BMW prices new 7 Series and i7

BMW Australia has announced pricing for its seventh-generation 7 Series and all-new i7 flagship sedans this week, the pair arriving from $268,900 and $297,900 plus on-road costs respectively.

The 740i, which replaces the 740Li in BMW’s local range, is some $34,000 more expensive than the outgoing variant. BMW will no longer offer the 730d, 740i (SWB), 745e, 750i xDrive (SWB), or M760Li (LWB) as part of its Australian line-up.

The new 7 Series duo – whose deliveries are set to commence in the final quarter of this year – grows in wheelbase by 5mm over the outgoing generation with body length increasing by 131mm, width by 48mm and height by 65mm.

BMW says the model’s “commanding presence is exemplified by monolithic surfaces and new signature front-end styling with headlights split into two sections” in what might be the most controversial styling move since “Bangle Butt” E65-gen 7 Series from 2001.

Furthermore, Australian buyers will have the opportunity to spec’ their 7 Series with a “prominent and aggressive” M Sport package when the model goes on sale here later this year.

The Munich-based brand’s luxury sedan features several new technologies including an optional 31.3-inch BMW Theatre Screen, multi-sensory iDrive control, BMW Curved Display, and Manoeuvre Assistant for automated parking and manoeuvring showing “the clear potential for Level 3 automated driving and parking capabilities,” BMW says.

Comfort features extend to an Executive Lounge option (reclining seats) for the second row, Individual Merino leather and cashmere wool upholstery, a subtly lit control panel, new gearshift selector, active haptic steering wheel controls for the new D-shaped steering wheels (two designs available), BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant and augmented reality head-up display.

Available as 740i and i7 xDrive60 grades, the 7 Series range is expectedly well specified with the petrol-powered model offering 20-inch M alloy wheels, remote engine start, tyre pressure monitoring, integral active steering, M Sport Pro, adaptive air suspension, BMW crystal headlights, illuminated kidney grille, panoramic glass roof, M carbon-fibre interior trim, and BMW’s Travel & Comfort system.

The long wheelbase model is further equipped with multifunctional front seats, heated front and rear seats, an interior camera, front seat massaging function, Driving Assistant Professional, Parking Assistant Professional, a 20-speaker Bower & Wilkins audio system, leather Merino upholstery, an Alcantara Anthracite headliner, BMW Individual metallic paint work and included five-year servicing plan.

The BMW i7 xDrive60 adds 21-inch M alloy wheels, Executive Drive Pro (with active roll stabilisation and roll comfort technology), automatic doors, multifunction rear seats, executive lounge rear console, BMW IconicSounds electric, a 39-speaker Bower & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound audio package, rear seat entertainment experience, and Gran Lusso interior with Merino and wool-cashmere combination upholstery.

BMW supplies the i7 xDrive60 with its third-generation wall charging box, a domestic charging cable, a public charging cable and a six-year inclusive service package.

Myriad options are of course available throughout the 7er range with Frozen matte paintwork ($2600), two-tone metallic paintwork ($17,500), Merino and wool-cashmere combination upholstery (740i: $15,800), alternate 21-inch alloy wheel designs ($2600), and BMW’s Connoisseur Lounge package 740i (740i: $27,900; i7 xDrive60: $9000) available.

Petrol-powered 7 Series variants feature a 280kW/540Nm 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder turbo-petrol unit with 48-volt mild hybrid technology. The unit is paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission and drives the rear wheels, offering a claimed 0-100km/h time of 5.4 seconds. Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions figures are yet to be confirmed.

The battery electric i7, meanwhile, provides 400kW/745Nm of output and drives all four wheels. Power is drawn from a 106kWh high voltage battery, BMW quoting a driving range of up to 625km (WLTP). The all-electric 7er can accelerate from standstill to 100km/h in just 4.7 seconds.

BMW says the i7 xDrive60 features fifth generation eDrive technology, which incorporates an integrated drive system, intelligent energy management, a new charging process and advanced battery-cell technology. The arrangement aims to optimise not only energy consumption but improve adaptive recuperative and charging capabilities.

The first 7 Series BEV will be offered with a complimentary five-year subscription to the Chargefox public high-speed EV charging network.

Manufactured at the BMW Group Plant Dingolfing, Germany, petrol, plug-in hybrid and electric versions of the new 7 Series will roll off the same production line. The facility also produces other all-electric iX models, as well as 5- and 8 Series variants.

2022 BMW 7 Series and i7 pricing*:

*Pricing excludes on-road costs.