BMW bumps the 7 Series for 2027, adds all-new battery

In 1968, having achieved a modicum of stability through the introduction of its seminal Neue Klasse (or “new class”) models, BMW scaled up its styling and used the company’s M10 four-cylinder engine as the basis for a new inline-six in a larger sedan known by chassis code E3, the ancestor to today’s BMW 7 Series. History repeats itself with the latest version of BMW’s flagship sedan. The 2027 BMW 7 Series is a refresh of the seventh-generation G70 version that arrived in the United States as a 2023 model. But the changes are much more extensive than the typical refresh, or “life cycle impulse” (LCI) in BMW-speak. That’s because the updated 7 Series borrows tech and styling elements from the new Neue Klasse—the family of EVs that so far includes the iX3 crossover and i3 sedan. This hulking sedan still lacks the grace of its E3 and E23 ancestors, but the infusion of Neue Klasse details and other tweaks definitely help. The rear bumper has a cleaner look, as does the front end, which has a simplified version of the previous split-lighting arrangement of daytime running lights above rectangular headlights nestled in coves that also house the intakes for the front-wheel air curtains. The 7 Series has been comprehensively reworked, inside and out. That valley down the hood is new… Credit: Stephen Edelstein A ridged hood similar to the iX3 and i3 better frames the enormous twin-kidney grille. It’s as ungainly as before, but Maximilian Missoni, the ex-Polestar designer in charge of midsize and large-car styling at BMW, pointed out that the kidneys are perhaps the only brand-specific styling feature in the auto industry that hasn’t been copied, so it’s worth flaunting them. Plus, they provide extra room for sensors that will enable SAE Level 2 driver assistance. More screens inside The Panoramic iDrive Display that debuted in the Neue Klasse EVs makes an appearance here as well. The door-to-door screen is mounted high to keep it in the driver’s line of sight, with a gauge cluster on one side and secondary widgets (you can even display photos of old BMW Art Cars if you like) to the right. It’s accompanied by a 17.9-inch central touchscreen and 14.6-inch front-passenger touchscreen below. You can use the screens to open and close the available automatic doors, which have integrated servos and dedicated radars to ensure reliable operation. Flush handles on the outside open the doors with only a touch.