BMW i7: a new level of luxury in the electric field

It's only been a few months since the debut of BMW's new 'seven', including the electric version of the i7. The “just” 7 series is equipped with internal combustion engines: two three-liter inline sixes: a 300-horsepower diesel or gasoline engine that provides 375 horsepower, and a 4,4-liter twin-turbo V8 that develops 523 horsepower. As for the i7, two electric motors are installed on it, which together create a power of 536 horses. Unlike other manufacturers creating dedicated platforms for their electric vehicles, the BMW i7 shares the CLAR platform with the regular 7 Series. With the exception of the electrical component, they are completely identical. 


The price of the 7 BMW i2023 sedan is expectedly high. At launch, it is the most expensive variant of the 7 Series, available for $120. For reference: In the US, the petrol-powered 760i xDrive costs $113, while the Mercedes-Benz EQS starts at $600 for a less powerful version. The price for a more productive version of the EQS starts from the same 102 thousand dollars.

Appearance 

From the outside, the BMW i7 looks exactly like the 7 Series, meaning it's big and avant-garde. Inheriting the design concept from the 7 BMW X2023, the i7 features split headlamps with 14-LED daytime and 22-LED DRLs, as well as a lower blackout cluster with LED low and high beam headlights. The "nostrils" are large, but not as big as other modern Boomers.


Despite being an electric car, the 7 i2023 looks exactly like the rest of the 7 Series range, right down to the fake “radiator” grille. The only real signs of an electric car are the blue trim elements:

✅ Front bumper
✅ Thresholds
✅ Rear bumper 
✅ Logos

But the charging socket is “disguised” - it is located in the same place where the fuel tank cap is located on the “simple seven”. Many styling cues feel like a throwback to early 7 Series models, such as the taillight design, the classic Hofmeister kink on the C-pillar, and retro-styled 20-inch alloy wheels. 19" wheels and larger 21" wheels are also available. 

The appearance of the BMW i7 is monolithic, with clean body surfaces, especially when viewed in profile. The sleek silhouette is accentuated by flush-mounted door handles that give access to automatic doors that look more like a Rolls-Royce than a BMW.


Another element borrowed from Rolls-Royce is the availability of two-tone paintwork – a first for the Bavarian marque. In addition to the 11 standard colors used on the G70, the BMW i7 is available in model-exclusive Dark Graphite, Sparkling Copper and Space Silver metallics. Further personalization is provided by the manufacturer in the form of a professional package M-Sport, which includes:

✅ Rear spoiler
✅ Shadowline dark finish
✅ Blue brake calipers 

dimensions

To assert its superiority over the competition, the dimensions of the BMW i7 have increased, including compared to the latest 7 Series G11. Now the "seven" is 13 centimeters longer, 5 centimeters wider and higher. The length of the body of the new BMW i7 model is 5389, and the width and height are 1950 and 1798 centimeters, respectively. At the presentation, representatives of the company did not say a word about the curb weight, but with the increase in size and the addition of a battery, the i7 cannot weigh less than 2500 kilograms.

Performance, range, charging, battery life

The BMW i7 does not have an internal combustion engine, because it is an electric version of the G70. Instead, a high-voltage battery is built into the floor of the car, and two electric motors are installed to provide permanent all-wheel drive. 


The electric motor on the front axle produces 255 horsepower, and on the rear - 308. In tandem, the power of the BMW i7 is 536 horsepower. From zero to hundreds of electric "seven" accelerates in 4,5 seconds - much faster than a luxury sedan, because it is assumed that such cars are used with a hired driver. Maximum speed is electronically limited to 240 kilometers per hour.

The main characteristic for most fans (and haters) of electric vehicles is how far the train can go without recharging and how long it takes to charge. Using lessons learned from the iX and i4, BMW has developed software that controls battery temperature as efficiently as possible to reduce charging times. 

The battery itself boasts a capacity of 101,7 kWh, giving it a range of 600 kilometers on the EPA cycle. Regenerative braking automatically increases efficiency when approaching traffic lights or downhills, while the coasting function further improves energy efficiency. The use of GPS allows the car to take into account the car's charge level when planning trips, so that the owner can know in advance about the availability of charging stations along the route.


As for the actual charging, the i7 can accept a charge of 11 kW from the AC mains and 195 kW from the DC system. In the latter version, 10 minutes of charging allows you to travel 130 kilometers. It is curious that the manufacturer included three years of free access to charging at Electrify America stations in the USA in the price of the i7.

Interior

An overview of the i7's interior needs to start from the outside, as the new BMW Digital Key Plus turns your Apple iPhone into a key via a mobile app! When the owner approaches the car, the door automatically opens and also closes automatically when leaving. And when the owner approaches, the Great Entrance Moments system performs a light show both inside and outside the car. 


The BMW i7 features a 12,3-inch instrument display and a 14,9-inch infotainment display, with redundant controls via the iDrive controller. The system is complemented by an illuminated "interactive panel" around the cabin that lights up in different colors to assist security and warning systems and show animations for incoming phone calls. 

Each of the car's four doors has a 5,5-inch touch screen that controls all available comfort and multimedia functions. But rear-seat passengers probably won't notice them, as they're dwarfed by the BMW Theater Screen, a giant 31,3-inch overhead touchscreen with 8K resolution and a built-in Amazon Fire TV. Available for the i7 is a 1965-watt Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound system with 36 speakers, a subwoofer and two sets of Bluetooth headphones. The standard sound system is more modest, and is a 655-watt setup with 18 speakers.


The standard equipment of the BMW i7 includes a glass roof, dubbed the "Panoramic Sky Lounge", with LED lighting that mimics the lighting effects of the car's various trim elements. The seats of the BMW i7 are equipped with heating, ventilation and massage. An Executive Lounge option adds the ability to recline the rear seat backs by 42,5 degrees, and an ottoman is also available, a retractable leg rest that allows passengers to really stretch out and relax. The i7 is upholstered as standard in Merino leather with diamond quilting. Colors include Amarone, Smoke White, Mocha, Black and Tartufo.

This is how the new electric “seven” with the G70 body turned out: comfortable and technologically advanced. And, perhaps, for the first time since the release of the Bangle E65, the Bavarians have created a model that, in all respects, including comfort, is head and shoulders above the Mercedes-Benz S-class. Whether BMW will be able to move Tesla and Porsche, created on separate electric platforms, and how they will respond in Stuttgart, only time will tell.