After much anticipation, the 2023 BMW 7 Series is finally here, and there’s a lot to take in. From the freshly refined cabin and the option of an all-electric i7 variant to the updated engine and semi-autonomous driving modes, BMW hasn’t held back with this new line-up of luxury sedans.
From the outside, fans will immediately notice that BMW has updated the front end, keeping in line with the aesthetic of the X7 that was released last week. A set of matrix LED split headlights (with the option of Swarovski crystals behind the lower lights) flank the oversized kidney grilles at the front of the car, while you’ll notice the muscular shoulder line of the current generation has been softened somewhat.
While the exterior design has been concentrated, the interior of the 2023 BMW 7 Series has been broadened to feature the latest iDrive 8 infotainment software system, centred around the 14.9-inch main touchscreen and 12.3-inch driving display. Complete with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 5G connectivity, AR satnav and a personal assistant activated with a “Hey BMW” command, everything is at the driver’s fingertips.
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If you’re enjoying a stint in the rear seats, things get even better thanks to the BMW Theatre Screen that folds out of the roof. Spanning an impressive 31 inches, the touchscreen boasts 8K-resolution and automatically dims the lights in the cabin when deployed, as well as dropping the rear window blinds. If that wasn’t enough, you can control it via a touchscreen remote built into each door, while audio arrives via a Bowers and Wilkins surround sound system (with options for either 18 or 36-speaker setups).
Like the infotainment systems, the detailing of the cabin has left no detail overlooked, with a predominantly leather and metallic dash design, that neatly dovetails into the Veganza synthetic leather-trimmed seats (with no less than six colour options of plush Merino leather upholstery). The final details of note are the presence of Rolls-Royce-like full-close automatic doors, while if you look up you’ll see the “Sky Lounge” panoramic sunroof.
While there are as many as six different variants when it comes to the choice of engine/power train, just two are destined for Australian shores. The only petrol-powered option is the 740i, spitting out 280kW and 520Nm through BMW’s 3.0-litre turbocharged petrol inline-six engine, with a 0-100 km/h time of 5.4 seconds.
While it won’t yet apply to 2023 BMW 7 Series models coming to Australia, the new line also features the “Motorway Assistant” Level 3 semi-autonomous driving system. Basically, the system allows you to take your eyes off the road and hands off the wheel in specific sections of the highway, however, the system will be regionally limited, as well as dependent on the speed you’re travelling.
All considered, the new 2023 BMW 7 Series is an exciting new benchmark for luxury sedans from the German automaker, with impressive attention to detail that fuses the best of driving and passenger experience. Regardless if you’re looking at the base or fully optioned variant, there’s a lot to enjoy no matter if you’re behind the wheel or not. There’s no word on Australian pricing yet, however, the current 740Li had an RRP of $234,900 plus on-roads.
