The 2020 BMW 7 Series is now official, and as expected, it’s bringing some serious technological artillery to bear. Here are the most important features to pay attention to, as they may be headed to the rest of Bimmer’s lineup before you know it.

The Good Stuff, Both Inside And Out

With this latest refresh for the full-size German luxury sedan, BMW made sure to update the exterior to match all the good stuff inside. For example, the reshaped front fascia now comes standard with Adaptive Full LED headlights, while BMW’s Laserlight upgrade is optional.

With 280 horsepower from internal combustion, plus 113 horsepower and 195 pound-feet from the electric motor and lithium-ion battery combo, the hybrid 7 Series lays down a maximum of 389 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque.

Properly applied, it’s enough to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds, all while offering an all-electric power mode for zero local emissions and silent running. BMW will release specs on range for the EV mode at a later date.

These systems will actually learn your driving style and work to offer the best settings accordingly.

Under the skin, the Bimmer uses a variety of high-tech materials for the construction, including a Carbon Core passenger cell and carbon fiber-reinforced plastic elsewhere.

But Wait, The Best Stuff Is In The Cabin

While it might look similar to the model that came before, the 2020 BMW 7 Series is pretty cutting-edge in terms of tech features.

Kicking it off is standard LED ambient lighting, which gives it a tech-heavy kinda vibe thanks to six different color selections.

There’s also something called BMW Touch Command, which is a removable tablet that can even be used outside the car. This provides digital operation of the seats, lighting, climate control, and infotainment features.

One of the bigger updates is just behind the steering wheel, where the 7 Series gets a new all-digital instrument cluster and Control Display, with a 12.3-inch diagonal measurement. Complementing the gauges is a BMW heads-up display, which provides a variety of pertinent info just outside the driver’s field of vision.

Connected Navigation is there to help you find your way (and an open parking spot), while a Mobileye interior camera helps to read your movements for accurate gesture control as standard. There’s also a Wi-Fi hotspot and standard wireless device charging.

If you’re looking to get tactical, BMW is offering a Night Vision feature with pedestrian and animal detection, which provides real-time imaging on the Control Display to identify “heat-emitting” objects, which are then illuminated further using the headlight marker light function.

Running it all is a new iDrive 7 infotainment system, while 20 GB of storage space keeps important files close.

This system offers intuitive voice command for a number of different features, and can also learn your “routines and habits,” including preferences for the seat heating, navigation, and other functions. For example, if you give it a simple command like “I’m cold,” the system will automatically adjust the temperature settings for you. Or, if you say you’re feeling tired, it’ll adjust the temperature, lighting, and music to make you more alert. It can also explain how certain onboard systems work and check on the vehicle status. You can even name the system if desired and hold a “casual conversation” with it. No, seriously. I’ll take a more in-depth look at the digital assistant in a follow-up article later.

Moving onto the safety stuff, the 7 Series comes equipped with visual cameras, radar, and ultrasonic sensors, all of which enable a variety of standard features, such as Collision and Pedestrian Warning with City Braking, Lane Departure Warning (active up to 130 mph!), Blind Spot Detection, Speed Limit Info, Rear Collision Preparation, and Cross Traffic Alert. There’s also standard features like Active Park Distance Control with automatic braking, a rear view camera, Automatic Parking Assistant, Back-Up Assistant, and a Panorama View feature with a 360-degree view around the car.

Grab the options list, and you’ll have access to the available Driving Assistance Professional package, which throws in Extended Traffic Jam Assistant, Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Active Lane Keeping Assistant with side collision avoidance, Steering & Traffic Jam Assistant, Automatic Lane Change, and Evasion Assistant & Cross Traffic alert.

This Is BMW’s Present, And Its Future

If you have the money to spend on something like the 2020 BMW 7 Series (starting at $83,650 and ranging up to $156,700 for the range-topper), then odds are you expect all this fanciness right now.

But the truth is, the 7 Series is a solid indicator of where BMW wants to head in the future as well. One overarching theme we noticed is automation - if it can get handled automatically (preferably without the driver or passengers even noticing), then it should get handled automatically. We see it with features like the driver assists and the digital assistant, and odds are, BMW will continue the trend going forward.

The move towards more screens and digitized readouts is fairly obvious as well, with both front- and rear-seated passengers getting in on the action. Say goodbye to analog, folks, because it’s never coming back.

And one more thing - electrified powerplants will be pervasive. Look for hybrid options throughout the Bavarian stable.

All told, we expect a lot of this stuff to trickle down across the BMW lineup. The 7 Series is sort of a test bed in that way - whatever sticks will stick for good.

2020 BMW 7 Series specifications

740i

740i xDrive

750i xDrive

M760i xDrive

745e xDrive

Engine type

--

B58B30M1

B58B30M1

N63B44T3

N74B66TU2

XB1151M1

Cylinders

--

6

6

8

12

6

Valves per cylinder

--

4

4

4

4

4

Stroke

mm

94.6

94.6

88.3

88.3

94.6

Bore

mm

82

82

89

89

82

Displacement

cm³

2,998

2,998

4,395

6,592

2,998

Compression rate

:1

11.0

11.0

10.5

10.0

11.0

Engine power

hp

335

335

523

600

389

at rpm

1/min

5500-6500

5500-6500

5500-6000

5500-6500

5000-6000

Engine torque

ft. lbs.

330

330

553

627

442

at rpm

1/min

1500-5200

1500-5200

1800-4600

1550-5000

1500-3500

Fuel type

--

Gasoline

Gasoline

Gasoline

Gasoline

Gasoline

Transmission type

--

Automatic

Automatic

Automatic

Automatic

Automatic

Transmission type

--

8HP51

8HP51

8HP76

8HP95

8P75H

0-60 mph

seconds

5.3

4.8

3.9

3.6

4.9

Top speed (with perf. tires)

mph

130 (155)

130 (155)

130 (155)

155

130 (155)


Further Reading

BMW Has More Leaks Than a Cheap Tent as the 2020 7 Series Configurator Accidentally Goes Live Early

The Front End of the 2020 BMW 7 Series Has Leaked Again But This Isn't the Same Car.

If This Leak Shows The 2019 BMW 7 Series Facelift, It Looks A Lot Like The 2014 BMW Vision Future Concept

Read our full review on the 2020 BMW 7 Series.

Read our full review on the 2018 BMW 7 Series.

Read our full review on the 2014 BMW Vision Future Luxury.