New BMW 7 Series facelift arrives at Geneva with huge grille and new tech

The updated BMW 7 Series flagship gets a bold new look with a huge grille, plus new hybrid and engine options

The new facelifted BMW 7 Series has made its public debut at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. The German brand's flagship limo has been given a substantial redesign, with new engines, a new plug-in hybrid option and updated tech forming part of an extensive update.

The new face is clearly inspired by the X7 SUV, and aims to link the two 7-badged luxury models and distance the 7 Series from the 5 Series. With China and US sales the limo’s bread and butter, the revamp has been created with these countries in mind.

All the latest from the 2019 Geneva Motor Show

Clearly, the new chrome kidney grille is much larger, and raises the bonnet edge 50mm higher than before. The redesigned headlights are far slimmer than on the pre-facelift model and amplify the size of the grille. Adaptive LED units are standard, with BMW’s Laserlight set-up remaining an option.

The front bumper has a more streamlined shape. New air curtain panels on each edge of the front apron cut turbulence around the front wheelarches, while new chrome detailing has also been applied.

• New BMW 745Le xDrive plug-in hybrid review

The side vents exiting behind the front wheelarches have been revised, and there’s a new rear apron and revised tail-lights, now linked by a full-width LED strip across the bootlid.

Inside, the layout does not change, but the materials used and offered do, along with some of the tech. A 10.25-inch central screen running BMW iDrive 7.0 is now supported by a fully-digital 12.3-inch instrument panel. New wood trim options also appear. Cars with the M Sport package and the V12 M760Li xDrive model get sportier touches inside, too.

That car still spearheads the engine line-up, with its 6.6-litre V12 capable of 0-62mph in 3.8 seconds. BMW says the 4.4-litre turbo V8 in the 750i-badged cars has been thoroughly reworked, with power shooting up by 79bhp, to 523bhp overall.

The plug-in 7 Series is now badged 745e and has ditched the four-cylinder petrol unit for a turbocharged in-line six-cylinder petrol engine. It’s teamed with a higher-voltage battery and electric motor to create a more powerful hybrid system with up to 389bhp. BMW claims 34 miles of electric running for the regular-wheelbase version.

Four-cylinder variants have been axed, but the 730d, 740d and 750d 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesels remain.

All models have an updated eight-speed BMW Steptronic auto box. The spread of driver help features grows with a new reversing assistant. Intended for use in tricky reversing situations, it tracks the exact same line the car took over the previous 50 metres, with the driver only controlling the brake pedal. Remote control parking also arrives, but won’t be equipped on cars until July. Order books open in the spring.

Click here for a battle of the luxury limos between the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes S-Class...

Recommended

New Renault 5: price, specs, launch and on sale dates
Renault 5 EV concept at 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed
News

New Renault 5: price, specs, launch and on sale dates

Renault’s reborn Renault 5 will start from €25,000 in Europe, suggesting a circa-£30k price in the UK. It's due on sale in the summer of 2024. Here's …
1 Dec 2023
New Renault 5 E-Tech: first official teaser images of the cute French EV
Official Renault 5 teaser - rear taillight
News

New Renault 5 E-Tech: first official teaser images of the cute French EV

Long-awaited all-electric reboot of the iconic Renault 5 coming to rival new Mini Electric
30 Nov 2023
Hands off: BMW 7 Series to gain Level 3 autonomous driving
BMW 7 Series front cornering roundabout
News

Hands off: BMW 7 Series to gain Level 3 autonomous driving

Next level of autonomous driving will allow 7 Series drivers to edit emails and stream videos
10 Nov 2023
It’s official - Geneva Motor Show is back on
Geneva Motor Show
News

It’s official - Geneva Motor Show is back on

Geneva Motor Show will return in 2024 after this year’s event was cancelled
13 Oct 2023

Most Popular

New 2024 Dacia Duster: third generation of Europe’s best-selling SUV revealed
Dacia Duster - front
News

New 2024 Dacia Duster: third generation of Europe’s best-selling SUV revealed

Dacia has taken the wraps off the latest Duster, which arrives with a new look and fresh technology
29 Nov 2023
New Renault 5: price, specs, launch and on sale dates
Renault 5 EV concept at 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed
News

New Renault 5: price, specs, launch and on sale dates

Renault’s reborn Renault 5 will start from €25,000 in Europe, suggesting a circa-£30k price in the UK. It's due on sale in the summer of 2024. Here's …
1 Dec 2023
New BMW X3 replacement to grow in size and feature a minimalist dash
BMW Neue Klasse SUV exclusive image - front
News

New BMW X3 replacement to grow in size and feature a minimalist dash

BMW’s first Neue Klasse electric SUV could carry the iX3 nameplate and our exclusive images preview how it might look
30 Nov 2023