BMW M7 talk picks up speed

With Mercedes-Benz and Audi seemingly only too happy to slake the world's appetite for top-dollar, full-size luxury sports sedans through its AMG and S divisions, we can't help but wonder why it's taken so long for BMW to commit to an M7 model.

For years now, the sportiest 7 Series in North America has been the B7, which has been heavily breathed-upon via German tuner Alpina and offered through official BMW dealers. Most recently, Car and Driver reopened the discussion just last month.

And while the company still isn't officially committing to an M7, TheDetroitBureau.com quotes Ludwig Willisch, CEO of BMW North America, as bullish on the model's prospects. According to the the report, while BMW has long maintained that it wouldn't build a 7 Series M, "sentiment appears to be changing, especially with Willisch's counterpart in China also lending his support." Of course, if BMW builds such a model, that doesn't mean we'll see it here, but Willisch seems optimistic about our chances.

Of course, no timetable has been set, and BMW has been occupying its time with the just-revealed 7 Series refresh (and its M team is still busy with the next M3), so if an M7 is in the cards, it wouldn't surprise us if we have to wait until the next-generation model.

More after the jump.