2020 BMW 7 Series

First Generation

1977 to 1986

BMW’s largest and most luxurious sedan yet debuted for the 1977 model year and sported looks made familiar by the 3 Series and 5 Series. At the time, big features included informative gauges, air conditioning, multi-way power-adjustable seats, and electric rear seats.

Second Generation

1987 to 1994

BMW shook up the industry when it released the 300-horsepower V12-powered 750iL for 1987. A six-cylinder engine that made 188 horsepower was standard. The second-gen 7 Series was the first to have the L-shaped taillamps.

Third Generation

1995 to 2001

The E38 was unveiled in 1994 and was made official for the 1995 model year. It wore a new design but had familiar powertrain options with eight-cylinder and twelve-cylinder engines. It was available in short or long-wheelbase variants.

Fourth Generation

2002 to 2008

Several changes to the 7 Series made some fans question their loyalties. A new design had a polarizing rear that many criticized as a major red mark on the BMW name. The fourth-gen 7 Series also introduced the rotary iDrive controller, which was met with heavy resistance, and the gear shifter was moved to the steering column.

Fifth Generation

2009 to 2015

The fifth iteration of the 7 Series brought a host of new technology such as adaptive damping, rear-wheel steering, side-view cameras, and lane-change warning. It also moved the gear shifter back to the center console and improved the functionality of the iDrive controller.

Sixth Generation

2016 to Present

For 2016, BMW says it dropped a bit less than 200 pounds from the 7 series using carbon fiber and aluminum throughout the vehicle’s structure. Starting with this generation, BMW also did away with the short-wheelbase version of the car and only imported the long-wheelbase model to the U.S. The M760i xDrive and the 740e xDrive iPerformance joined the lineup for 2017, and 2020 marked the arrival of a mild refresh.