lately, Z4 looks nice but it has more lines than a zebra, X6, X1, and that new 5 series POS, I mean 5 series PAS! Audi and MB look much cleaner and elegant, whereas Bimmers look sometimes unfinished. I love em, but the honey moon years are coming to a grinding halt if they don't start making some adjustments.

— spiritfilled (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 9:34:55 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -4   

The 7 series beats out the Lexus for sure. But the rear end of the beemer does look like it was inspired by the LS, and there are too many lines on the BMW.
The side profile, and headlights are its strongest features.

— tifoso471 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 9:34:59 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3   

I'll take the LS!

— 0to60 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 9:54:56 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

I think both cars look good. The LS is my choice though.

— david999 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 10:03:56 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Honestly I think they are both ugly. Like others have said A8 looks better than both of them, and I'm a huge BMW fan. I think BMW dropped the ball on the design of the new 7. I'm sure it drives like a dream but the wheels are too small for it and it looks too similar to the last gen. The LS is just boring all over, but I'm sure a good value for the money. I wouldn't buy either one.

— phantom330 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 10:19:54 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -5   

It's time for ToyLex to come up with their own personality.

ToyLex are an abomination and grotesque in everything they are.

— EL34 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 10:27:30 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

I'll be honest with you about Asia and I have been to a few countries there. They copy everything. You can find exact copies of The Beatles, The Eagles or Michael Jackson. You will find pirated CD's and DVD's everywhere and yet there's not one single artist that is popular from original material including ToyLex and their ripoff car designs.

— EL34 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 10:32:44 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Both cars are nicely done. Comparing cars like these just comes down to your personal preference. Neither one is a loser.

What's weird for me though is that this is the first 7 series that looks better in white than in black (obviously my opinion)

— answer (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 11:21:55 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

As usual, hard to sift through the junk here and find the intelligent posts, but I'll dive in.

I'm not a fanboy or a hater of either brand, although I have two BMWs and I've never had a Lexus. I can appreciate the pros and cons of both marques. First of all, if you're going to do a side by side comparison, why is there no straight on profile shot?? If there are any similarities, this is it. You can't deny the similarity, but I doubt BMW copied anyone here, and it's quite possible that the Lexus designers were going for a BMW look when this LS was designed. However, I do find it odd that BMW didn't look at both cars and say, "uh, I think we need to make some mods, as we're looking a bit like the LS", which was either out or shown when the BMW was being designed, or at least finalized.

And if you take a good look at the rear, they are quite similar. It's not so much the taillights, or at least the outer portion of the lights. It's the way that both cars have generally horizontal lights (with the outer vertical edges canted in the same directions), bisected by the trunk cut, which extends down to the bumper and curves around and leaves a small "shelf", with the outer portions of the bumpers smoothly sloping so that they are flush with the bodywork. This treatment can be seen on a lot of cars on the road today.

I personally think the LS is a good looking car, exactly what an executive luxury car should look like (as someone else already said). I like the new 7 a lot, although there's no question that the boldness-factor has been toned down from the last generation. It's more in line with previous generations, which were all good looking cars and never as flashy as their luxury counterparts - and isn't that what everyone wanted when they were bitching about the looks of the last generation??

— Hachee2001 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 12:31:48 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

The need to rename the bmw the "fail series" instead of 7 series

— BJS470 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 12:53:54 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -7   

the LS have 5-series tail lights...FACT
7-series have an LS rear end...FACT

@ hachee2001, when BMW was making the 7er, trust me, they had an S, A8 and LS in there stable...FACT
guess which car they went with???????

— Denali (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 2:15:26 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

I am a fan of ALL Toyotas (as my screen name would imply), but can admit when something is good/great. I've always been able to admit the sheer pleasure of driving a BMW however I would still take a Lexus for various reasons.
On this note, design. I like the look of the 7's front end. That's it.
They missed some fluidity on the rear or they would have had me there too.
But the biggest draw to the LS is its quility. And it's visible in these photos.
Looking at the way the light assemblies join the body panels, the LS is flawless, even seamless! The 7, you can see the gaps.
I'm not saying the 7 is a piece. Just noting the 'perfection' of the LS. And that's why I pick even a "stretched Camry" over a BMW 7 series.
Overall, the design of the LS is more fluid as well.

