2026 will go down in history as one of the busiest years ever for BMW. Several product launches are confirmed for this year, with the i3 arriving next week. A much larger sedan will break cover in April when the 7 Series facelift arrives at the Beijing Auto Show. The event in China runs from April 24 to May 3, but we wouldn’t rule out an online reveal a few days earlier.
Before the G70 gets a mid-cycle facelift, BMW is easing the wait with a teaser image. CEO Oliver Zipse took the stage today during the company’s annual conference to outline what lies ahead. Between discussing the new i3 and the next-generation X5, the company’s outgoing boss also spoke about the flagship. In the background, a shadowy image revealed some key details.
As seen in multiple spy photos, the 2027 7 Series is keeping the large kidney grille. The thin LED upper strip also confirms that the split headlights are staying in place. It’s a look we’ve also seen on prototypes of the second-generation X7, which won’t launch until next year. Although the G70 will look instantly familiar, Zipse calls it “an almost completely new vehicle.”
It’s already clear that the 7 Series won’t adopt the full Neue Klasse styling, but major interior changes are coming. The G70 is getting iDrive X, meaning a large central touchscreen and BMW’s so-called Panoramic Vision. The latter is essentially a pillar-to-pillar projection across the windshield’s base. There might also be a passenger screen, though nothing is official for now.
The LCI will also bring engine revisions to align the gasoline and diesel powertrains with the Euro 7 emissions standard. Some power figures are likely to change, while the i7 is believed to receive a larger battery for extra range. A V8-powered M760 is reportedly on the way, and we wouldn’t be surprised if the 750e plug-in hybrid gets upgrades as well.
Although Zipse talked about ALPINA during his speech, the more luxurious 7 Series wasn’t mentioned. From what we’ve heard, the BMW 7 Series G72 will break cover sometime this year, but production might not start until mid-2027. In the meantime, BMW has been drip-feeding details on how it’s updating ALPINA’s signature traits, such as the badge, 20-spoke wheels, and side stripes.
Meanwhile, the 7 Series LCI will be the first existing BMW model in the Neue Klasse era, as the iX3, i3, and X5 are all next-generation models. Zipse didn’t mention the iX4, but the electric crossover-coupe could also premiere before the end of 2026. It has already been spotted testing, so it can’t be too far behind.
First published by https://www.bmwblog.com
