BMW 7 Series facelift launches the i7 as a three-variant electric line-up

BMW has revealed the facelifted G70 7 Series. The electric i7 line-up expands from one variant to three — the i7 50 xDrive, BMW and BMW — all riding on a new 112.5 kWh battery, charging at up to 250 kW DC and delivering up to 728 km of WLTP range.

What has been confirmed

World premiere on 22 April 2026, with production starting at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing in July 2026. All powertrains — petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid and full electric — stay on a single production line. The confirmed line-up covers the 740 xDrive petrol and 740d xDrive diesel (both 48-volt mild hybrids), the M760e xDrive plug-in hybrid, and three i7 electric variants: the i7 50 xDrive, BMW and the M-flavoured BMW. Three M Performance trims are offered alongside.

Exterior and design

The update is a styling refresh rather than a re-body. BMW calls the look a "monolithic exterior" and adds the kidney Iconic Glow illuminated grille, new minimalist crystal headlights and redesigned rear lights with cleaner graphics. A new 22-inch wheel option joins the range, and BMW Individual introduces a Dual-Finish paintwork process that BMW describes as a world first.

The hardware changes are modest. The 7 Series keeps its current long-wheelbase-only body and proportions.

Interior and iDrive

Inside, the 7 Series moves to BMW Panoramic iDrive, the wide-format dashboard layout that debuts here in the flagship. It is paired with a dedicated Passenger Screen and an upgraded BMW Theatre Screen that now supports 8K streaming. Four-zone automatic climate control, a panoramic glass roof and Bowers & Wilkins with Dolby Atmos are part of the package.

A digital interior mirror is listed as a later addition, coming from November 2026.

The i7 electric line-up

The facelift turns the i7 into a three-variant range, all sharing the same 112.5 kWh (net) NMC pack — a meaningful step up from the 101.7 kWh battery in the outgoing i7 xDrive60.

The i7 50 xDrive is the new entry point. It pairs 335 kW (455 hp) and 660 Nm of dual-motor all-wheel drive with 728 km of WLTP range — the longest in the line-up. 0–100 km/h takes 5.5 seconds and top speed is electronically limited to 210 km/h.

The BMW replaces the current xDrive60 as the core volume model. Power climbs to 400 kW (544 hp) and 745 Nm, with 0–100 km/h in 4.8 seconds and a 240 km/h top speed. WLTP range is 727 km — essentially identical to the 50 xDrive despite the power bump.

The BMW stays at the top of the range. BMW's M-flavoured flagship produces 500 kW (680 hp) and 1,015 Nm — with an overboost pushing torque to 1,100 Nm — for a 3.8-second 0–100 km/h sprint and a 250 km/h top speed. WLTP range is 686 km, still well clear of the current i7 xDrive60.

All three variants use BMW's WRSM (wound-rotor synchronous) motors on both axles, carrying over the magnet-free drive architecture from the outgoing i7.

Battery and charging

Every 2027 i7 uses the same Samsung SDI NMC prismatic pack: 116.5 kWh gross, 112.5 kWh net (112.4 kWh on the M70), running on a 400-volt architecture with a 376 V nominal voltage. Peak DC charging rises to 250 kW, up from 195 kW on the current car — a meaningful bump even though the i7 stays on a 400-volt platform rather than jumping to the 800-volt architecture introduced on the Neue Klasse cars.

Adaptive recuperation, route-based charge planning and integration with electricity market tariffs are standard on every i7.

Driver assistance and software

The 7 Series runs BMW Operating System X with over-the-air updates as standard. Driver assistance is SAE Level 2, with Motorway Assistant working up to 130 km/h and a new City Assistant function for urban driving. Parking uses AI-based space detection, and BMW lists an AI-driven tyre-condition monitoring function. Amazon Alexa+ is being integrated as part of a gradual rollout from the second half of 2026.

There is no claim of Level 3 hands-off driving in this facelift, which keeps the 7 Series behind the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Drive Pilot offering in Germany.

Launch timing and pricing

World premiere was 22 April 2026. Production starts in July 2026, with the digital interior mirror following in November 2026. Pricing has not been announced in the launch material, and specific order and delivery dates vary by market.

What is still unknown

• Pack weight, module count and cell configuration for the new 112.5 kWh battery
• Official 10–80 percent DC charging time for the i7
• EV-only range and updated specs for the M760e xDrive plug-in hybrid
• Pricing in all markets

This article will be updated as more details are released.