Preview: 2027 BMW 7 Series and i7: Luxury Theater on Wheels

The new 7 Series seems better suited to passengers than drivers, as our idea of an ultimate driving machine would put fewer controls on touchscreens and slick panels that take attention away from the road. 

This newest version of iDrive even gets rid of BMW’s long-running infotainment control knob in favor of more touch controls, although at least the pretty crystal roller for the stereo volume on the center console remains. The upper-level projection screen that’s closer to the driver’s field of vision is interesting, though, as it sits close to the car’s head-up display and requires less looking down to check than a traditional instrument panel. In practice, on other cars with high-up driver’s information displays like the Ford Expedition or Lucid Gravity, however, these upper-dashboard-mounted screens can block some drivers’ views. 

BMW also added a steering wheel with a flat top and bottom for a clearer view of the upper screen, but we’ve found these “squircle” wheels awkward to use for hand-over-hand steering motions, such as when parking. 

We’re glad that BMW at least includes driver attention monitoring and blocks the driver’s ability to view the passenger’s screen, because there’s a lot to look at here. 

Those being chauffeured in the new 7 Series are in for a treat, with a newly standard passenger-side infotainment screen and all manner of ways to make themselves more comfortable on the options list. These include a rear seat that reclines so deeply that it has to move the front passenger seat forward and out of the way, a 31.3-inch fold-down rear touchscreen, and Dolby Atmos surround sound. It’s hard for any workin’ type to get too excited about the system’s new ability to handle Zoom calls, but at least it’s there in a pinch. We know which set of doors we’d rather hop into. 

The seventh-generation BMW 7 Series powertrains are an evolution of the previous year’s versions, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing when you’re dropping six figures on a flagship sedan and just expect it to work. The minor changes are notable, with 19 more hp on the internal-combustion model and a longer driving range on the i7. 

While the 250-kilowatt charging speeds on the i7 still lag behind the maximum 350- and 400-kW speeds now available at public chargers, it’s still an improvement over the past model, and BMW’s claim that it can charge from 10 to 80 percent in under 30 minutes seems competitive with other longer-range EVs. Personally, if I’m reclined in the back seat with the footrest out for a nap, spending 5 or 10 fewer minutes charging isn’t my highest priority. Your patience may vary; please consult your very important passenger as to their daily schedule and willingness to take meetings via the BMW Theater Screen. 

Love it or hate it, there’s no denying that the previous generation 7 Series had a lot going on design-wise, especially on the front of the internal combustion models. While the 2027 version still has BMW’s controversial large-kidney grille, it reins in all of the different design elements for a dramatically simpler look. The dual kidneys are narrower, but they do light up for emphasis, and character lines down the hood further emphasize their size.

A pair of very narrow daytime running lights—each one split into two sections—line the leading edge of the car around the grille. Crystal headlights are an option, with each light having 12 faceted glass elements. Adaptive LED headlights that can illuminate through corners come standard. The 7 Series’ low- and high-beam headlights are hidden in a dark section underneath the daytime running lights for a cleaner look when they’re not in use. 

It also has a series of lighting animations as you approach and park, including a Ceremonial Light Carpet that projects an image onto the ground when you open the door. No mere puddle light has ever been this fancy. 

The blocky appearance continues down the side all the way to a rather squared-off trunk. Flush door handles and one simple character line low on the door further emphasize the simpler look. Open the doors (which can open and close automatically with the press of a button) and there’s an Easter egg on the B-Pillar: the number 7. You can also open and close the motorized doors using the BMW app, as well as a button inside the door itself, and they have integrated radar sensors to prevent collisions with other items or people.

Smoked rear taillight lenses hide the unlocking button for the trunk lid, backup camera, and camera-washer nozzle, so they don’t add visual clutter to the car. The wide, horizontal taillights themselves emphasize the width of the car. A BMW badge recessed in between the two lights finishes it off. 

Those wanting a slightly sportier appearance can add one of the M Sport packages, which include additional aerodynamic elements such as air intakes, a rear diffuser, and side skirts, and a sport steering wheel, darker design elements, upgraded 21-inch wheels, and larger brakes. 

The BMW Individual Dual-Finish paint package is an especially unique option, with matte paint on the lower portion of the 7 Series, a glossy metallic finish added on top, and a hand-drawn Coach Line that sits above the lower matte portion of the car. 

BMW highlights its efforts toward reducing powertrain noise, including quieter steering gear mounts on the front-axle subframe, additional door insulation, acoustic glass, more aerodynamic mirror-caps designed to reduce wind noise, and, on select 7 Series cars, tires with internal foam sound absorbers. 

