New Delhi: BMW is set to reveal the updated i7 luxury saloon on April 22nd at the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, i.e., Auto China 2026. Following the iX3 and i3, the upcoming i7 facelift will not just become the Bavarian brand’s next EV to come with Neue Klasse architecture, it will also mark the first BMW model after the establishment of the BMW and Rimac Technology partnership in 2023.
The present BMW i7 made its global debut back in April 2022, along with the 7 Series, becoming the marque’s flagship EV saloon.
The result of this joint venture is the high-voltage battery system of the i7 facelift, merging BMW’s Gen6 4695 lithium-ion cylindrical cells with Rimac’s expertise in battery management hardware and software. For this reference, that comes in the form of the Croatian brand’s own Gen5 module-based battery housing.
What will the new BMW i7’s battery be like
Pre-facelift BMW i7 used for reference. Design will have some tweaks for the upcoming generation
Further, the ‘4695’ designation refers to the individual battery cells used by BMW, measuring 46mm in width and 95mm in height. These cylindrical cells are already implemented in other Neue Klasse models, including the iX3 electric SUV and the i3 electric sedan. Notably, the facelifted i7 will be the first model to come with Rimac’s scalable battery-pack architecture, designed to support future developments in cell chemistry and performance as and when they become available.
The updated i7’s new battery system packs in a 20-per cent higher volumetric energy density over the last-gen system, which came with prismatic cells. The BMW Gen6 battery cells and Rimac’s Gen5 module, paired together, will push a big improvement in “energy, range, and charging performance” as confirmed by Mate Rimac, founder and president of Rimac Group.
For comparison, the most WLTP-claimed range of the pre-facelift i7 is 603 km. However, neither company has yet to give a range estimate for the i7 facelift. The charging time will be less in the i7 due to the redesigned battery system. The BMW-Rimac battery system will be made at a specially made Rimac factory in Croatia, close to Zagreb.
Likely BMW i7 changes
Changes to the outside of the BMW i7 facelift are likely to remain with the soft parts. As per Autocar UK, the electric saloon gets a squared-off front grille, larger daytime running lights (DRLs) and a slightly watered-down front fascia over the current version. There will be some styling upgrades, too, with the upcoming 7 Series.
The tech-laden and high-quality interior of the i7 with goodies like digital screens, a high-end Bowers & Wilkins audio system, plus temperature-controlled and massaging seats will be retained. BMW, though are expected to introduce things as part of the Neue Klasse update. The upcoming i7 facelift and 7 Series facelift apart, BMW are also going to reveal the next-gen X5 sometime this year. In India, the German brand is set to launch the iX facelift and i5 LWB in Q2 of 2026.