740Li

BMW introduced the 740Li as the long-wheelbase six-cylinder member of the seventh-generation 7 Series family at the end of the 2008 launch cycle, with the nameplate appearing in the 2009 model year in key global markets. It established the pattern that would define the badge for much of its life: a stretched-wheelbase luxury sedan aimed at buyers who wanted the 7 Series experience with a stronger emphasis on rear-seat space and chauffeur-oriented comfort. The 740Li became especially important in China and other long-wheelbase markets, where BMW used the badge across multiple 7 Series generations as part of its flagship lineup. In the second half of the 2010s, the 740Li name continued on the G12 long-wheelbase 7 Series, including the 740Li xDrive in some markets, reinforcing its role as the six-cylinder long-wheelbase alternative below the V8 and V12 models. The badge ended with the previous-generation 7 Series; when BMW launched the all-new seventh-generation car for the 2023 model year, the lineup shifted to new naming and no longer included 740Li. The 740Li is therefore best understood as a long-running BMW luxury sedan nameplate associated with the long-wheelbase 7 Series rather than a standalone performance model.