The BMW 7 Series is due a refresh, or "Life Cycle Impulse," as BMW calls it. Some spy shots of the upcoming refresh for BMW's flagship sedan showed M-style horizontal bars running across its kidney grilles rather than the vertical vanes on the current version of the car. It's starting to look like that's because there will be a straightforward M760 xDrive version as part of the update. According to a rumor via a user on Bimmerpost, an updated BMW’s S68 V8 will run as an option alongside the current V8 hybrid at the top of the range. A Twin-Turbo Six Isn't A V8 There is a non-hybrid 7 Series available in the US, but it's the base 740i and comes with BMW's twin-turbocharged straight-six. While it's a brilliant engine, it lacks the effortlessness of a V8. On top of the extra cylinders, the S68 is a twin turbo model – but it doesn't escape electrification – the S68 is only available with a 48-volt mild hybrid system. According to forum user ynguldyn - who has a great track record for insider info that ends up turning into reality -the new engine is designated S68TÜ1 and will debut in the G65 generation BMW X5 M60.The power number given is at least 536 horsepower, with the TÜ suffix denoting a significant technical update. We hope it will bring more power than 536 as the M760 name has a heritage. The last M760i and M760Li (Li denoting a longer wheelbase) came with BMW's epic 6.6-liter twin-turbocharged V12 making 601 horsepower.Replacing that with a V8 with less power may aggravate the purists. Of note, the 'i' suffix has been dropped as part of a broader BMW renaming strategy, with the letter now used as a prefix on its EVs and no longer as a suffix denoting gasoline it once did.CarBuzz / Valnet Keeping The V8 Alive. For Now. BMW is clearly doing its best to keep the V8 engine alive, but while the non-hybrid V8 may come back to the 7 Series in the US, Europe may be an issue. Increasing CO₂ regulations could hamper its availability in some countries. For the 7 Series, that's not the biggest deal – big executive sedans are mostly about the kind of effortless smooth torque that hybrid power can deliver easily.CarBuzz / ValnetJuly 26 has been earmarked as the start of production for the new derivative, which would place an official reveal in the spring of this year. Of course, as this is BMW, it won't be just about refining the styling and powertrain. We expect there will be interior and technology updates, including BMW’s lates infotainment operating system. BMW may even slip in the panoramic iDrive system it showed off at CES at the end of last year.We certainly expect BMW to walk back the polarizing looks of this generation 7 Series and bring it more inline with the Neue Klasse concept design language. At the very least, we expect a smaller grille. The camouflage on the test mule caught in spy shots does an excellent job of covering up the direction BMW will head in, but the brand must have learned its lesson there.Source: Bimmerpost
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