It’s been about three years since the BMW 7 Series received a design refresh. BMW took care of that this year, and recently formally announced the 2023 iteration of the upper-end performance luxury lineup. The series has been ‘greened’, with sustainable materials and green energy used for production. Changes to hardware options include the dropping of a series signature: the naturally aspirated, 6.6L V12 engine formerly available in the M760i.
To be sure, internal combustion engine design has found new ways to squeeze unheard-of efficiency out of smaller engines, and the V12, apart from being a delectable extravagance, may also be something of a preternatural anachronism due to be realized in the short term, if it hasn’t been already. The 2023 7 Series makes use of plug-in hybrid systems to achieve its substantial power ratings. An i7 will also join the lineup, adding an all-electric option to the family; for buyers looking to get behind the wheel of a full-on performance variant, a pair of M-badged 7 Series cars is on the near horizon, with a 600-horsepower i7 M70 xDrive sitting at the top of the heap.
At entry level is the RWD 740i. It is outfitted with a redesigned 3.0L I6 biturbo gas engine, and features a 48-volt mild hybrid system. The engine delivers up to 375 horsepower, with a total torque rating at 398 pound-feet at peak. It can travel from 0-60 in five seconds. In the middle seat is the V8-powered 760i xDrive, which gives drivers 536 HP and 553 lb-ft to play with. Rear wheel steering is available, as in the S-Class, and the vehicle can drive itself at speeds up to 80 mph.
The exterior of the new 7 Series is beefy to the point of appearing bullish, and shows off a remarkable lack of curvature; instead, its hood, trunk and roof nearly suggest plateaus, and the whole takes on the muscular look of a Rolls-Royce. The 7-Series cabin includes the new ‘multi-sensory’ iDrive with the newest generation of the BMW Operating System, a larger curved display and ‘Interaction Bar’, BMW’s AI assistant, and the newest head-up display. Rear passengers are treated to Theater Screen, BMW’s 8K fold-out cinematic display.
BMW is planning a market launch in November for the 2023 7 Series. The 740i starts at $94,295, the 760i xDrive at $114,595.
