BMW has officially revealed the updated 7th generation BMW 7 Series (G70), and this isn’t your typical mid-cycle refresh.
Following the launch of the BMW iX3 and i3, BMW has upgraded its flagship with the latest Neue Klasse technologies. After all, the German brand aims to launch 40 new and updated BMW models by the end of 2027.
The new 7 Series brings a major overhaul in design, in-car tech and electrification, while still offering the full mix of petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid and fully electric options as part of its technology openness.
BMW 7 Series gets bolder “monolithic” look
BMW is calling this a new design direction for its luxury segment, and you can the changes immediately. The updated 7 Series now has a more monolithic and cleaner appearance, giving it a stronger road presence.
Up front, you get a flatter kidney grille with Iconic Glow lighting, paired with refreshed BMW Individual crystal headlights. As part of the new face, the headlights are now arranged vertically. The lighting experience goes beyond just looks, with new Welcome and Goodbye sequences and a dynamic light carpet when you approach or leave the car.
Around the sides, surfaces are cleaner and more minimal, while the rear gets newly designed light elements. The updated taillights feature new graphics and extend further toward the center, leaving just a small gap where they nearly meet the BMW logo.
BMW is also expanding customisation significantly, offering more than 500 exterior colours, including new BMW Individual finishes and a new Dual Finish paint option.
Panoramic iDrive now on the BMW flagship sedan
The new BMW Panoramic iDrive has finally made its way to the 7 series and it changes the way you interact with the car.
Similar to the latest BMW iX3 and i3, there’s no longer an instrument cluster as BMW has added a Panoramic Vision display that stretches from end-to-end at the lower part of the windscreen. There’s also a 3D head-up display which keeps your vital driving information within your line of sight.
The centre gets a “free-cut” 17.9-inch touchscreen and BMW has also added a front passenger display as standard. The 14.6-inch 21:9 Full HD BMW Passenger Screen allows the front passenger to stream videos, play games or even join video calls while on the move.
At the rear, the Theatre Screen is still the highlight. You get a massive 31.3-inch 8K display with Dolby Atmos support, now with an integrated camera for video conferencing. It’s essentially a private cinema or mobile office on wheels.
BMW also adds new ambient lighting elements, up to 36-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System and expanded personalisation options throughout the cabin. The automatic doors have also been updated with a Soft Close mechanism and more precise radar sensors, making them easier to operate.
AI-powered driving with Symbiotic Drive
BMW is also introducing a new assistance system architecture called Symbiotic Drive, which blends driver input with AI-assisted systems.
This enables hands-free driving on highways at speeds of up to 130km/h, along with navigation-guided assistance from entry to exit. In the city, the system can assist from one address to another, including handling traffic lights, roundabouts and lane changes—as long as the driver remains attentive.
Parking has also been improved with AI-supported detection and smoother automated manoeuvres.
BMW 7 Series: One Car, Multiple powertrains
BMW continues to offer customers the power of choice with the 7 Series still offered with petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid and fully electric.
Petrol variants remain available, including the BMW 740 xDrive, which uses a six-cylinder engine with 48V mild hybrid tech, delivering 294kW (394hp) and 580Nm of torque. In select markets, there’s also the BMW 735 with lower output of 210kW (282hp) and 400Nm of torque.
If you still want diesel, the BMW 740d xDrive is still around. Its six-cylinder diesel engine with 48V mild hybrid produces up to 230kW (308hp) and 670Nm, and BMW says it has improved refinement and overall performance.
For those who want some electrification without going fully EV, the 7 series plug-in hybrid lineup includes the 750e xDrive and M760e xDrive. The 750e delivers 360kW (482hp) and 700Nm, while the M760e pushes things further with 450kW (603hp) and 800Nm. Both offer up to 82km of electric-only range (WLTP).
BMW has also confirmed that a third BMW M Performance variant powered by a V8 engine will be added to the lineup soon.
Fully electric BMW i7
The updated BMW i7 still runs on BMW’s 400V Gen5 eDrive platform but it now gets a newer Gen6 cylindrical cells from the latest BMW iX3 and i3. The new Gen6 cells provide higher density up to 20% and as a result, the new i7 gets a larger pack of 112.5kWh.
Charging as been improved significantly, supporting up to 250kW of DC fast charging. BMW reckons that 10-80% charge takes about 29 minutes and it can add up to 235km of range in 10 minutes. However, this peak 250kW DC charging rate is only possible if you can find a DC charger that pushes up to 630A.
Here’s the latest BMW i7 lineup which feature dual-motor AWD setup:
- BMW i7 50 xDrive – 335kW (449hp), 660Nm, 0–100 km/h in 5.5 seconds, range: 591–728km (WLTP)
- BMW i7 60 xDrive – 400kW (536hp), 745Nm, 0–100 km/h in 4.8 seconds, range: 581–727km (WLTP)
- BMW i7 M70 xDrive – 500kW (670hp), up to 1,100Nm, 0–100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, range: 566–686km (WLTP)
The new BMW 7 Series will make its global debut at the Beijing Auto Show in April 2026, with production set to begin in July 2026 at BMW’s Dingolfing plant in Lower Bavaria. So far there’s no word yet on its availability for the Malaysian market.