If you get into a car to avoid adding to your screen time, the new 7 Series may not be the right vehicle. Up to four screens can be found throughout the cabin, two of which span nearly the entire width of the interior. 

As with the other Neue Klasse cars, the 2027 7 Series runs on BMW’s new Operating System X, which tosses out the old iDrive controller-knob in favor of something BMW calls Panoramic iDrive, which incorporates more touchscreen controls. Operating System X is designed to take over-the-air updates, download additional apps from the BMW ConnectedDrive Store, and learn drivers’ habits to further personalize the user experience over time. It includes the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, which incorporates Amazon Alexa technology to respond to conversational controls and access Amazon services when linked to an Amazon account. 

Four years of BMW Digital Premium-connected services are also included with the car. This includes data for entertainment features, expanded navigation information, including detailed points of interest and traffic data, as well as a Security Assistant, which records attempted theft and parking-lot collisions and notifies you.  

The i7’s navigation system can also plan for charging stops on longer routes, with the ability to select preferred charging networks and a minimum arrival state-of-charge. It also shows details on amenities near a charging station (such as restaurants, playgrounds, and restrooms), the number of chargers at a station, and how many chargers are currently in use. When navigation is set to go to a charger, the i7 starts preconditioning the battery to get it to the optimal temperature for the fastest possible charging stop. 

Two rhombus-shaped touchscreens—a 17.9-inch one as the main infotainment unit and a 14.6-inch one to the right for a passenger—dominate the dashboard and handle most of the vehicle’s functions. All of the climate controls, including vent positioning, have now been moved onscreen. The passenger-side screen can access various video streaming apps while remaining shielded from the driver’s view. A feature called AirConsole lets passengers play video games using their smartphones as controllers.  An interior camera also monitors the driver and can dim the screens if it detects distracted driving. 

Another screen that BMW calls Panoramic Vision curves from A-pillar to A-pillar across the top edge of the dashboard, with the left side serving as the driver’s information display. This isn’t a traditional screen, even though it functions like one, as it’s a curved black surface for key information to be projected onto. The center and right sides of the Panoramic Vision screen can be customized as well. A head-up display is also available to show pertinent data, including navigation directions, directly in the driver’s line of sight.

The steering wheel has a new vertical-spoke design with flattened top and bottom edges to allow for a better view of the Panoramic Vision display. Illuminated touch-sensitive controls with haptic feedback take up most of the horizontal “spoke,” while the usual upholstered spokes are oriented along the vertical axis instead. 

The front passenger gets their own infotainment touchscreen as standard equipment in the 7 Series, which is nice to see in light of the large, shiny blank panel Audi uses in trims that lack the passenger-side screen. There’s also an Alcantara-trimmed 15-watt wireless phone charger below the dashboard with a magnet to hold phones in place. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard, and data from these services can be displayed in the upper dashboard and head-up displays. 

The new BMW 7 Series launches with four powertrain variants—two electric and two with gasoline internal combustion engines—with a performance V8 model and a plug-in hybrid to head into production later. 

The internal-combustion 7 Series model, the 740, comes in two versions: the standard 740 with rear-wheel drive and the all-wheel-drive 740 xDrive. Both versions have the same 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic transmission carried over from the previous-generation 7 Series. A new turbocharger increased hp by 19 hp to 394 hp, while torque remains at 398 lb.-ft. Despite the new 7 Series’ large size, BMW claims this is enough to go from 0 to 60 mph in under 5 seconds in the all-wheel-drive 740 xDrive. 

The i7’s powertrain was tuned for a smoother throttle response that better fits a chauffeur-ready flagship sedan. Additionally, its motor mounts are also designed to reduce powertrain noise. 2027 i7 buyers get a choice of two dual-motor, all-wheel-drive models: the i7 50 xDrive and i7 60 xDrive. The entry-level i7 50 xDrive has 449 hp and 487 lb.-ft. of torque. The i7 60 xDrive outputs 536 hp and 549 lb.-ft. of torque, and BMW claims it can go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds.

The new 7 Series models come equipped with Level 2 advanced driver assistance systems that combine adaptive cruise control with lane-centering tech. BMW claims the 7 Series will allow the driver to steer and brake with its Level 2 driving system on when needed without the system deactivating. This system includes a direct driver monitoring system to make sure the driver’s eyes remain on the road. 

Standard equipment includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian, cyclist, and wildlife detection, lane keeping assistance, automatic emergency steering, blind spot warning, adaptive cruise control, a surround view camera, and an exit warning that alerts the driver when opening a door might cause a collision with oncoming traffic or pedestrians. An automated parking feature that can record and then perform parking maneuvers for you comes standard, with an upgraded version offered that can let you remotely park and unpark the vehicle from the outside using the My BMW app.