BMW's so-called "i" family of electrified vehicles has existed for many years. We've seen various models, including hatchbacks, sports cars, and crossovers. It was just a matter of time before we saw the electric iteration of the Bavarian flagship sedan.
Finally in April 2022, BMW presented the brand-new i7 alongside the new generation of the 7 Series.
The new electric sedan is already available in Australia, and with a starting price of nearly $300,000, it is among the most expensive full-size sedans on the market. Still, the price is justified by a high level of luxury, strong performance, and advanced battery technology.
The First Generation of BMW i7 (2022-)
The BMW i7 was initially introduced in April 2022 alongside the new generation of the standard 7 Series. The company decided on the move because the i7 has plenty in common with the ICE full-size sedan, which has been the Bavarian flagship for decades.
The two nameplates share many things, starting from the platform and chassis to the styling. For comparison, the arch-rival Mercedes Benz did completely the opposite thing with the all-electric EQS, which looks significantly different from the conventional S-Class.
The i7 features the same silhouette and the same front-end design, which follows the brand's latest design language, with super-narrow headlights and a kidney grille that's bolder than ever.
Design
Design-wise, the BMW i7 Series sticks to the same design philosophy as the conventional 7 Series and comes as a full-size sedan that differs minimally in style from its non-electric alter-ego. Both nameplates share the same architecture, dimensions, and most of the exterior design.
With all these identical features, it’s not surprising to find similar setups for the chassis and suspension. The i7 has air suspension on both ends, providing superior ride quality, and ventilated disc brakes on all four wheels.
The same thing with the cabin design, the BMW i7 interior mimics its conventional sibling. You can see BMW's latest interior design approach, with a lot of inspiration from the iX crossover. Of course, the materials are finer, and the build quality is even better. The dashboard panel incorporates a digital instrument cluster and a massive infotainment screen.
Dimensions
As already mentioned, the new i7 features the same dimensions as the conventional 7 Series, with a wheelbase 3215mm long, a total length of 5391mm. This EV is 1950mm wide and 1544mm high, with a ground clearance of 136mm.
Despite the long wheelbase and large overall dimensions, the turning circle is good at around 12.3 metres. This large electric sedan features a massive battery pack, so it's no wonder that the kerb weight goes up to 2640kg.
BMW i7 Dimensions
- Wheelbase: 3215mm
- Length: 5391mm
- Height: 1544mm
- Width: 1950mm
- Ground clearance: 136mm
- Turning circle: 12.3m
- Kerb weight: 2640kg
Drivetrain
The Bavarian carmaker has offered only one version of the i7 all-electric sedan—the xDrive60—indicating an all-wheel-drive system.
The setup includes two electric motors, one on each axle, with a combined output power of 400kW and torque of 745Nm. That's enough power to ensure a 0-100km/h sprint in only 4.6 seconds, while the top speed is rated at 240km/hr, which is pretty good for an electric vehicle with a single-speed transmission.
The vehicle is equipped with a sizeable 101.7-kWh battery pack, and the company promises nearly 500 kilometres on a single charge. Speaking of the charging, the i7 offers an impressive 185-kW charging speed, which can add 130km of range every 10 minutes. Also, this charging speed allows you to go from 10 to 80 per cent of the battery in 35 minutes.
BMW i7 Specs
- Powertrain: 2x permanently excited synchronous motors
- Max Output: 400kw
- Max Torque: 745Nm
- Transmission: 1-speed automatic
- Acceleration (0-100km/hr): 4.6s
- Top Speed: 240km/h
- Battery Capacity: 101.7kWh
- Max Range: 500km
- Charging Speed: 185kW
Features
The 2023 BMW i7 comes with a hefty $297,900 price tag, making it one of Australia's most expensive luxury sedans, so you can count it to come with a long list of standard equipment.
Not only are there high-end materials, such as premium leather or open-pore wood, but there are also some high-end features reserved for back passengers, such as a massive 31.3-inch rear-seat entertainment system screen.
This car is about convenience, so the steering wheel and seats aren't the only heated things. There are heated armrests and heated door panels as well. Four-zone automatic climate control is standard, just like soft-close doors, ambient interior lighting, welcome lights, illuminated grille, two-tone wheels, crystal headlights, and lounge rear console.
The tech features include a massive 14.9-inch infotainment screen with the company's latest infotainment system, wireless smartphone integration, wireless charging, digital instrument cluster, head-up display, traffic monitoring, surround camera, and many more.
Safety
The crash test results are yet to be announced, but we are pretty sure everything will be fine. On the other hand, the list of standard safety and driver-assistance features is impressive, which we all expect to see, considering the BMW i7 price tag.
All models come standard with things like attention assist, adaptive headlights, park assist, brake assist, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic high beams, lane-departure warning, lane-change assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and many more.
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By Nebojsa Grmusa