The BMW 7 Series re-invents itself once again. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.
Ten Second Review
BMW revitalised its large boardroom-level 7 Series saloon when it launched the seventh generation G70-era version back in 2022. And claims to have almost reinvented it again with this updated model, announced four years into production. It represents the most extensive facelift in the brand's history. And it's very luxurious indeed. But you're still going to have to like the way it looks.
Background
The BMW 7 Series has been with us for over half a century and it's always been a showcase for the Munich maker's latest technology. The seventh generation version added a divisive brand of pavement presence to its CV at launch back in 2022, which some boardroom buyers liked and some didn't. As before, the PHEV and i7 versions of this car are this Munich maker's direct alternative to the Mercedes S-Class and EQS.
Both those Stuttgart models have been updated in recent times, though arguably not as extensively as this 7 Series has been. The 7 now has a slightly smarter look and a completely new dashboard. Even more significantly, the i7 version is no longer quite as far off the drive range and DC charging figures of a rival Mercedes EQS thanks to a larger all-new battery. Will it all be enough? Let the boardroom battle commence.
Engines and Tech Spec
As before, there are two distinct kinds of G70-era 7 Series, one with a PHEV combustion unit, the other the full-EV i7. It's the i7 that gets the lion's share of the engineering updates here, including a new 112.5kWh battery (up from 105.7kWh) which has the same new-era 'Gen6' cylindrical cells as those in the new i3. This, along with the adoption of the i3/iX3 models' more efficient electrically-excited synchronous motors, has massively boosted drive range. That's now up to 452 miles for the entry-level i7 50 xDrive (up from 387 miles before), which has 455hp from its dual motor drivetrain, with 0-62mph taking 5.5s.
Many customers will want a more powerful i7 than that. The mid-level i7 60 xDrive (as before) offers 544hp, with 0-62mph taking 4.8s and 451 miles of range. Beyond that is the top i7 M70 xDrive, which has 680hp (with 1,015Nm of torque!) and 426 miles of range. Because this i7 is still based on a combustion-based platform (BMW's CLAR architecture), these range figures continue to lag some way behind those of the comparable more bespoke EV-engineered rival Mercedes EQS.
The PHEV variants have also been refreshed, though not quite as extensively. Their straight-six petrol engine is now BMW's updated unit and features a new turbocharger. The base 750e has 489hp, makes 62mph from rest in 4.8s. Now more powerful is the PHEV alternative, the M760e xDrive, which now has 40hp extra, so a total of 612hp (and 800Nm of torque), taking the car to 62mph in 4.2s. In both cases, the 18.7kWh 'Gen5' battery is as before, giving an EV range of about 50 miles.
As you'd expect, all version of this G70-era 7 Series continue to be engineered primarily for either motorways or the metropolis. But secondary roads are also tackled in its stride thanks to adaptive self-levelling air suspension, which lowers itself by 10mm in 'Sport' mode (and at speeds of over 75mph) to improve stability. You can also use it to raise the ride height by 20mm to avoid damage on rougher sections of road. Active rear steering is also standard.
Design and Build
Unlike its rival Mercedes, BMW thinks combustion and full-EV versions of a car in this segment should look pretty much the same. And that look has always been the most divisive thing about this MK7 G70-era 7 Series, introduced back in 2022 when big front grilles were very much in vogue.
This updated model still has that enormous appendage, but it now features a different design with horizontal slats and is flanked by redesigned air intakes and thinner lights (embedded with crystals which 'sparkle'). There are changes to the rear lights too, which now look similar to those on the i3, designed to emphasise width. Huge 22-inch wheels are standard and as before, the car is only offered here in long wheelbase form.
Inside up-front, the facelift changes are far wider-reaching. Gone is the previous instrument cluster, replaced by an i3-style 43.3-inch 'Panoramic iDrive' display that runs along the base of the windscreen right in the driver's eye-line. That means the fitment of an i3-sttyle four-spoke steering wheel and central 17.9-inch central touchscreen. Plus to at last get into line with the current luxury car trend, there's now also a 14.6-inch screen ahead of the front passenger.
Cars like this though, are all about the experience they offer in the rear, described by BMW as 'a private mobile retreat that invites you to relax'. Well that experience now starts with optional Rolls-Royce-style automatically-opening rear doors. As before, the rear seat highlight (and the thing that sets this car apart from its Mercedes rivals) is its 31.3-inch 8K roof-mounted 'Theatre Screen' system, which is paired with a 35-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio set-up.
