BMW is bringing a V8 engine back to its flagship 7 Series with the M760 xDrive, a more powerful replacement for the 760i that will also be sold in Europe for the first time.
When the facelifted 7 Series launched earlier this year, it had no V8 option, and BMW said one would be added later in the model’s life. According to BMW Blog, the M760 xDrive uses a twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 producing about 570 horsepower (about 425kW), up from 536 horsepower (about 400kW) in the outgoing 760i. All-wheel drive is standard.
The car does not revive the V12 that powered the previous-generation M760i. Buyers who want 12 cylinders now need to look to Rolls-Royce, which BMW owns.
BMW 7 Series: V8 Flagship Compared
| Item | Outgoing 760i xDrive | New M760 xDrive |
| Engine | 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 | 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 |
| Power | 536hp (about 400kW) | About 570hp (about 425kW) |
| Torque | 750Nm | Not yet disclosed |
| Sold in Europe | No | Yes |
| US starting price | $117,395 (about R1.94m) | Not yet announced |
Despite the M badge, the car is an M Performance model rather than a full M car. It becomes the third M Performance version of the 7 Series, alongside the M760e plug-in hybrid and the electric i7 M70. In line with BMW’s naming policy, the “i” has been dropped, because the letter is now reserved for electric models.
The 760i was not offered in Europe, so the M760’s European launch suggests BMW has made the V8 compliant with the EU’s Euro 7 emissions rules. BMW has not released torque figures or pricing. The 760i cost $117,395 (about R1.94 million) in the US, and the six-cylinder 740 xDrive starts at $104,350 (about R1.72 million), so the M760 is expected to cost more than its predecessor.
The model enters a shrinking segment. Mercedes-AMG offers the S 63 E Performance plug-in hybrid, while Audi is ending production of the A8 this year with no direct successor yet confirmed. Large luxury sedans have lost ground to SUVs, but they remain flagship products for German premium brands.
The M760 will not be the only V8 7 Series in this generation. In 2027, BMW’s new Alpina sub-brand will launch a more luxurious version with a specially tuned V8, aimed at the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class. A fully equipped V12 Maybach S-Class costs about $275,000 (about R4.54 million) in the US.
BMW now offers the 7 Series with petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid, electric and V8 options, a broad spread that allows it to hedge as demand for electric luxury cars develops unevenly across markets.
The 7 Series is sold in South Africa, where BMW Group South Africa builds the X3 at its Rosslyn plant. Local availability and pricing for the M760 have not been announced.