The current generation of the BMW 7 Series has been around since 2015. Despite a dramatic facelift for the 2020 model year, it's time for BMW to turn its attention to the car's replacement, especially now that the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class has arrived on the scene. The next-gen 7 Series has been spied before but we now have some new information about what will power this full-size luxury sedan. While the car's design is likely to shock us once again, the good news is that the engine lineup is reassuringly familiar.

According to BMW Blog, the existing 3.0-liter inline-six B58 turbocharged engine will be upgraded and used in the next 7 Series once more. It's hard to complain about that since BMW's inline-six remains a wonderfully silky powerplant. In the new 735i, it's expected to produce 270 horsepower, while a 740i variant will be tuned to deliver 370 hp. The 3.0-liter inline-six in the current 740i produces 335 hp, so the latter number represents a nice bump up in power. The new B58 will reportedly find its way into other BMWs like the X5, X6, and the next 5 Series. That's no surprise since the current B58 has been widely used throughout the automaker's lineup.

Higher up in the range, the next 750i is rumored to be getting a new V8 engine known as the S68. It's said to be a revised version of the N63 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8. With hybrid assistance, this engine will produce 535 hp according to numerous sources. That's a modest increase over the current 750i's 523 hp but BMW could be leaving room for an even more potent range-topper. The 'S' in the S68 codename is notable as that letter generally dictates the use of a high-performance M engine. With both plug-in hybrid and fully electric versions of the 7 Series on the way, customers will likely have more powertrain choices than ever before. But it's good to know that BMW's trusty inline-six isn't going anywhere just yet.