BMW 7 Series luxury limo overhauled for 2026

BMW has overhauled its flagship 7 Series luxury limousine after four years on-sale, with the updated sedan due in local showrooms in Q4.

The overhaul of the seventh-generation 7 Series – claimed to be the BMW Group’s most extensive ever – sources many of its headline items from the Neue Klasse technology and design set BMW introduced last year with the iX3 EV.

It’s perhaps unsurprising then there’s a lot of focus on the electric i7, which gets Neue Klasse cylindrical Gen 6 cells (replacing prismatic) within the enlarged 112.5kWh battery (up from 105.7kWh) and electrically excited e-motors already employed by the iX3 and more recently unveiled i3.

The best range claimed by the i7 is now an impressive 720km-plus – up from 600km – and the peak DC charging rate has lifted from 195kW to 250kW.

But these impressive numbers still fall short of the peak claims made by the new Mercedes-Benz EQS that debuted less than two weeks ago – courtesy of a new 800V electronic architecture, it claims a stunning 925km range and a max recharge rate up to 350kW.

The proviso in all this is the i7 line-up is all-wheel drive while the most efficient EQS is rear-wheel drive.

The i7 lineup comprises the 335kW/660Nm 50 xDrive (591-728km WLTP Range), the 400kW/745Nm i7 60 xDrive (581-727km range) and the flagship i7 M70 xDrive which packs 500kW/1100Nm (566km-686km range).

BMW has also updated its mild and plug-in hybrid internal combustion 7 Series lineup.

The ICE range includes the rear-drive 735 (210kW/425Nm) and 740 (294kW/580Nm), 740 xDrive (294kW/580Nm) and the diesel-powered 740d xDrive (230kW/670Nm). All come standard with turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder mild-hybrid engines.

Plug-in hybrids will start production later in the year and include the 750e xDrive (360kW/700Nm) and M760e xDrive (450kW/800Nm) that has an electric-only range of up to 82km.

Externally, the 7 Series family design changes are minimal and include thinner crystal headlights, horizontal grille slats and new rear lights similar to the new i3.

M Sport and M Sport Pro packages bring further opportunities for differentiation.

Huge 22-inch inch alloy wheels are available for the first time, as is a two-tone paint finish.

Inside, the 7 Series has the usual swathe of luxury materials such as leather, wood and crystal but also picks up Neue Klasse tech such as the 43.3-inch Panoramic iDrive instrument panel that stretches from A-pillar to A-pillar.

It also picks up the controversial vertical spoke steering wheel option from Neue Klasse and adopts the Neue Klasse 17.9-inch infotainment touchscreen, but adds another touchscreen in front of the passenger.

A massive fold-down 31.3-inch 8K screen continues to be available in the back seat, paired with a 35-speaker Bowers and Wilkins audio system. The screen now includes a built-in camera for conference calls.

Fully reclinable Executive Lounge chairs are optional. Power-operated doors are standard.

Other new 7 Series technology includes AI driving and parking assistance, while hands-off driving up to 130km/h is provided by the ‘Motorway Assistant’.

The 7 Series family comes with standard adaptive two-axle air suspension and rear steering and available adaptive chassis control and integrated steering assist.

The new BMW 7 Series range will go on sale in Australia in the fourth quarter of 2026.

The current local lineup comprises the 740i, i7 xDrive 60 and the i7 M70 xDrive, however the updated range, spec details and pricing are all yet to be confirmed.

For reference, the current mode ranges from $272,900 to $344,900 plus on-road costs.

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