— toyfan (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 2:54:49 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

If I've said it once I've said it 'till I was blue in the face.

When ToyLex designs a car the first step for the design team is to surround the design studio with enlaged photos of the big German machines before they proceed.

Next they try to think like a German and design what the future German car will look like :-/

Therefore, when ever a ToyLex mobile comes out we know what the next German cars will look like.

LS gets the copykat award yet again ;->

— EL34 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 2:59:35 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

They're not HID - they are LED.

— TehShibbs (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 8:42:42 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

These photos are lousy so I wouldn't go by these. But I say it's a tie. S-class blows both away. In fact, the A8 looks better than these as well.

— 222max (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 5:12:13 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

its funny how so many ppl talk about bmw copying lexus... yes it may be a shame that finnally a B/C has to copy somebody but its not like their first time copying... lexus has been copying all their careers...

— shabaru (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 5:25:30 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

7 wins HANDS DOWN! Anyone who thinks otherwise is just fooling themselves. LS is a very nice car but just doesn't compare in my opinion. Looks, driving dynamics, etc. All around the 7 is the clear winner.

— FitzLA (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 5:36:51 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

LS Hands down!
An easy choice
The 7 steps up, but is still a step behind in a little thing called Schtyle!
The giant round taillights are a major boner
And the doors don't come close to matching on the LWB
And they still can't get the grille/headlights to work together
Smells like a style-by-committee job, just slightly better than the last hodgepodge
Audi A8 and The LS lead this class
BMW and Benz lag behind, more contrived than confident
Better luck next time
DarkPheonix

— DarkPheonix (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 5:47:52 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3   

What what, in the butt.

— Htay7500 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 5:57:13 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

The LS, expecialy in the front, looks old compared to the 7-series. The chrome front grill looks very dated.

— Menok (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 6:10:27 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

I'd say BMW. It has more class and style than the LS. I'd put my money on the Germans.

— Type707 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 6:45:24 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

My boyfriend has a 7 and I love it period..
The End :-/

As long as they are not made in the crappy bankrupt usa I'm fine!!.
Look at my German avatar, I don't even speak German but hey, online I can be anyone I want :--)

El34: mach es dir selber.

— EI34 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 7:56:39 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -4   

The 7 Lost because the kidney grilles don't open with the hood anymore. All BMW's used to do this.

— StickShiftCamry (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 8:01:35 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

I though I'd never say this but the Lexus looks much better than the BMW. It's sleeker with a cleaner edges. I do agree on the other hand that the 7 has a better interior.

— E36er (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 8:03:11 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

001, you do realize that this horse has long been dead, and all the beating in the world won't bring it back to life? Surely there's better news to post than this endless stream of useless new 7-Series threads.

— Nostradamus (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 8:58:21 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

lol this morning, all the pro lexus comments were boosted way up, and by sundown, all the german fans came out to play.

— LexusKindaGuy12 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 9:43:15 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

The new 7 looks a lot like the old, good looking 5 series. Good for the 7, but it does make it seem like it doesn't belong in the class because of it.

LS wins because it looks original. You're not going to mistaken it for a smaller car, but with BMW's copy what you can philosophy, it might be mistaken for a 7 from the back.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/24/2009 10:42:08 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

BMW 7 Series vs. Lexus LS . . . and the winner is . . . Mercedes S-Class!!!

— 3pointstar (View Profile)

Posted on 2/25/2009 1:15:40 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

what is it with 7s and UGLY ASSES? here we thot the Bangle Butt is finally history, and now they find a way to extend the bumper face up, around, and OVER the rear fenders!!??? someone at BMW Styling must just love fat hausfraus with overwide rear ends.

