Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.The new 2027 BMW 7 Series was revealed last month, and the automaker called it "the most extensive model update ever undertaken by BMW," but the changes aren't obvious to everyone. BMW has updated the styling, the cabin, and the powertrains, and we've already compared the new luxury limo to its Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Audi A8 rivals, but we haven't yet shown how it compares to its predecessor. In this article, we're going to look at some of the biggest changes to see if it's really worth springing for the new model.1. BMW 7 Series Styling Has EvolvedBMWView the 2 images of this gallery on the original articleAdvertisementAdvertisementThis is the new face of BMW luxury cars, which means the next X7 SUV will probably look similar. While the old car had a more rounded aesthetic that made certain elements seem somewhat bulbous, the 2027 7 Series is sharper, with its illuminated kidney grilles now narrower, more upright, and better integrated into the body. The grille also now has horizontal vanes, which used to be exclusive to M cars. The old car had subtle lines on its hood, and the new one is more deliberate, with the channels running down the front end framing a new BMW roundel in a matte finish. The upper lighting elements can be had with crystal elements, and the main clusters are no longer horizontal, instead blending in with the vertical lower side intake recesses. Further down, the central intake is more angular, giving the 7 a bit more M flavor.BMWView the 2 images of this gallery on the original articleAt the back, the previous 7 Series arguably looked a little sportier, with smaller taillights and a more pronounced lower fascia. With the new car, the taillights have been lengthened and now almost meet in the middle. As at the front, the areas either side of the BMW badge have been massaged to create a recess, and the trunk's creases sit a little lower. The wider license plate recess and the smaller diffuser area make the new car look wider, and the new option of a two-tone hand-applied paint finish (which takes three days to complete) exacerbates the effect. As before, the new 7 Series can have its chrome glasshouse surround swapped for black to create a sleeker, more athletic look.BMWView the 6 images of this gallery on the original article2. 2027 BMW 7 Series Gets a Neue Klasse InteriorThe old BMW 7 Series had the iDrive 9 infotainment setup, with a 12.3-inch driver display flowing into a 14.9-inch central touchscreen. The steering wheel was a traditional three-spoke design, and at the back, customers could opt for the 31.3-inch 8K Theater Screen. The screen carries over for the 2027 model, but it gains a camera to allow Zoom video conferencing and the rearview mirror is now digital, letting the driver see behind them through a camera on the rear parcel shelf when the cinematic screen is deployed. There's also now an HDMI port on the Theater Screen for laptop connections. As before, there's an Executive Lounge option that turns the area behind the front passenger into a luxurious space in which to sprawl, with an integrated legrest and a reclined backrest, but in the front of the car, the changes are more extreme.BMWAdvertisementAdvertisementView the 4 images of this gallery on the original articleThe 2027 7 Series gets a four-spoke steering wheel with no display directly behind it. Instead, the customizable Panoramic Vision system puts a narrow continuous display at the base of the windshield for driver info, while the center display is now a 17.9-inch "free-cut" touchscreen, which is flanked by a standard 14.6-inch passenger display. In the center console, the rotary iDrive controller has disappeared. Above the cabin, the Skylounge LED roof now features patterns that match the quilting on the seats, and the headrests of the front seats now have ambient lighting integrated, bathing the rear occupants in a glow that also emanates from the door speaker grilles. As before, 5.5-inch displays in the door cards handle infotainment, seat, and lighting settings for the rear passengers.BMWView the 3 images of this gallery on the original article3. 2027 BMW 7 Series Sound System Loses PowerAs standard, the new 7 Series comes with an 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Surround Sound System, but its amplifier only delivers 575 watts of power, while the 2026 7 Series' amp produced 655 watts for the same number of speakers. Optionally, a Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System with 36 speakers was available for 2026 and produced 1,965 watts of power. The same option exists in 2027, but it tops out at 1,925 watts. However, the new car makes up for it by adding Dolby Atmos three-dimensional audio, and the in-car Intelligent Personal Assistant is now bolstered by Amazon Alexa+ AI.4. BMW Made the Doors Smarter on the New 7 SeriesBMWView the 4 images of this gallery on the original articleAdvertisementAdvertisementBMW says it's optimized the automatic doors on the 2027 7 Series, with "a new, more ergonomically optimal position" for the buttons that control them inside each door handle. It's also added a new dynamic light carpet, and the doors have gained radar sensors that not only allow the doors to be opened and closed more quickly, but also to identify potential obstacles like cyclists and other cars. The sensors have the added benefit of ensuring that the doors don't hit walls or pillars.5. More Efficient BMW 7 Series Is Smarter Than EverBMWView the 2 images of this gallery on the original articleAs before, the 7 Series is available as an EV, the BMW i7. For the 2027 model, BMW has made the throttle response "more comfortable," and the electric sedan has a new high-voltage battery with the new cylindrical cells from the sixth-generation BMW eDrive catalog, first seen in the new BMW iX3 and then the i3 sedan. These have a volumetric energy density 20 percent higher than Gen 5 technology, giving the EV longer range and enabling faster charging. When the pre-facelift i7 arrived, it delivered an estimated EPA range of up to 300 miles, but the new one offers over 350 miles, and the maximum charging rate has increased from 195 to 250 kW, enabling recharging from 10 to 80 percent in as little as 28 minutes. As standard, the 2027 model also has a native NACS port, opening up access to the Tesla Supercharger network. Prefer hybrid power? The 2027 model's 3.0-liter straight-six powertrain has been boosted from a total of 375 horsepower and a peak of 398 lb-ft of torque to 394 hp, with peak torque unchanged. A new plug-in hybrid will also arrive in 2027, with up to 483 hp and 516 lb-ft.Final ThoughtsBMWAdvertisementAdvertisementView the 6 images of this gallery on the original articleThe 2027 BMW 7 Series is a much bigger step forward than its subtly updated styling initially suggests, and BMW appears to have made improvements in pretty much every area possible. The only obvious exception is the output of the sound system, but BMW claims its new electric motors are quieter and the V8 version will be more powerful, so overall, a little less wattage from the amplifier is a small price to pay. Speaking of money, the 2026 7 Series is still available to spec on the BMW USA site, and it starts at $99,300 in base 740i form. For 2027, the 740 will start at $99,800, just 500 bucks more than before. In this writer's opinion, the new looks are far more attractive, and while the new interior will take a while to grow on us, it's still a special place to be. If you simply must have a big luxury sedan like the 7er right now, the current model won't disappoint, but if you can wait until the end of the year, the 2027 model is certainly a step up.This story was originally published by Autoblog on May 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the Features section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.