Fully reclinable alcantara-trimmed Executive Lounge rear chairs can be added. The reclining seats have foot rests, allowing for a torso angle of up to 42.5-degrees. There's also a black-out screen for the rear window, touchscreens in the door panels and the option of 'seat exciters', which vibrate and pulse the seat with loud sounds from the 'Theatre Screen'. Out back, there's a 525-litre boot in PHEV combustion models, which shrinks to 500-litres in the i7.
Market and Model
We can expect an increase over previous 7 Series prices, which will mean that even for an entry-level version, you're unlikely to get much change out of £110,000, once you've fully specced up your 7 Series the way you'd ideally want. There are 'M Sport', 'M Sport Pro' and 'M Performance' trim levels.
'M Sport' trim gets you M-specific side skirts, M high-gloss Shadowline exterior finishing with high-gloss black window surrounds and mirror bases, 20-inch M aerodynamic wheels, M Sport brakes with blue callipers, BMW M door sill strips and a special welcome/goodbye animation with an M-specific dynamic light carpet.The 'M Sport Pro' trim builds on 'M Sport' with additional details. It adds a dark BMW M kidney grille design, 21-inch M aerodynamic wheels and extended BMW M high-gloss Shadowline exterior trim, including darkened 'Iconic Glow' front grille illumination and bespoke rear lights. This trim is rounded off by a black M rear spoiler and an M Sport braking system with black-painted callipers.
All 7 Series models will suit audiophiles. The minimum sound set-up is a Bowers & Wilkins Surround Sound System with a seven-band equaliser, up to 18 speakers with metal covers and amplifier output of up to 655 watts. The optional Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System delivers high-end audio with up to 35 speakers and amplifier output of up to 1,965 watts, setting the segment benchmark. This set-up can be paired with a key option, BMW's 31.3-inch 8K roof-mounted 'Theatre Screen' system.
Other key extras include the automatically-opening rear doors and the 'Executive Lounge' reclining rear chairs. As customers in this segment will want, personalisation options are extensive, with over 700 interior material combinations (including crystal glass, metal and leather) and around 500 exterior colour combinations available. For the first time, you can also now have your 7 Series with two-tone 'Dual-Finish' paint with a matt finish at the top and gloss at the bottom.
Cost of Ownership
BMW hopes you'll be surprised how affordable a 7 Series is to run. With the PHEV variants, that will of course depend hugely on how often you plug it in. The quoted efficiency stats for these versions aren't a lot different from before; for the 750e xDrive, up to 56.5mpg on the combined cycle and up to 113g/km CO2. For the M760e xDrive, the stats are up to 50.4mpg and up to 128g/km.
With the i7, the key change is that DC charging speed has increased from195kW to 250kW. This enables the car to charge from 10 to 80% in 28 minutes at high-power charging stations. The BMW i7 50 xDrive and BMW i7 60 xDrive can add enough energy for up to 146 miles of range in ten minutes, while the BMW i7 M70 xDrive can add up to 133 miles in the same amount of time. On AC power, the BMW i7 charges at up to 22kW, allowing a full charge from empty in six hours. At 11kW, charging takes 12 hours.
As you'd expect, the i7 offers intelligent heat pump tech. And charging-optimised route planning including automatic battery preparation to accelerate DC charging. If a destination is outside of the current predicted range, BMW Maps calculates a charging-optimised route including charging stops. The driver defines a preferred minimum state of charge for arrival at charging points and at the destination, with the ability to prioritise specific charging operators along the way.
Battery preparation brings the high-voltage battery to the ideal temperature before DC charging, increasing charging power as soon as the vehicle is plugged in and reducing overall charging time.
Summary
This update of the G70-era 7 Series is all about merging BMW's Neue Klasse technology with luxury. This car, says the brand, is 'all about presence'. Well this model certainly makes a statement. But whether you'll like that statement is another question. The looks of this seventh generation design may have been updated, but they're as divisive as ever.
Beyond the aesthetics, it's certainly much more technologically up-to-date in its i7 full-EV form. And the extensive cabin upgrade is far more than you'd expect from a mere facelift. But perhaps the thing you might most like about this BMW is the thing that's hardly changed at all - its rear seat ambiance.
So if you're fortunate enough to have a chauffeur, this 7 Series might still be an appealing choice, providing it's specified with the rear 'Theatre Screen' system. And even if you like to drive yourself, this BMW might continue to present a fractionally more engaging option than its most obvious Mercedes rivals. Overall, we think your typical Asian or American plastic surgeon or company director will love this car. And there's just a chance that you might too.
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