Step into Boeing's next-gen 747-8 Intercontinental (photos)

TUKWILA, Wash.--Boeing on Sunday plans to formally unveil its long-awaited 747-8 Intercontinental, a plane that it says will be the most fuel-efficient in the world. But while much of the attention surrounding the plane has focused on its new wings, its next-generation General Electric engines, and its industry-best cost per seat mile, it is also getting a major reboot of its interior.

After giving the aviation press a rare look at the final assembly of the 747-8 at the giant Boeing plant in Everett, Wash., the company escorted the media to its Customer Experience Center, where reporters were given a chance to see the latest iteration of the interior mock-up of the 747-8 Intercontinental.

Located in the upper deck of the newly designed 747-8 Intercontinental, this is a suite, featuring a fully-flat bed, a comfortable armchair, a personal TV screen and a degree of privacy.

This is the upper deck suite, as seen from the chair, showing the fully flat bed and the TV screen.

A view up the stairway that will go up to the 747-8 Intercontinental's upper deck.

Inside the interior mock-up of the 747-8 Intercontinental, this is a lounge area inside the main cabin area, just adjacent to the stairway.

A view down the stairway from the upper deck of the interior mock-up of the 747-8 Intercontinental.

Inside the 747-8 Intercontinental interior mock-up, Boeing has configured the upper deck to be like it would be on a VIP version of the plane. This is a lounge bench, complete with cushions and pillows, and it faces a pair of armchairs.

Inside the 747-8 Intercontinental interior mock-up, Boeing has configured the upper deck to be like it would be on a VIP version of the plane. This is a pair of armchairs with a small table facing a lounge bench, complete with cushions and pillows.

First-class passengers aboard the 747-8 Intercontinental could have access to a selection of wines, as displayed here.

First-class passengers aboard the 747-8 Intercontinental could have access to a selection of wines, as displayed here in this wine bar.

This is the front of the 747-8 Intercontinental, in the nose of the airplane. In this configuration, it is a first-class section.

First-class passengers aboard the 747-8 Intercontinental will likely be able to lay down in this bed, as seen aboard the interior mock-up of the plane at Boeing's Customer Experience Center.

This is a first-class seat in the front of the plane's nose section, as seen in the interior mock-up.

The interior mock-up of the 747-8 Intercontinental shows several different kinds of business class seating. This is the narrowest of the options showed, but shown folded out so that passengers can stretch out.

These are the narrower business-class seats shown in the interior mock-up of the 747-8 Intercontinental.

This is a view of business-class seating in the upper deck of the 747-8 Intercontinental's interior mock-up at Boeing's Customer Experience Center.

This is a close-up of business class seating in the upper deck of the 747-8 Intercontinental interior mock-up.

These are wider business-class seats as shown in the lower deck of the 747-8 Intercontinental interior mock-up.

Boeing designed the 747-8 Intercontinental to have the same kind of luggage bins as its 787 Dreamliner. The idea is that there should be enough space for everyone's bags.

A view of the luggage bins in the middle of the plane, as seen in the interior mock-up of the 747-8 Intercontinental.

The back of business-class seats as seen in the interior mock-up of the 747-8 Intercontinental.

These are windows in the front, first-class, nose section of the 747-8 Intercontinental's interior mock-up.

Though the 747-8 Intercontinental is the same width as the current-generation 747-400, it has used design elements--including special LED lighting that can provide a sense that the ceiling looks like the sky--to make people believe that the plane is wider and taller.

This is a view of the main deck first-class section, looking back from the front of the nose section.

A view of the main cabin of the 747-8 Intercontinental's interior mock-up.

A view of coach class in the 747-8 Intercontinental interior mock-up.

And the front section exit door. Hope you enjoyed your flight.