— XYZZ (View Profile)

Posted on 2/25/2009 3:01:25 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Other than the front, The 7-Fail-Series-Mini-Copper look like a honda Civic

— iLexus (View Profile)

Posted on 2/25/2009 5:50:38 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Wimmer

I never said BMW copied the LS; as the 7's final design was most likely green-lighted more than two years ago before the LS was revealed, but merely resembles the rear of the LS.

Things that look strikingly similar would be the way the taillights wrap around the back of the car in the same angled fashion making them visible from a side angled profile, chrome strip on the trunk (Just the LS's doesn't extend to taillights), the rear bumper & tailpipes.

— MunichRob (View Profile)

Posted on 2/25/2009 8:07:47 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

7 series looks way more interesting than that Camry. I just don't understand why all you Lexus lovers are trying to justify why you can't afford the better car (the BMW of course) by saying "ooh, BMW looks like a Mini Cooper" or what not. That is just utterly insane. This may hurt but just get a grip and accept the fact that Lexus is way too below Merc and BMW in every aspect.

— bimmerMeister999 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/25/2009 9:07:47 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

BMW copied no1

http://s70.photobucket.com/albums/i105/pittsmaster/?action=view¤t=E32-SIG-1.jpg

To me, the new 7 series is one of the best looking BMWs, and it's the only BMW that looks good from ALL angles.

— M53R (View Profile)

Posted on 2/25/2009 10:13:37 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Everyone is a critic. Old 7 series... too controversial... new one is conservative... now its a lexus. Lexus is not the only car in the world to have integrated tail pipes.. If we want to get to copying look how bmw started the whole idrive idea.. and now look how many cars have that.. bmw started adaptive headlights.. look how many cars have that. and besides all that these two cars should not be compared because the lexus is an extended wheel base camry

— Imola48isX5 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/25/2009 10:13:47 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

What happened to the video of Agent 001 demonstrating the new 750? It was up yesterday, but now is gone.

— 204E60 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/25/2009 10:25:21 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Lexus copied BMW in the first place, so now it's a copy of a copy. The BMW has more character. I would choose that over the snorefest that is the Lexus. I don't "love" this one, but it's a lot better than the previous 7 series. I would never own a car as big as those, so it's a moot point.

— Redwood (View Profile)

Posted on 2/25/2009 10:42:29 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

look at the rear of the e32 7-series. BMW IS ORIGINAL.

— Imola48isX5 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/25/2009 10:49:24 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

It is a sad day in the Luxury car market when BMW is comparing themselve to Lexus.

— shiftless (View Profile)

Posted on 2/25/2009 7:15:34 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

LS looks best!!!!!!!!!

— truthpursuit (View Profile)

Posted on 2/27/2009 4:04:16 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

I think Auto Spies should change the name of this site to...BMW versus Lexus.com...come on people, we're all car enthusiasts here, so let's stick to positive comparisons and stop crapping on each other. All car companies copy each other here and there...nothing new to that at all. In this case, I don't blame BMW for a little copying of a 'car of the year' in the LS. Maybe now, the 7 will win some awards too.

Excuse me...news flash from Consumer Reports.org 2/27/09...Auto Picks for 2009...Top Pick: Best Overall Vehicle...Lexus LS 460.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!!

— Ricks2Dogs (View Profile)

Posted on 2/27/2009 9:36:48 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

It's not the same car with different grilles?

— mkaresh (View Profile)

Posted on 2/28/2009 10:01:26 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

it doesnt matter what you say, the euro nazis will always vote for the euro car and disparage any competitor or its defender. that is the same as the all the so called automotive media. its nothing but racism but of course you cant say that. europe cannot make cars that are reliable or innovative in the luxury class and this has been the case for 10 years. too bad so many bigots come here.

— OneOfOne (View Profile)

Posted on 3/1/2009 5:47:05 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Do the people that think an Audi is a rebadged VW and the 7 series BMW is a rebadged Mini think that a Ferrari is a rebadged Fiat?
Just curious...

— Wazz (View Profile)

Posted on 3/2/2009 6:01:39 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1