BMW India has launched the facelifted 7 Series and i7 together on 11 September 2026, and the update is more substantial than the usual mid-life nip and tuck. Both cars get the illuminated BMW kidney Iconic Glow grille, a switch to Panoramic iDrive inside, and meaningful changes under the skin. The petrol 740 gains 19 bhp. The i7 gets a bigger battery. And the 740d diesel has been quietly dropped.
What it costs
The petrol 7 Series is now sold in a single 740 M Sport trim. The i7 continues with two, and the electric flagship has moved up in price along with its bigger battery.
| Model | Price (ex-showroom) | Powertrain |
|---|---|---|
| BMW 740 M Sport | Rs 1.95 crore | 3.0-litre inline-six petrol, 394 bhp |
| BMW i7 50 xDrive M Sport | Rs 1.95 crore | Dual-motor electric, 449 bhp |
| BMW i7 M70 xDrive | Rs 2.65 crore | Dual-motor electric, 671 bhp |
That pricing is the interesting part. The petrol 740 and the entry i7 now cost the same money, which makes the choice between petrol and electric a question of how you use the car rather than what you are willing to spend.
The petrol 740 is quicker than before
The 3.0-litre inline-six has been re-tuned from 280 kW to 294 kW, which works out to 394 bhp, up from 375 bhp. Torque is 540 Nm. BMW claims 0-100 kmph in 5.4 seconds and a 250 kmph top speed, with drive going to the rear wheels through the eight-speed Steptronic Sport automatic.
The bigger news for some buyers is what has gone. The 740d M Sport, the 3.0-litre diesel that many chauffeur-driven owners preferred for its range and its 650 Nm, is no longer on the price list. The range is petrol and electric only now.
The i7 gets a bigger battery and more range
The i7 moves to a 112.5 kWh net battery, up from the 101.7 kWh pack it launched with. BMW now claims up to 728 km on the WLTP cycle for the i7 50 xDrive and 686 km for the M70, which are among the highest claimed figures of any electric car sold in India.
The 50 xDrive makes 449 bhp and 660 Nm through its dual-motor xDrive setup. The M70 stays the flagship at 671 bhp and 1,100 Nm with M Launch Control engaged, good for 250 kmph. Charging runs to 250 kW on DC, which BMW rates at 10 to 80 per cent in 28 minutes, and 22 kW on AC. A 22 kW BMW Wallbox is included.
| i7 50 xDrive | i7 M70 xDrive | |
|---|---|---|
| Battery (net) | 112.5 kWh | 112.5 kWh |
| Power | 449 bhp | 671 bhp |
| Torque | 660 Nm | 1,100 Nm |
| Range (WLTP) | Up to 728 km | 686 km |
| Top speed | 210 kmph | 250 kmph |
| DC charging | Up to 250 kW | Up to 250 kW |
Iconic Glow, and a new screen layout
Visually, the facelift is about light. The kidney grille now has an illuminated frame that BMW calls Iconic Glow, and the crystal headlights carry a revised split-light signature. Both cars wear the M Sport exterior package with Exterior Line Satin Aluminium, on 20-inch Star-spoke 905 wheels for the 740 and the i7 50 xDrive, and 21-inch rims on the M70.
Inside, the old Curved Display gives way to Panoramic iDrive, a free-cut 17.9-inch panel running BMW Operating System X, with a separate 14.6-inch screen for the front passenger. The head-up display has become Panoramic Vision, projected in a band across the base of the windscreen. The Intelligent Personal Assistant now handles conversational questions using a large language model.
The back seat is still the point
Both cars keep the 3,215 mm wheelbase and the Executive Lounge rear seat, which reclines by up to 42.5 degrees with a powered footrest. Above it sits the Panoramic Sky Lounge roof, etched with roughly 15,000 light-refracting patterns and lit in a choice of colours. The i7 also keeps the 31.3-inch 8K BMW Theatre Screen that folds down from the roof lining.
The 740 adds Integral Active Steering as standard, turning the rear wheels by up to 3.5 degrees, which matters more than it sounds on a car that is 5,395 mm long and has to make U-turns in Indian cities.
What it means if you are buying one
If your car does long highway runs with a driver, the loss of the 740d is the headline and you will want to drive the petrol back to back before committing. If most of your running is city and suburban and you can charge at home, the i7 50 xDrive at the same Rs 1.95 crore is now very hard to argue against. It is quieter, quicker and cheaper to run, and 728 km of claimed range removes most of the reason people hesitated.
The M70 remains a specialist choice. It trades 42 km of range and a chunk of money for 222 bhp more, and it is the only one of the three that feels genuinely fast rather than merely effortless.
One thing worth checking at the dealer: BMW India lists two years of vehicle warranty on both cars, with up to eight years or 1,60,000 km on the i7 high-voltage battery. At this price, ask what the extended-warranty and service-package options cost before you sign.
