BMW 7 Series, i7 Facelift Bookings Now Open In India

German luxury carmaker BMW has started accepting bookings for its updated 7 Series and i7 flagship sedans in India. Bookings can be placed at dealerships or registered online through the BMW India website.

The facelifted BMW 7 Series & i7 will arrive in India just over three months after their international unveiling. The flagship sedan's mid-life update brings exterior and interior tweaks along with revised powertrains for both the petrol/diesel 7 Series and the electric i7.

BMW 7 Series & i7 Facelift: Exterior and Interior Changes

The updated BMW 7 Series gets a cleaner front end, headlined by a new illuminated kidney grille. The headlights now use a split design, with slim daytime running lights up top and a smaller lighting unit tucked near the air curtains.

Flush-fitting door handles are carried over from the outgoing car, while a new alloy wheel design has been added with the facelift. An embossed '7' badge on the B-pillar becomes visible only when both doors on the same side are opened.

At the rear, the tail-lamps of the 7 Series facelift are slimmer and extend further into the tailgate than before and are finished with chrome detailing and smoked glass. The boot release, rear camera and washer nozzle sit hidden from view, and a diffuser-style insert has been added to the rear bumper.

Inside, the dashboard has been redesigned around a 17.9-inch central touchscreen and a 14.6-inch display for the front passenger. The conventional driver's display is gone, replaced by a full-width projection at the base of the windscreen that runs BMW Operating System X.

The infotainment system allows for over-the-air updates, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and upgraded voice controls. A new four-spoke steering wheel inspired by BMW's classic models has also been fitted to the 7 Series facelift, alongside a Bowers & Wilkins Surround Sound System with up to 18 speakers as standard.

Cabin lighting has been reworked too, with a full-width ambient strip across the dashboard, illuminated rear speaker grilles and additional reading lights for rear occupants. All seats get electric adjustment, heating, ventilation, massage function, lumbar support and heated armrests as standard, and the front passenger seat can slide fully forward to free up legroom for whoever sits behind it.

Rear-seat entertainment has been upgraded as well. The Theatre Screen, optional overseas, is now a 31.3-inch 8K touchscreen that supports video calls, streaming and gaming, while updated rear-door displays let occupants adjust its angle and control other cabin functions. BMW has also revised the automatic doors with repositioned open and close buttons.

BMW 7 Series & i7 Facelift: Powertrain Updates and Price Expectations

The 740i xDrive petrol and 740d xDrive diesel continue with 3.0-litre inline-six mild-hybrid engines, an 8-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive, though both now produce more power. The 740i makes 400hp and 580Nm, up by 19hp and 60Nm, while the 740d develops 313hp and 670Nm, a gain of 27hp and 20Nm over the outgoing car.

It remains to be seen whether BMW will bring a plug-in hybrid version of the 7 Series to India, especially since the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, its key rival, already offers one.

The all-electric i7 picks up updates too. The entry-level i7 50 eDrive trim has been replaced by the i7 50 xDrive, which adds all-wheel drive and a larger 112.4kWh battery in place of the earlier 101.7kWh unit, lifting power slightly to 455hp while torque rises by 10Nm to 660Nm.

The range-topping i7 M70 xDrive also gains the larger battery. Its power output climbs from 650hp to 680hp, and torque increases from 1,015Nm to as much as 1,100Nm.

The current 7 Series is priced at Rs 1.85 crore, ex-showroom, for both the petrol and diesel versions, while the i7 ranges from Rs 2.1 crore to Rs 2.58 crore. BMW is expected to raise prices slightly across the range given the updates.