By Staff Reporter

While the facelifted BMW 7 Series is scheduled to arrive in SA in the second quarter, a new rumour suggests that the Munich-based automaker could ditch the V8 and V12 engines in place of electrification.

Reports state that the 2020 7 Series will be the last generation to feature V8 and V12 engine options.

BMW SA confirmed that the following derivatives will be reaching our market in 2019: 745Le, 750Li xDrive, M760Li xDrive and 730Ld.

At the top of the range sits the M760Li xDrive with 430 kW. Next up is the 750Li xDrive with a newly-developed turbocharged petrol engine with 390 kW. There will be a specially adapted six-cylinder inline petrol engine and a more advanced high-voltage battery doing duty in the 745Le.

Like most new BMWs, the new 7 Series could use the same 3.0-liter inline-six (B58) from cars like the 2 Series and 3 Series, however, the only difference is that the 7 Series will have full electrification.

We won’t see an all-new BMW 7 Series for some time.