BMW has rebuilt its electric flagship around the technology of the Neue Klasse. The updated 7 Series, which BMW calls the most extensive model update it has ever carried out, premiered on 22 April 2026 at Auto China in Beijing and at an event in New York. The i7 is now a three-variant electric line-up: the i7 50 xDrive, the i7 60 xDrive and the i7 M70 xDrive, all with two motors and standard all-wheel drive. The old rear-wheel-drive i7 eDrive50 is gone. The big change is under the floor: Gen6 cylindrical cells lift usable battery energy to 112.5 kWh net, raise the WLTP range to as much as 727 km, and increase the peak DC charging rate from 195 kW to 250 kW. Power runs from 335 kW (455 PS, about 449 hp) to 500 kW (680 PS, about 671 hp). German prices start at €121,400 including VAT, the UK at £104,230 on the road and the US at $106,200 before destination.
Performance & Specs
All three i7 variants use one electric motor per axle. BMW says the motors are electrically excited synchronous units, which need no rare-earth magnets in the rotor, and the drive units combine motor, power electronics and transmission in one compact housing with a silicon carbide inverter. A note on units: BMW's UK release prints these outputs as "hp", but they are metric horsepower. The i7 50 xDrive makes 335 kW (455 PS, about 449 hp) and 660 Nm, which BMW's US release confirms as 449 hp and 487 lb-ft. It reaches 100 km/h in 5.5 seconds and is limited to 210 km/h. The i7 60 xDrive makes 400 kW (544 PS, about 536 hp) and 745 Nm, with 0-100 km/h in 4.8 seconds and a limited top speed of 240 km/h.
The i7 M70 xDrive is the range topper. Its two motors deliver 500 kW (680 PS, about 671 hp) and 1,015 Nm in Sport mode, rising to 1,100 Nm with Launch Control or the Sport Boost function. BMW quotes 0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and an electronically limited 250 km/h, and the car has an M-specific chassis and sound design. In the US, BMW's release gives 0-60 mph in about 5.3 seconds for the i7 50 and about 4.6 seconds for the i7 60. BMW says overall efficiency has improved by up to seven percent thanks to the silicon carbide inverters and friction-optimised wheel bearings. Adaptive recuperation can brake the car to a standstill for traffic ahead or traffic lights, and the driver can choose high, medium or low regeneration.
| Powertrain | Dual-motor AWD BEV (excited synchronous motors) |
|---|---|
| Power | 400 kW (544 PS / 536 hp) |
| Torque | 745 Nm |
| 0–100 km/h | 4.8 s |
| Battery | 112.5 kWh net |
| Range | up to 727 km WLTP |
| POWERTRAIN TYPE | Dual-motor battery-electric (BEV) |
|---|---|
| HORSEPOWER | 449 hp (i7 50), 536 hp (i7 60), 671 hp (i7 M70) |
| ACCELERATION | 5.5 s, 4.8 s and 3.8 s to 100 km/h |
| TOP SPEED | 210, 240 and 250 km/h (electronically limited) |
| DRIVETRAIN | AWD (xDrive), one motor per axle |
| BATTERY | 112.5 / 112.5 / 112.4 kWh net |
| ELECTRIC RANGE | Up to 727 / 727 / 686 km WLTP |
| COMBINED RANGE | — (BEV only) |
Dimensions & Practicality
| Length | 5,395 mm |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,950 mm (without mirrors) |
| Height | 1,558 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,215 mm |
| Luggage | 500 L |
These figures come from BMW Germany's technical data sheet for the updated i7 (2026), which lists 5,395 mm length, 1,950 mm width without mirrors, 1,558 mm height and a 3,215 mm wheelbase. The i7 is a long, five-seat luxury sedan with a 3,215 mm wheelbase and a boot of about 500 litres, with no front trunk. The car is more than 5.3 metres long. BMW lists the i7 60 xDrive at 2,695 kg and the M70 at 2,770 kg unladen (DIN), with a drag coefficient of 0.24. The cabin follows the chauffeur-car brief, with a panoramic glass roof, four-zone climate control, the Travel & Comfort System and, optionally, Executive Lounge rear seats with a massage function and a rear-door Touch Command panel.
| LENGTH | 5,395 mm |
|---|---|
| WIDTH | 1,950 mm without mirrors |
| HEIGHT | 1,558 mm |
| WHEELBASE | 3,215 mm |
| CARGO VOLUME | 500 L |
| FRUNK | None |
Charging & Battery
All three variants share one battery with about 112.5 kWh of usable energy (112.5 kWh net on the i7 50 and i7 60, 112.4 kWh on the M70 in BMW Germany's data sheet), more than ten percent above the outgoing pack. The Gen6 cylindrical cells first appeared in the BMW iX3, and BMW says their volumetric energy density is 20 percent higher than the earlier prismatic cells. The new pack sits in a housing with the same external dimensions as before and is arranged in modules. Israeli coverage, based on the importer's figures, gives the gross capacity as 118.1 kWh; BMW's own releases quote only the net figure. Independent sources describe the architecture as 400 volts, so the i7 does not use the 800-volt system of the next-generation 7 Series, but BMW has raised the maximum current to 630 amps.
