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New Delhi: The seventh generation of BMW 7 Series has received a comprehensive mid-cycle update, bringing notable revisions to both design and technology while introducing BMW’s latest Neue Klasse-inspired interior philosophy. While not an all-new generation, the facelift focuses on refining the flagship sedan with updated powertrains and a significantly reworked cabin. 

From the outside, changes might be subtle but quite prominent. The new model comes with a revised kidney grille, updated headlamps and a little tweaked BMW badge, along with redesigned tail-lamps at the rear. Of course, most of the work in this new facelift is on the inside.

BMW 7 Series interiors and powertrain figures

BMW 7 Series marks the debut of BMW’s Panoramic iDrive

The updated 7 Series debuts BMW’s Panoramic iDrive, which is a full-width display stretching across the base of the windscreen. This sits alongside a 17.9-inch central infotainment touchscreen and, for the first time in a BMW, there is also a dedicated passenger display, which comes as standard.

Under the bonnet, the entry-level 740 retains the 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six engine paired with a 48V mild-hybrid system, now upgraded with a bigger turbocharger. Power too has increased from 375hp to 394hp, while torque is unchanged at 539 Nm. The all-wheel-drive 740 xDrive can accelerate from standstill to 100 kph in under five seconds and is electronically limited to a top speed of 249 kph.

For the electric powertrain, the i7 50 xDrive still gets the dual-motor setup, which makes 449hp, but sees the figures go slightly up in terms of torque to 648 Nm. Performance figures remain mostly unchanged, with a 0- 100 kph time of 5.3 seconds, though top speed increases marginally to 209 kph.

The more powerful i7 60 xDrive still comes with with 536hp and 744 Nm of torque, but gets from a higher top speed of 239 kph (up from 209 kph), while it manages to do 0-60mph in 4.6 seconds, which is a little better.

A major upgrade across the electric trims is the introduction of BMW’s sixth-generation eDrive technology, coming with new cylindrical battery cells and a 112kWh battery pack. This not only improves efficiency but also increases range, with the i7 60 now managing over 563 km. Charging performance has also been improved, with maximum DC fast-charging speeds increased to 250kW, which enables it to charge 10-80 per cent in just 28 minutes.