BMW 7 Series facelift spied with a larger grille and updated rear

-    The updated 7 Series will have styling similar to the impending X7.

-    Headlights take inspiration from the 8 Series, and a larger Kidney grille is also seen on the test mule.

-    Expected to break cover later this year before going on sale in mid-2019.

BMW is preparing a mid-life update for the flagship 7 Series sedan. The Bavarian carmaker took on the German traffic, testing the latest version of the Luxo-barge near the headquarters in Munich. The prototype has finally dropped some camo to reveal the new and imposing grille along with updated lights.

The 7 Series seems to have scrounged the massive Kidney grille design from the X7 iPerformance concept. The daunting grille is flanked by an even sleeker headlight design with revised LED styling. The front bumpers appear to be more or less unchanged. At the rear, the tail lights will get a new LED lighting signature apart from a slightly tweaked bumper. 

The cabin will surely receive more features than the current one with more advanced driver aids. The autonomous technology will also be updated to match its arch-rivals – the updated Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the new-gen Audi A8. The powertrain options will remain unchanged. However, they will be tuned for slightly better emissions and fuel efficiency. 

Given the scanty camouflage on the test mule, the Bavarian flagship is expected to be revealed later this year. However, production and deliveries in the European market won’t commence before the middle of 2019. We expect the 7 Series facelift to arrive in India only late next year after Audi launches the A8 in the first quarter of 2019.