BMW 7 Series G70: The Seventh-Generation Flagship, the i7 and the G73 Armoured Model

The BMW 7 Series G70 is the seventh generation of the German maker's full-size luxury flagship, built from July 2022 with petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid engines. Its battery-electric sibling is sold as the i7, and both versions share a rear-wheel-drive base that can be upgraded to all-wheel drive. A facelift arrived in April 2026 for the 2027 model year.

What is the BMW 7 Series G70?

The G70 is the internal name for the seventh-generation 7 Series, a full-size luxury saloon that BMW unveiled in April 2022 and began building on 1 July 2022. It is longer than the car it replaced, and it arrived with only one body length. Mild-hybrid and plug-in engines sit alongside the electric i7, which is the electric version of the same car.

Sold onwards as a 2023 model, the car uses G70 as its internal designation, while BMW markets it as the 7 Series or the i7.

A larger flagship that offers mild hybrid, plug-in and full electric power, plus an armoured variant for buyers who need it.

Where did the G70 come from?

Development started in 2017, when BMW began looking at how to replace the G11 and G12 models. Design concepts came from studios in the United States, Europe and Asia before the company settled on a direction. BMW unveiled the finished car on 20 April 2022, during the nameplate's 45th anniversary year.

In 2020, the company confirmed that diesel engines would carry over into the new generation and that an electric variant called the i7 would join them. Prototype cars were spotted testing in October 2021, the same month that development chief Frank Weber said the G70 and G60 could both be offered with optional Level 3 autonomous driving.

Pre-production cars went through acoustic testing in February 2022 before the public debut. The electric model was shown alongside the combustion cars, so buyers saw the full range at once.

How does the G70 look and measure up?

The front end carries the brand's kidney grille, which can be optionally lit at night to create a glowing effect. The headlamps use Swarovski crystals and are backlit by fourteen LEDs on each side. The daytime running lamps sit high on the grille while the main beams sit lower, and M Sport models add a bumper in a contrasting colour that makes the car look more aggressive.

The G70 is 130 mm (5.1 in) longer, 48 mm (1.9 in) wider and 51 mm (2.0 in) taller than the previous long-wheelbase model. On the side, a shoulder line runs from the daytime lamps to the rear lights, and a Hofmeister kink sits on the window, a styling cue that has been part of BMW design since the 1950s. Monotone paint is standard, and two-tone paint is available.

The i7 has a drag coefficient of 0.24 Cd, while the combustion models rise to 0.26 because the engine needs more cooling airflow. Wheels range from 19 to 21 inches. The boot holds 540 litres (19.1 cu ft) in the combustion cars, while the plug-in hybrid drops to 525 litres (18.5 cu ft) because the battery and motor take up space.

What engines and powertrains does the G70 offer?

The range covers petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid and battery-electric cars. Petrol and diesel models come as standard with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, and the plug-in hybrids add a permanent-magnet electric motor. The 740d xDrive uses a 3.0-litre B57 turbo six that produces 300 PS (296 hp; 221 kW).

The mild-hybrid system uses a 48-volt starter-generator built into the transmission and a 20 Ah lithium-ion battery. Plug-in hybrids use an 18.7 kWh lithium-ion battery, and BMW raised their charging rate from 3.7 kW to 7.4 kW. Every model except the i7 uses a ZF 8HP eight-speed automatic gearbox made by ZF Friedrichshafen.

The 750e xDrive and the M760e xDrive are the plug-in models. The M760e is the successor to the V12-powered M760Li, which means the V12 is no longer offered in the G70. On WLTP figures the 750e manages 77-87 km (48-54 mi) on electricity alone, and the M760e manages 77-85 km (48-53 mi). Electric mode allows speeds of up to 140 km/h (87 mph).

How does the i7 perform as an electric car?

The i7 is the battery-electric variant of the G70, unveiled alongside its combustion counterpart and built on the same assembly line in Dingolfing. Its battery sits under the floor, runs on a 400 V architecture, and has a gross capacity of 105.7 kWh with 101.7 kWh usable. The electric motors are BMW's in-house units, the same family used in the iX and i5.

The entry eDrive50 uses a single motor rated at 335 kW (449 hp) and 650 Nm (479 lb ft), with a WLTP range of 575-611 km (357-380 mi). The xDrive60 adds a second motor for a combined 400 kW (540 hp) and 745 Nm (549 lb ft), with a range of 591-625 km (367-388 mi). The range-topping M70 xDrive produces 485 kW (650 hp) and 1,100 Nm (811 lb ft) from its dual motors.

