Triple Threat 7th Gen BMW 7 Series Arrives With IC, Hybrid & EV (i7) Powertrains

2022 BMW 7 Series Specs & Dimensions

At its unveiling, BMW has revealed the new 7 series in four different guises - 735i, 740i, 760i xDrive and the i7 xDrive60.

The entry-level BMW 735i is powered by a 3.0-litre turbocharged straight six engine that produces 282bhp and 425Nm of peak torque. The 735i's engine is paired to an 8-speed automatic gearbox that sends power to the rear wheels. The 735i sprints from 0-100km/h in 6.7 seconds and has a top speed of 250km/h.

Next in line is the more powerful 740i which uses the same engine as the 735i. The 3.0-litre straight six engine under the bonnet of the 740i pushes out 375bhp and 540Nm of peak torque which is sent to the rear-wheels via an 8-speed torque converter auto box. The BMW 740i sprints from 0-100km/h in 5.4 seconds and is also limited to 250km/h.

The most powerful of the petrol engine when the new 7 Series arrives in November will be the 4.4-litre twin-tubo V8 found under the bonnet of the new 760i XDrive. The V8 engine produces 536bhp and 750Nm of peak torque which is sent to all four wheels via the standard 8-speed automatic. The BMW 760i xDrive accelerates from 0-100km/h in just 4.2 seconds and has a top speed of 250km/h.

The i7 xDrive60 is the lone EV offering available from the start. The i7 xDrive60's twin motor setup produces 536bhp and 745Nm of peak torque. The i7 xDrive60 sprints from 0-100km/h in just 4.7 seconds and is electronically limited to a top speed of 240km/h.

The i7 xDrive60 sports a 101.7kWh battery pack that delivers a range of 625 kilometres on a single charge. The battery pack supports 195kW DC fast charging which can charge the pack from 10-80 per cent in 34 minutes. Charging using the onboard charger and a 3-phase 11kW AC plug will take around 9.5 hours.

BMW has revealed that the new 7 Series will get a host of new powertrains in 2023. These include petrol and diesel models along with a proper hybrid setup which will be offered in two guises - 750e xDrive and 760e xDrive. The 750e xDrive will offer 486hp and 700Nm of peak torque. The 760e xDrive will be the more powerful of the duo with 563bhp and 800Nm on tap.

BMW has also revealed that a more powerful version of the EV dubbed the i7 xDrive M70 will also arrive next year with 651bhp on offer.

The new 7th generation BMW 7 Series is 5391mm long, 1,950mm wide and 1,544mm tall. The wheelbase of the new 7 Series is 3,215mm long. The new BMW 7 series weighs between 2,150 and 2,345 kilogrammes if you choose one of the petrol versions. The all-electric i7 is a lot heavier at 2,715 kilogrammes.

The new 7 Series, like the car it replaces features double wishbone suspension at the front and a multi-link setup at the rear. The front track has been widened by 47mm while the rear has grown by 4mm compared to the G11 7 Series. The new G70 7 Series features air suspension as standard which can be dropped by up to 10mm and raised by 20mm whenever required.

2022 BMW 7 Series Design & Features

The new BMW 7 Series features a new design language that bavarian carmaker claims is only reserved for its flagship models. The new 7 Series features large kidney grilles and a split headlamp design with the daytime running lights up top and the high and low beams embedded into the front bumper.

Compared to the agressive front, the sides of the new 7 Series look rather tame. The new 7 Series sits on alloy wheels ranging from 19 to 22-inches in size with the i7 models getting a specially designed units. The other features een on the sides is a more pronounced Hofmeister kink.

The rear end of the new 7 Series features sleek LED taillights with the 760i variants sporting an M specific rear bumper with trapezoidal exhaust tips.

Step inside the new 7 Series and the changes really start coming into view. Like the all-electric iX SUV, the new 7 Series features a curved screen on the dashboard which joins a 14.9-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display together. While the new 7 Series does features a lot less physical buttons, it has retained the rotary iDrive controller which can be used to control the infotainment display.

Step into the back seats of the new 7 Series and the changes are ven more pronounced. The rear section of the new 7 Series is dominated by the optional 31.3-inch 8k 'BMW Theatre Screen'.

This massive display pops down from the roof to provide a widescreen setup for the ultimate Netflix and chill session on the insanely comfortable reclinable rear seats (all seats are available in optional Merino leather and cashmere along with the usual leather and Vegan options) that look to be taken out from a private jet.

The large theatre screen which is powered by Amazon's Fire TV interface and the seat functions can be controlled by the touchscreen displays fitted into the doors. The audio accompaniment is provided by an 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins setup which can be upgraded to the 36-speaker, 1,965-watt Diamond sound system from the same company.

Thoughts On the new BMW 7 Series

Thenew BMW 7 Series has just laid down the gauntlet to its German counterparts - the Mercedes S-Class and the Audi A8 - with its insane interiors that make the new 7 Series feel like a lounge on wheels. With the new i7, BMW has a rival for the Mercedes EQS which should make the luxury limousine section of the car industry one to watch for in the near future.