The CarBuzz spy photographers have just captured the latest BMW 7 Series or i7 sedan out testing at the Nürburgring. The latest take on the flagship 7 will be very new, but the mid-cycle refresh will not be Neue. We can clearly see that it will still have the very tall kidney grilles, but BMW is flipping the script slats in the grille for horizontal instead of vertical. It's A New Face, But It's Not That New CarBuzz/Valnet Earlier this month, BMW teased the front-end of the 2027 BMW 7 Series sedan, but the first look didn't give us much of one. It showed the illuminated grille surround and LED running lights, and that's about all. That grille is a key to the new design. We had expected that every BMW would get the flatter kidney grilles of the Neue Klasse design, but after spotting an emergency refresh of the prototype M5 and now this 7, it's apparent that's not the case. At least not for refreshed models.It's fully camouflaged, but most of this new 7 isn't really that new. The doors and roof are the same, along with most of the front and rear fenders. Where you'll spot changes are at the front and the rear, and those changes are substantial.CarBuzz/Valnet The grille is still huge, but now the slats are flat instead of upright. It's not the first time BMW has done that, with a flat grille on the new i5 and the X5M (and way back on the 1956 507) and the two different angles on the latest gas X3, but it's strange to see it on this big sedan. Since it's shared with the new i5 and not the gas 5, it's possible this is a new way to show the EV in BMW design.Don't let that grille make you miss the headlights. BMW is making big changes there, too, with the cat whisker stacked lights replaced with a lower headlight pod under the marker lamp. It looks like the headlights on a Hyundai Tucson, rather than anything BMW has done before. The taillights are familiar, shaped like those of the 5 Series sedan and its electric equivalent. More Significant Changes Inside CarBuzz/Valnet It might not get Neue Klasse looks outside, but previous spy shots show that it will on the inside. The new looks mean new tech, in the form of BMW's newest Panoramic iDrive system. It launched with the iX3 and has a smaller center screen combined with a large head-up display and a wide display that runs along the base of the front windshield. Expect updated driver assists, as well.Don't expect many changes under the hood. This is the i7 EV, so it may receive some motor and battery updates. The gas models are expected to remain the same, and BMW has confirmed the gas engines can meet Euro 7 emissions standards with some small changes.We have heard reports that a replacement for the high-performance M760 could be coming. It wouldn't have a V12 this time (probably), but the rumor mill says a version of BMW's 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 with more than 536 horsepower could make its way into the vehicle. BMW's PHEV system, though not the one in the M5, is also a possibility.Now that the teaser campaign has started, you can count on seeing the production car soon. It will most likely debut at Auto China, which takes place in Beijing starting April 24.2027 BMW i7 spy photo (11)