DC fast charging runs at 195-200 kW through a CCS port, and a 10-80% charge takes 28 minutes on the eDrive50 and xDrive60. Slow charging on an 11 kW Type 2 connector takes 11 hours. BMW's wallbox can deliver up to 22 kW and takes close to 10 hours for a full charge. In North America the i7 can also use an Electrify America DC charger, and a J1772 port with a control box.

Regenerative braking can be set to three levels, and the highest setting allows one-pedal driving. The default adaptive recuperation mode is active when the car is in drive.

How does the G70 handle and steer?

Front suspension uses double wishbones in aluminium, and the rear uses an Integral-V multi-link layout. Adaptive air suspension, active anti-roll bars and adaptive dampers are all standard. The G70 also has all-wheel steering, called Integral Active Steering, with up to 3.5 degrees of turning angle.

At low speeds the turning circle is 13.1 m (43 ft), a reduction of 0.76 m (2.5 ft). The Executive Drive Pro package adds Active Roll Stabilisation and Active Roll Comfort for a flatter ride through corners.

Weight distribution is no longer the near-perfect 50:50 of the predecessor. The base model is rated at 49:51, while the 760i is rated at 45:55.

What does the cabin offer?

The Live Cockpit setup pairs a 310 mm (12.3 in) digital instrument cluster with a 14.9 in (380 mm) curved infotainment screen. Both run BMW iDrive 8, which supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, over-the-air updates and in-car gaming. A head-up display with several views is standard.

The optional Theatre Screen is an 800 mm (31.3 in), 8,000-pixel display in the rear of the cabin. It can stream films from Amazon Fire TV, or connect to a device through HDMI, and a camera on the screen lets occupants join video calls.

The standard audio is a 655-watt, 18-speaker Bowers and Wilkins surround system. The optional Diamond Surround system raises output to 1965 watts across 35 speakers and adds 4D technology. Heated and ventilated seats, quad-zone climate control and a panoramic glass roof are all available, and the Rear Lounge package lets the rear-left passenger recline with massage.

For the first time on a 7 Series, some cars are available without real leather. The perforated Veganza trim covers the seats, dashboard and steering wheel, and it is offered in several colours.

Which special models were built?

BMW Japan marked the start of production with a First Edition run. The 150 examples came in three trims: 740i Excellence, 740i M Sport and the i7 xDrive60 Excellence. Each car had the 31.3 in (800 mm) rear screen, a 40-speaker sound system and the Rear Comfort package with heated, ventilated and massaging rear seats.

The G73 is an armoured version of the G70 that revives the Protected 7 Series tradition first seen on the E38. It is offered as a 760i or as an i7, and it was unveiled in August 2023. A Protection Core surrounds the passenger compartment and is tested to resist ballistic attacks and explosions by the German test facility Beschussamt.

The armoured car limits its top speed to 210 km/h (130 mph) and needs 6.6 seconds to reach 100 km/h, compared with 4.2 seconds for the standard 760i. The armoured i7 is limited to 160 km/h (99 mph) and needs 9 seconds from rest to 100 km/h. It rides on 20-inch alloy wheels fitted with Michelin PAX system tyres.

What changed with the 2026 facelift?

The facelifted G70 was unveiled on 22 April 2026 for the 2027 model year, covering the petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid and electric i7 models. The front gets new daytime running lights, a reshaped bumper, redesigned kidney grilles and a bonnet with sharper creases that frame the roundel.

The optional daytime lights include diamond-cut crystal elements, with 12 pieces per light. Paint options gained a new Individual finish that combines a metallic upper section with a matte lower section, and that process takes 75 hours of manual work. The rear lights now use a smoked housing with inner chrome lines, and this is the first 7 Series offered with 22-inch wheels.

Inside, the facelift takes cues from the Neue Klasse design language first shown on the i3 and iX3. It brings a 17.9-inch central touchscreen, a 14.6-inch passenger display and a 3D heads-up display. The 31.3-inch theatre screen remains optional at the rear.

Where is the G70 sold and built?

• Europe: the i7 launched first, with combustion cars such as the 740d xDrive following later.
• North America: three trims arrived in late 2022, and the 750e, eDrive50 and M70 joined for the 2024 model year.
• Thailand: three trims from November 2022, with the 750e xDrive M Sport CKD introduced in 2023.
• Malaysia: three variants, with both 750e versions assembled locally.
• Indonesia: two variants, with the 735i M Sport assembled locally.

China is expected to take about 45 per cent of 7 Series sales. Unlike earlier generations, BMW offers the G70 in only one body length.

Key specifications at a glance

Does the G70 have a sales record yet?

No sales totals or independent long-term reviews for the G70 are available yet. Judged on engineering alone, the car offers combustion, plug-in and electric power, a longer body and a protected variant, and its market performance will depend on how those versions sell.