With the arrival of the new technological wonder that is the Mercedes S-Class, luxury automakers are under pressure to step up their game. In response, BMW is redesigning the 7 Series for a new generation. The current model has been on sale since 2015 and was given a facelift for the 2020 model year, but now the luxury sedan is ready for a redesign to take on the S-Class.

Our spies have caught BMW testing the new 7 Series at the Nurburgring with less camouflage than before. We get a better look at the new split headlights, which incorporate an upper strip of LEDs for the daytime running lights and indicators above the main headlights. This bold new look is bound to be polarizing, although BMW is of course no stranger to controversial designs.

Now that the camouflage is starting to strip away, we also get a clearer look at the new grille, which looks larger than its predecessor's. Curiously, the license plate is mounted lower to the front bumper. In our last sighting, the license plate was positioned above the kidney grilles.

At the back, the redesigned taillights appear to extend onto the tailgate. As for the interior, the new 7 Series will be upgraded with a curved display akin to the iX incorporating a digital instrument cluster and a large touchscreen for the infotainment system running the new Drive 8 software.

For the first time, the new BMW 7 Series will be offered with a choice of a combustion, plug-in-hybrid hybrid, and fully electric powertrain. According to a recent report, the current car's familiar 3.0-liter inline-six B58 turbocharged engine will be upgraded for the next-generation 7 Series. BMW's 3.0-liter turbo is expected to produce 270 hp in the 735i, and 370 hp in the 740i. For reference, the current 740i produces 335 hp, so this will be a healthy power boost.

Slotting above the 740i, the new 750i will reportedly be powered by a new V8 producing 535 hp with hybrid assistance. Spy shots have also revealed an all-electric BMW i7 is in the works. With a rumored output of 650 hp, the i7 will be the most powerful 7 Series ever. The new BMW 7 Series is expected to debut in late 2022 or early 2023, but it could be previewed by a concept next year.