Two months after its official online reveal and three and a half years after the launch of the sixth generation, the facelifted 2020 7 Series has entered production at BMW’s Dingolfing plant in Germany.
Bavaria’s flagship has been given a thorough styling and technological update for its mid-cycle makeover. The oversized grille may have been a controversial change that sparked a lot of discussion, but the refreshed 7 Series brings a lot more. Exterior styling upgrades also include new slim headlights and flatter three-dimensional LED taillights now united by a thin light strip.
The updated interior brings the latest infotainment system, new fine-wood trim, as well as extended quilting around the center console and the door armrests. Additionally, the cabin is quieter thanks to improved acoustic shielding in the rear wheel arches as well as thicker side windows.
As before, the 2020 7 Series continues to offer in both standard and long wheelbase versions. The latter brings a 140mm (5.5in) longer wheelbase for increased space in the rear. According to the automaker, the 7 Series L is the most popular, accounting for 80 percent of total sales.
The revamped 7 Series also sees a major powertrain update in the form of a new six-cylinder plug-in hybrid model — a first for the company. Marketed as the BMW 745e/745Le, it offers a total combined output of 394 PS (389 hp) from a 286 PS (282 hp) six-cylinder gasoline engine and a 113 PS (111 hp) electric motor. The new plug-in hybrid also debuts the carmaker’s fourth-generation battery-cell technology that enables it to drive in all-electric mode for up to 58 km (36 miles).
The engine lineup also includes the new 523hp (530PS) 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine in the 750i/750Li, as well as a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six diesel in three states of tune in the 730d (265 PS/261 hp), 740d (320 PS/316 hp), and 750d (400 PS/394 hp). The M760Li powered by a 585 PS (577 hp) 6.6-liter V12 (now with a gasoline particulate filter) continues to be the range-topping model.
BMW has built more than 1.9 million 7 Series units in Dingolfing since the production of the first-generation model began in 1977. More than 90 percent of 2018’s total production was exported, with the Chinese market accounting for 44 percent of all 7 Series built last year.
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