That lifts the peak DC rate from 195 kW to 250 kW, and BMW claims 10-80% in 28 minutes at a suitable fast charger. In ten minutes the i7 50 and i7 60 can add up to 146 miles (about 235 km) of WLTP range, and the M70 somewhat less (about 205 km on BMW's German data sheet). On AC, BMW's German data sheet lists 11 kW as standard (about 11 hours 15 minutes from empty) and 22 kW as an option (about 5 hours 45 minutes), while BMW's UK release lists 22 kW as standard; the Israeli importer's listing also shows 22 kW. Charging-optimised route planning, battery preconditioning and Plug & Charge are built in. WLTP consumption is 18.1-21.8 kWh/100 km for the i7 50, 18.2-21.9 for the i7 60 and 19.7-22.9 for the M70, figures that include charging losses; BMW says the update adds about 73 miles of range over the outgoing i7 eDrive50.
| BATTERY | 112.5 kWh net (112.4 kWh on the M70; 118.1 kWh gross per Israeli importer data) |
|---|---|
| AC CHARGING | Up to 22 kW (11 kW standard in Germany, 22 kW optional there) |
| DC FAST CHARGING | Up to 250 kW |
| DC 10-80% TIME | 28 min (BMW, at suitable high-power chargers) |
Design & Interior
The exterior brings the Neue Klasse design language to the luxury class. The kidney grille is slimmer and more vertical, with Iconic Glow lighting as standard, and the face has ultra-slim daytime running lights above a lower, almost hidden low-beam and high-beam unit. Optional BMW Individual crystal headlights use 12 crystal glass elements per side. At the rear, redesigned light units run across the full width of the car, and a "7" is embossed into the B-pillar that shows when both doors on one side are open. Alloy wheels go up to 22 inches, and the BMW Individual programme offers more than 500 colour combinations including a dual-finish paint that BMW describes as a world first.
Inside, the centrepiece is BMW Panoramic iDrive, which pairs a 17.9-inch central display with a projection that stretches across the base of the windscreen. BMW describes the 14.6-inch BMW Passenger Screen as its first, and it is standard equipment, while the optional BMW Theatre Screen is a 31.3-inch 8K display that now adds Dolby Atmos sound and integrated video conferencing. Other changes include new steering-wheel designs, upgraded automatic doors and a digital interior mirror. The M70 has an M-specific sound design, while the i7 50 and i7 60 use BMW HypersonX driving sounds.
Technology & Features
The i7 runs BMW Operating System X, which BMW's UK release describes as Android AOSP-based, and the software and electronics architecture is borrowed from the Neue Klasse. The updated BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant uses Amazon Alexa+ AI technology and can be summoned with "Hey BMW" or a steering-wheel button. The chassis carries adaptive two-axle air suspension with four electronically controlled dampers as standard, plus Integral Active Steering, with an optional Adaptive Chassis Control Professional package that adds roll stabilisation and is standard on the M70. BMW also adds AI-assisted digital tyre monitoring, an integrated braking system and near-actuator wheel-slip limitation. Digital Key Plus is available, and a My BMW app lets owners precondition the battery and check the cabin remotely.
Safety & ADAS
BMW fits Driving Assistant Plus as standard and describes all of its systems as SAE Level 2, meaning the driver stays responsible at all times. Optional Motorway Assistant allows hands-free driving on motorways at up to 81 mph (130 km/h), subject to local legislation, and the optional City Assistant adds Address-2-Address support in urban traffic. The Emergency Brake Assistant with evasion function now detects wildlife, and crossing-traffic warning can brake automatically. No Euro NCAP or NHTSA crash rating for the updated i7 had been published in the sources I could find as of October 2026.
