BMW’s Neue Klasse is all the rage in Munich right now, with the recent reveals of the new i3 and iX3. With those two cars in the “middle of the brand” being the biggest stars, BMW couldn’t leave its flagship luxury car feeling old hat. So it gave the 7 Series a Neue Klasse-style LCI facelift to not only keep it fresh for returning lessees but to update its luxury and technology to match the best the brand has to offer. So while the exterior remains similar, the cabin is all new.
This might also be the most radically changed LCI update for any BMW ever. The cabin of this new 7 Series is unrecognizable compared to the pre-LCI car, despite them basically being the same models. The 7 Series LCI marks the first time that BMW is retrofitting Neue Klasse tech to an older car and it actually seems to work pretty well.
From the outside, you’ll immediately notice it as a 7 Series, but it is different. The front end is much boxier and more upright than before, like it’s puffing out its chest and standing tall. I think BMW took the “three-box sedan” term a bit too literally. Love it or hate it, it’s bold. The grilles are even bigger and once again illuminated. The slim LED lights are split in two, to more distinctly match BMW’s signature dual-headlight design, there are massive vertical scoops that also house semi-hidden headlights, the BMW Roundel is nestled neatly in between the two massive V-shaped hood bulges. It isn’t exactly subtle. There’s a two-tone paint option, too, but it’s unique in that one half of the paint can be matte, while the other is metallic.
It’s also worth noting that customers can opt for BMW Individual crystal headlights, that feature 12 crystal glass elements per light. Those lights do fun start-up dances when you turn on the car, and there’s a “Ceremonial Light Carpet” from LEDs with 194,000 pixels in the door sills.
Behind the new 7 Series, you’ll find very Neue Klasse-looking taillights that are so wide they nearly touch in the middle of the trunk lid. They look like the new i3’s taillights, so it’s a bit odd seeing the flagship 7 Series being led by the humble 3 Series, in terms of design.
Inside, it’s all Neue Klasse, though. The four-spoke steering wheel unfortunately makes another appearance, the massive iDrive screen is here, too, and it even gets the same Panoramic Vision display at the base of the windshield, like the iX3. That, combined with the 3D head-up display and all of the driver’s information is front and center. Its center console is new, too, with a very minimalist design. There really are only cupholders and some controls, including the toggle shifter. But it’s far less fussy than the pre-LCI 7 Series. Merino leather is an option, but the standard seating material is BMW’s new Veganza animal-free leather.
The 7 Series does separate itself a bit from other Neue Klasse cars by having an additional screen for the passenger, but it fits the rest of the design perfectly. Passengers can stream TV or browse YouTube, while an integrated shield function keeps the driver from seeing it. There’s also a camera that pays attention to the driver, so if the driver keeps looking at the passenger screen, the car will dim the display to be less distracting.
For customers who prefer lounging in the back seat, fret not—the Theater Screen ain’t goin’ nowhere. Not only is it back, it’s new and improved. The 8K screen, with Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound and Dolby Atmos, can now handle Zoom calls. So you can conduct meetings from the backseat of your 7 Series on the way to your third home on Lake Como, instead of the stuffy office.
Under the skin, the 7 Series is mostly the same but it has a few important updates. The entry-level 740 still uses a 3.0-liter turbocharged I-6, but it has a new turbo, giving it 394 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque. BMW claims the xDrive version can hit 60 mph in under five seconds. The base 740 starts at $101,350 (after destination), while the 740 xDrive will cost $104,350. A hybrid 750e xDrive PHEV is on the way, too, with a familiar 3.0-liter turbocharged I-6 but assisted by an electric motor to help make 483 horsepower and 516 lb-ft. The hybrid’s 0-60 mph time is said to be 4.6 seconds, with an 87 mph all-electric top speed.
The electric BMW i7 gets an update, too. With its new Gen 6 battery and cylindrical cells from Rimac, the i7’s 112.5 kWh pack has a claimed range of 350 miles in the i7 60 xDrive. The i7 50 xDrive doesn’t have an official range figure yet, but its 449 horsepower and 487 lb-ft of torque help it hit 60 mph in 5.3 seconds. While the i7 60 xDrive 536 horsepower and 549 lb-ft, hitting 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. The i7 50 will cost $107,750, while the i7 60 will cost $126,250.
BMW really swung for the LCI fences with this new 7 Series. It looks different enough to easily distinguish it from the pre-LCI car, it has an entirely different interior, updated engines, and even a new battery pack sourced from an unlikely new partner. BMW’s efforts shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, though. It couldn’t let the lowly 3 Series have all the fun.
