New BMW 7 Series: Electric and Hybrid Models Revealed with Neue Klasse Tech

BMW has revealed the updated 7 Series Sedan, its flagship luxury model. This generation is the most extensively updated 7 Series BMW has ever produced. It is also the first existing BMW model to receive technology from the Neue Klasse platform, which will underpin all future BMW vehicles.

The new 7 Series is available with combustion engines, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) drivetrains, and fully electric variants. This article focuses on the PHEV and fully electric models. Production starts in July 2026 at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing in Germany.

New Design

The 7 Series gets a new front end with a redesigned kidney grille and slim crystal headlights. The side profile is cleaner, with reduced surfaces and a single character line. The rear features newly designed slim lights and a more structured look overall.

BMW offers the new Iconic Glow illuminated kidney grille as standard. Three M Performance variants and M Sport packages provide sportier styling options. BMW Individual personalisation is available, including a Dual-Finish paint option. Wheel sizes range from 20 inches (standard) to 22 inches (new for this generation).

Fully Electric: BMW i7 Range

The electric 7 Series is sold as the BMW i7. Three variants are available for the UK market. All use a new battery with sixth-generation BMW eDrive cylindrical cells, updated motors, faster charging, and adaptive brake regeneration.

i7 50 xDrive

• Twin-motor all-wheel drive
• Output: ~450 hp (335 kW)
• Range: 452 miles (WLTP)
• 0-100 km/h: 5.5 seconds
• Top speed: 210 km/h
• Sixth-generation BMW eDrive cylindrical cells
• Adaptive brake regeneration
• Charging route planning and energy market integration for cost-optimised charging

i7 60 xDrive

• Twin-motor all-wheel drive
• Output: 537 hp (400 kW)
• Range: 452 miles (WLTP)
• Energy consumption: 21.9-18.2 kWh/100 km (WLTP)
• 0-100 km/h: 4.8 seconds
• Top speed: 240 km/h
• Sixth-generation BMW eDrive cylindrical cells
• Adaptive brake regeneration
• Charging route planning and energy market integration for cost-optimised charging

i7 M70 xDrive (M Performance)

• Twin-motor all-wheel drive
• Output: 671 hp (500 kW)
• Range: 426 miles (WLTP)
• 0-100 km/h: 3.8 seconds
• Top speed: 250 km/h
• M-specific chassis tuning and roll stabilisation as standard
• Sixth-generation BMW eDrive cylindrical cells
• Adaptive brake regeneration

The i7 60 xDrive and i7 M70 xDrive are confirmed for the UK. The full Australian lineup has not yet been announced.

New i7 vs Old i7: Key Spec Differences

The new i7 brings a significant range increase over the outgoing model, thanks to the new cylindrical cell battery technology.

Plug-in Hybrid: 750e and 760e xDrive

Two PHEV variants are available. Both use an updated 3.0-litre inline-six petrol engine paired with an electric motor and an eight-speed automatic gearbox. A 18.7 kWh battery provides up to 50 km of electric-only range.

BMW 750e xDrive

• Combined output: 482 hp
• 0-100 km/h: 4.8 seconds
• Electric-only range: up to 50 km
• Battery: 18.7 kWh
• Engine: 3.0-litre inline-six with improved turbocharger
• All-wheel drive (xDrive)
• Eight-speed automatic gearbox

BMW 760e xDrive (M Performance)

• Combined output: 604 hp
• 0-100 km/h: 4.2 seconds
• Electric-only range: up to 50 km
• Battery: 18.7 kWh
• Engine: 3.0-litre inline-six with improved turbocharger
• All-wheel drive (xDrive)
• Eight-speed automatic gearbox
• Sportier exhaust tune vs 750e
• M Performance chassis tuning

The M760e xDrive has a combined fuel consumption of 5.6-6.8 L/100 km and CO2 emissions of 128-154 g/km (WLTP, provisional).

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Interior and Technology

The interior uses leather, cloth, wood, crystal glass, and metal. Open-pore wood and Alcantara are available. Veganza synthetic upholstery is standard, with real leather as an option.

• BMW Panoramic iDrive with BMW Operating System X
• Standard 14.6-inch BMW Passenger Screen (front passenger) - a first for BMW
• Optional 31.1-inch 8K BMW Theatre Screen for rear passengers with integrated camera for video calls
• Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system with Dolby Atmos
• BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant with Amazon Alexa+ AI (available from second half of 2026)
• Ambient lighting with LED strip and optional illuminated roof (40 LEDs)
• Panoramic glass sunroof (standard)
• Four-zone automatic climate control (standard)
• Comfort seats and optional Executive Lounge rear seating
• Soft-close automatic doors
• Digital interior mirror (available from November 2026)
• BMW Digital Key Plus
• Over-the-air software updates

PreviousNext

Driver Assistance and Safety

The new 7 Series uses SAE Level 2 driver assistance. BMW Symbiotic Drive improves how the car responds to driver inputs. Key features include:

• Motorway Assistant: hands-free driving up to 130 km/h in select European countries
• City Assistant: navigation-guided driving in urban areas (new)
• AI-supported Park Assist with automatic parking space detection
• Driver assistance visualisation in BMW Maps
• Digital tyre conditioning monitoring with AI
• Integrated braking system
• Near-actuator wheel slip limitation

Chassis and Ride

Standard equipment includes adaptive 2-axle air suspension with four electronically controlled shock absorbers. Optional Adaptive Chassis Control adds Integral Active Steering. The top-spec Adaptive Chassis Control Professional adds roll stabilisation. M Performance models include this as standard.

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How the BMW i7 Compares to Its Rivals

The electric luxury sedan segment is growing. Here is how the new BMW i7 60 xDrive stacks up against the Polestar 5, Mercedes-Benz EQS, and Volvo ES90.

Note: Polestar 5, Mercedes-Benz EQS, and Volvo ES90 figures are based on published specifications at time of writing. Volvo ES90 and some Polestar 5 figures are estimates pending full confirmation.

BMW 7 Series Sales Figures

The BMW 7 Series has been in production since 1977. Global sales have remained steady in the luxury segment. The i7 electric variant launched in 2022 and has grown as a share of total 7 Series sales.

Note: Sales figures are approximate, based on publicly available BMW Group annual reports and industry estimates.

Availability and Pricing

The new BMW 7 Series was revealed on 22 April 2026. Production starts in July 2026 at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing, Germany. UK pricing is expected to start from over £105,000. Australian pricing and variant availability have not yet been confirmed.

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