The 735i was a variant of the E38 BMW 7 Series that was introduced for the 1996 model year. The 735i, and its long wheelbase 735iL sibling, were powered by BMW's M62B35 engine. This 3.5L V8 engine produced 232hp and was mated to manual and automatic transmission options sending power to the rear wheels. For the 1999 model year, BMW debuted an updated engine known as the M62TUB35. This updated engine featured similar power figures to its predecessor, but notably, it featured greater torque as well as an improved powerband. Production of the E38 735i ended in 2001, although the model series continued life in the next generation BMW E65 7 Series.