About 7 Series
The 7 Series is where BMW puts everything it knows. Introduced in 1977 as the brand's flagship sedan, it has always aimed at the Mercedes S-Class, offering a sportier, more driver-focused alternative for executives who still liked to take the wheel themselves on Sunday. Each generation has introduced technology that later trickled down, from the first iDrive controller to gesture controls, and some have introduced controversy too: the early-2000s E65 and its unusual styling remain a cautionary tale in design schools.
The current generation, launched in 2022, is the boldest yet. Its split headlights and huge illuminated grille polarized opinion instantly, but its cabin, including a giant fold-down rear theater screen, won over many critics. Crucially, it is offered as the fully electric i7 alongside gasoline and plug-in hybrid versions, all in the same body, an approach that let buyers choose powertrains without sacrificing prestige. A refreshed version has now arrived, and it has launched in markets including India, where the i7 has found celebrity owners.
Rivals include the Mercedes S-Class and EQS, Audi A8, Genesis G90, Lexus LS and Porsche Panamera. Big luxury sedans are a shrinking business, yet the 7 Series remains a technology showcase and a status symbol in China, the Middle East and Korea, and a long-wheelbase chauffeur car in much of Asia. It also gives BMW a stage for its most expensive personalization programs and serves as a rolling preview of features that later reach smaller models. This page follows the 7 Series and i7 through updates, market launches, reviews, recalls and long-term ownership stories.