17:59 24-04-2026
Updated BMW 7 Series Unveiled in Beijing with New i7 and Almost 800 km Range
BMW revealed the new 7 Series at Beijing Auto Show with a vertical grille, split headlights, and spacious interior. The electric i7 offers nearly 800 km CLTC range. Flagship luxury for China.
At the Beijing Auto Show, journalists from 32CARS captured live footage of the new BMW 7 Series—specifically the version of the flagship sedan that BMW primarily targets at the Chinese market. The car features a more open and standalone flagship aura: a vertical grille, split headlights with 24 daytime running light crystals, a new digital cabin architecture, and a fully electric BMW i7 with a range of nearly 800 km under the CLTC cycle.
BMW unveiled the updated 7 Series in Beijing as a flagship designed with Chinese customers in mind. Gao Le, BMW Group's Director of Customers, Brands, and Sales, said that the new 7 Series must demonstrate foresight and style in comfort, digital technology, and personalized expression. The long-wheelbase BMW 740L version is shown in photos; this format is especially important for China, where executive sedans are often seen not just as a car for the driver but as a mobile space for passengers.
Visually, the sedan retains the recognizable BMW 7 Series architecture but looks more formal. The more vertical radiator grille shifts focus to the front, the split headlights widen the car's stance, and the 24 crystals in the daytime running lights add a signature jewelry-like effect. The sides and rear are simpler and calmer, without unnecessary aggression. BMW emphasizes personalization: more than 500 exterior combinations are available for the model, which is important in the premium segment and for competing with new-generation Chinese cars.
The biggest change in the new BMW 7 Series is not just the exterior but the digital environment. The sedan gets BMW Panoramic iDrive, a central display, a separate screen for the passenger, and a rear floating entertainment screen. Inside, the focus is on a three-screen layout, ambient lighting, materials, and a Bowers & Wilkins Diamond 4D sound system with Dolby Atmos support. This is no longer just a business sedan interior but a full multimedia cabin where sound, light, and images work together as part of a premium experience.
The gasoline 740 version keeps a 3.0-liter turbo engine with a mild hybrid, but output rises to 394 hp, and the 0-100 km/h sprint takes under five seconds. The electric BMW i7 gets new large cylindrical battery technology: for the Chinese market, range reaches nearly 800 km under the CLTC cycle. By comparison, earlier versions of the i7 had a 112 kWh battery and a range of over 560 km under stricter estimates. Additionally, the flagship gets a new generation of BMW assistants based on AI and an Intelligent Personal Assistant with multiple AI agents.
The Chinese market has become key for the BMW 7 Series, and that's evident from the equipment. The car features over 50 digital functions exclusive to China, designed for both business trips and family use. This approach is understandable: in China, the flagship sedan must compete not only with the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Audi A8, and Lexus LS but also with local premium electric vehicles, which are growing quickly thanks to screens, autonomous driving, and aggressive pricing.