| ADAS LEVEL | SAE Level 2 (Driving Assistant Plus standard) |
|---|---|
| ADAS FEATURES | Motorway Assistant (optional, hands-free to 130 km/h), City Assistant with Address-2-Address (optional), Emergency Brake Assistant with evasion and wildlife detection, crossing-traffic warning with automatic braking, side collision warning with steering intervention, Park Assist, Parking Assistant Plus with 360° view (optional) |
Available Versions
| VERSION | POWER | TORQUE | 0-100 | TOP SPEED | DRIVETRAIN | BATTERY | EV RANGE | COMBINED RANGE | PRICE | KEY DIFFERENCES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| i7 50 xDrive | 449 hp | 660 Nm | 5.5s | 210 km/h | AWD | 112.5 kWh | 727 km | — | €121,400 | 335 kW (455 PS); entry variant; US $106,200, UK £104,230 |
| i7 60 xDrive | 536 hp | 745 Nm | 4.8s | 240 km/h | AWD | 112.5 kWh | 727 km | — | €140,100 | 400 kW (544 PS); US $124,700, UK £120,335; BMW estimates over 350 miles EPA |
| i7 M70 xDrive | 671 hp | 1,015 Nm | 3.8s | 250 km/h | AWD | 112.4 kWh | 686 km | — | €182,400 | 500 kW (680 PS); 1,100 Nm with Launch Control; UK £164,420; no US price announced |
Pricing & Availability
In Germany, prices run from €121,400 for the i7 50 xDrive to €140,100 for the i7 60 xDrive and €182,400 for the i7 M70 xDrive, with orders opening in late May 2026; BMW Germany's price list (issue of 30 September 2026, valid from November 2026) quotes these prices including 19 percent VAT and before options. BMW UK lists on-the-road prices of £104,230, £120,335 and £164,420, with the UK launch from September 2026. In the US, the 2027 i7 50 xDrive costs $106,200 and the i7 60 xDrive $124,700, each plus $1,550 for destination and handling; the M70 price was not stated in BMW's US release. BMW says global production began in July 2026 at its Dingolfing plant, where all 7 Series variants are built on one line. Plug-in hybrid 7 Series models follow later and are not part of this electric line-up.
In Israel, BMW's importer Delek Motors announced the updated 7 Series in July 2026. Israeli price lists (auto.co.il, Cartube) show the i7 60 xDrive in the M Ultimate trim, listed as a 2026 model, at NIS 1,315,900 (roughly $432,000 at 3.05 shekels per dollar, as of 6 October 2026), with 544 PS and a 679 km WLTP range on the importer's figures, and the importer took early orders without giving a delivery date. That price is for a loaded trim and carries Israel's vehicle taxes, so it is not comparable with the German base price. The importer's own price list was not checked, so the figure comes from third-party listings. BMW's China plans are not detailed in its releases beyond the Beijing premiere.
How It Compares
The Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT are sportier four-door electric cars than the i7, not chauffeur sedans, but they are the closest electric alternatives from German brands that we have covered in detail. On German entry prices, the Taycan costs about €18,800 less than the i7 50 xDrive and the e-tron GT about €12,500 less. The Taycan makes less power (402 hp in the base car and 429 hp with the optional larger battery, against 449 hp), while the e-tron GT quattro makes more (496 hp). On rated WLTP range the i7 50's 727 km is ahead of both, although the Taycan's 700 km figure needs both the optional larger battery and a Europe-only low-rolling-resistance tyre option. In the US, the comparison is closer on price: the i7 60 xDrive at $124,700 sits above the Taycan at a base MSRP of $111,900 (Porsche USA; before delivery, processing and handling fees, which are reported at $2,350) and the Tesla Model S at a reported $109,990 (current US pricing could not be confirmed on Tesla's own site), a car reported to be in its final inventory, though the Tesla's reported EPA range of about 410 miles is a different test cycle from BMW's WLTP figures and BMW has only said the i7 60 is rated above 350 miles on the EPA cycle. The i7's argument is space and luxury equipment, such as a 3,215 mm wheelbase, a 14.6-inch passenger screen as standard and an optional 31.3-inch rear Theatre Screen, rather than outright performance per euro.
- Up to 727 km WLTP from a 112.5 kWh net battery, about 73 miles more than the outgoing i7 eDrive50, with efficiency up by as much as seven percent
- 250 kW peak DC charging and 10-80% in 28 minutes, up from 195 kW in the outgoing i7
- Three AWD variants from 449 hp to 671 hp, with a chauffeur-class cabin that includes a standard 14.6-inch passenger screen and an optional 31.3-inch Theatre Screen
- The charging architecture is 400 volts according to independent sources, so the 250 kW peak is well short of the 800-volt rates of some rivals, such as the Porsche Taycan's 320 kW with its larger battery
- Expensive and heavy: €121,400 to €182,400 in Germany and a kerb weight of about 2.7 tonnes, and the Israeli price of NIS 1,315,900 is more than two and a half times the German i7 60 xDrive price at the current exchange rate
The updated i7 fixes the weak points of the first version: range jumps to as much as 727 km WLTP, peak charging rises to 250 kW and the cabin gains the Panoramic iDrive screens from the Neue Klasse. The i7 60 xDrive looks like the sensible middle of the line-up at 536 hp and €140,100 in Germany, while the M70 adds 671 hp and a 3.8-second sprint for a €182,400 sticker. It is still a big, heavy luxury sedan on a 400-volt system, so it will not out-charge the 800-volt cars on paper. For buyers who want a comfortable, well-equipped electric flagship from a mainstream luxury brand, it is now a convincing choice.
