Bavaria embraces full electrification with the first-ever i7 while offering six-cylinder and V8 gasoline versions of its 2023 7-Series flagship.
- On sale this fall, the 2023 7-Series comes with three possible powertrains: a 536-hp electric, 375-hp straight six, and a 536-hp V8. The electric i7 will have an expected 300 miles of range.
- Inside, you’ll find rich shades of Merino leather, crystalline surfaces, digital touch-panels in the doors, a curved display in front of the driver, and a 31.3-inch 8K touchscreen display for streaming Amazon Fire TV in the second row.
- Pricing will start at $93,300 for the 740i, $113,600 for the 760i, and $119,300 for the all-electric i7 (plus $995 in destination charges).
It’s always a big deal when BMW unleashes a new 7-Series sedan on the world, as the Bavarian brain trust tends to save its best technology and ideas for special unveiling on the brand’s heralded flagship that only comes around once every several years.
With the arrival later this fall of the seventh generation (since 1977), BMW is clearly hedging its bets on the 7-Series, eager to embrace full electrification with the first-ever i7 while keeping a foot in the turbocharged internal-combustion camp by offering both an inline-six-cylinder and a V8. Seems like a smart strategy, to keep all doors open.
European version of BMW 760i xDrive.
BMW
Indeed, there will be three versions of the 2023 7-Series at launch:
- The rear-wheel-drive 740i with the 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six (now dubbed B58TU2 in this application) comes with a new fuel-saving Miller-cycle combustion strategy with redesigned intake and exhaust ports and leverages 48-Volt mild-hybrid technology. Output for the 740i is pegged at 375 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. The 48-Volt system can boost that to 398 lb-ft during brief spurts, perhaps when sprinting to 60 mph in an estimated 5.0 seconds.
- The all-wheel-drive 760i xDrive with the 4.4-liter V8 comes with a new exhaust manifold, external oil cooling, reinforced crankshaft, and enhanced turbocharging. Output increases to 536 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, with 0-to-60 mph estimated at 4.2 seconds. Both these gasoline models for the US will use BMW’s eight-speed Steptronic transmission, which works with the 48-Volt hybrid system to recuperate braking energy while generating an additional 147 lb-ft of torque and 12 hp. Energy required for the electric boost is stored in a 48-Volt battery under the luggage compartment. This is not a plug-in hybrid, but BMW has hinted the 750e xDrive PHEV will arrive later next year.
- The i7 xDrive 60 (pre-orders opened this morning) is the pride of the new 7-Series, an all-electric full-size luxury sedan intended to compete with Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and others. A motor driving the rear wheels produces 308 hp, while a motor on the front axle adds another 255 hp, for a combined maximum of 536 hp and 549 lb-ft of torque. BMW estimates its 0-to-60 mph time in 4.5 seconds (not bad for a car tipping the scales at 5917 pounds) and a top speed of 149 mph, backed by high-voltage batteries providing 101.7 kWh of usable energy. Preliminary tests suggest 300 miles of range, and DC power can be taken onboard at a rate of up to 195 kW (which equals 80 miles in 10 minutes of fast-charging). The batteries sit in the vehicle floor with a cell height of just 4.3 inches.
As crucial as powertrains are in Bavaria, there’s a lot more to be said about the interior, infotainment system, materials, styling, comfort, and technology.
European-spec BMW i7 xDrive 60.
BMW
The 7-Series represents a new design language for BMW, with sharp edges and creases at both ends of the sedan and headlamp housings that appear to be razor thin (integrating optional LED crystal headlights from Swarovski). Critics are bound to pan the front end for yet another freakishly large pair of kidneys, but a blacked-out grille on a European version of the 760i (pictured above) is downright handsome because the kidneys blend in.
From the side view, there’s no mistaking this for a new version of the 7-Series, thanks to familiar proportions, a straightforward horizontal beltline, and long front overhang. Certain 7-Series design elements can only be tweaked so much, you can hear the German designers saying. Door handles that used to jut from the body now are sleek and recessed.
Inside, the 7-Series is as luxurious as one would expect, with dramatic applications of precision-cut aluminum trim, electroplated accent strips, metallic inlays, matte-finish open-pore wood, Alcantara headliner, five rich shades of Merino leather, and crystalline surfaces on the instrument panel and iDrive 8 central controller.
The instrument panel represents a departure for BMW, with what appears to be only a few capacitive switches for defrost and other functions, embedded within BMW’s new Interaction Bar—a type of controller that is decorative (crystalline with backlighting that changes colors) and extends in front of the passenger with touch-sensitive controls for ventilation, climate control, and opening the glovebox.
If you’re wedded to BMW-typical hard buttons, it’s time to embrace the future, which means lots of screens. There are digital touch-panels in the door trim, and a 5.5-inch color display touchscreen allowing passengers to select entertainment options and adjust ambient lighting and seat settings. The second row offers a massive 31.3-inch 8K touchscreen display for streaming Amazon Fire TV, while the Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system completes the aural experience with optional in-seat bass drivers.
Second row of European-spec BMW i7 xDrive 60.
BMW
We haven’t even mentioned the most important screen—a curved display that places a 12.3-inch information cluster in front of the driver, connected to a 14.9-inch touchscreen above the center stack. This is mission control for the driver and front passenger, and much of the extensive menus can be navigated via voice command. There’s also a latest-generation head-up display. The user experience integrates gesture control—a favorite technology for BMW—but it doesn’t appear to control many new functions.
Other highlights from the new 7-Series includes an optional Highway Assistant for hands-free driving up to 80 mph; fully redesigned steering wheel with haptic-feedback buttons; second-row seats that can recline up to 42.5 degrees with quilted and heated armrests; dark cashmere-rich cloth accents in seats; four-zone climate control; and a Panoramic Sky Lounge LED roof as standard.
Pricing will start at $93,300 for the 740i, $113,600 for the 760i, and $119,300 for the all-electric i7. Destination charges on top of those prices amount to $995. M Sport packages, which are now standard on 740i and 760i xDrive, will be available at no cost on the i7 xDrive60.
For the all-electric i7, owners will enjoy unlimited charge sessions at Electrify America charging stations for the first three years of ownership. Electrify America has 800 charging stations and about 3500 ultra-fast chargers open or under construction in the US.
BMW will build all versions of the 7-Series at its plant in Dingolfing, Germany. The plant also manufactures both the electric motors and high-voltage batteries for the i7.
While other manufacturers are going all-in with electrification, BMW has chosen the more conservative route by offering its flagship sedan as both an EV and with internal combustion. Which is smarter? That depends on the market.
Keyword: BMW Offers Gas, Electric Drivetrains in Redesigned 7-Series