2020 BMW 7 Series Is Here – More Than Just a Big Grille?

No, not really, there are several other updates as well

You’d be forgiven for thinking the 2020 BMW 7 Series has a massive grille.

It’s certainly more imposing than the outgoing generation, isn’t it? The 2020 BMW 7 Series is here, and there’s no mistaking it. Headlined by that massive (40 percent larger) kidney grille, the new 7 Series will launch in the U.S. market in April 2019, with pricing announced closer to the on sale date.

2020 BMW 7 Series

So what’s lurking under the hood of the 2020 BMW 7 Series? Surprisingly, there’s still a wide variety of powerplants available. In fact, turbocharged six, eight and twelve-cylinder options remain. We considered, given the downsizing trend in the market, BMW may drop the V12 from the lineup, but we were mistaken.

2020 BMW 7 Series

Starting from the lower end, the 3.0-liter straight-six 740i puts out 335 horsepower and 335 lb-ft of torque. BMW claims that powertrain can hurl the base model 7 Series to 60 in 4.8 seconds. Stepping up to the V8 nets you a healthy bump in power, up to 523 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. That’s also 80 horsepower and 74 lb-ft of torque up on the old 7 Series.

Then, at the top of the hill, there’s the 6.6-liter twin-turbocharged V12. That engine manages a whopping 600 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque, catapulting the car to 60 in a BMW-claimed 3.6 seconds. Mind you, the M760i xDrive weighs 5,159 pounds. Speaking of that V12, BMW did not explicitly mention a high-performance Alpina B7 model at this time.

The hybrid option also returns, this time mated to a six-cylinder engine. The old hybrid used BMW’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, and while its 322 horsepower was adequate, it could use a bit more shove. Making use of a six-cylinder engine means power also goes up in the hybrid, to 389 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque. The BMW 745e xDrive sprints from 0-60 in 4.9 seconds, according to the company.

All models come mated to an updated version of BMW’s eight-speed automatic transmission. It also uses so-called intelligent networking to work with navigation information to work out the best shift strategy during spirited driving, or even when pulling up to a junction.

Technology abounds

You’d expect a huge amount of technology in the 2020 BMW 7 Series, and you get it. Updated technology is the major interior update in the new model, while the interior layout largely remains the same. The new 7 Series gets BMW’s latest version of the iDrive infotainment system, as well as a 12.3-inch (diagonal) digital instrument cluster in front of the driver.

It’s not just that huge kidney grille that stands the 2020 BMW 7 Series out either. While the grille has grown, the headlights sport a slightly slimmer profile to the old model. This time around, though, BMW’s Laserlight will be available as an option. As before, you can still get Night Vision and a Head-Up display as optional equipment. Driver assistance features like adaptive cruise control, Extended Traffic Jam Assist, and Evasion Assist — where the car will help avoid collisions with cars or pedestrians — are available as part of the Driving Assistance Professional package.

2020 BMW 7 Series

While the 2020 BMW 7 Series is the largest and most luxurious BMW sedan out of the box, you still get a huge amount of choice. Not just with powertrains, but also when it comes to options. As before, options with the Cold Weather Package, M Sport Package and Executive Package are available on most models.

Stay tuned to TFLcar.com for more updates!