The i7 all-electric sedan. Source: BMW
BMW has teased new images and details of its upcoming all-electric i7 – including over 600km driving range – that it will debut in April.
Coinciding with its group annual conference, the new details and images include a new front end design that features a glowing version of the marque’s signature kidney-shaped grille, and innovative digital inclusions on the inside that include haptic light strips on the dashboard and doors to access vehicle functions.
Perhaps most interestingly, BMW says there is also a 31-inch widescreen that emerges from the ceiling to stream 8K movies, transforming the back row seats into a private cinema.
“The new BMW 7 Series is absolutely trail-blazing in every respect. Like no other model, the BMW 7 Series stands for BMW’s innovative strength,” said BMW board member for development Frank Weber in a statement.
“The all-electric BMW i7 is also the most powerful BMW 7 Series. It combines the best driving experience with the ultimate digital experience. This makes it the ideal vehicle for forward-thinking, responsible decision-makers and avant-garde pioneers.”
The i7 joins BMW’s existing electric range which includes the iX, iX3 and i4, sitting between the i4 and iX which are already set for the Australian market. All in all, BMW has 13 electric vehicles planned for release on the global market by 2023.
Despite declaring the upcoming electric vehicle’s trailblazing status, details are still thin on the ground, however. BMW declines to include power output and battery size, but says the power consumption of the i7 as 19.7 – 18.9 kWh/100 km and that it has a driving range of 580 – 610 km according to WLTP (expect real-world range to be around 550km), based on the current development status of the vehicle.
The new specs show a reduction in power consumption compared to the i7’s endurance test on ice and snow in Sweden in December 2021, and the acoustic test in Munich at the end of February; previously this sat at 22.5 – 19.5 kWh/100 km.
The i7 all-electric sedan. Source: BMW
The i7 all-electric sedan. Source: BMW
In the segment of electric luxury sedans, the i7 will primarily compete with the EQS from Mercedes-Benz, as well as the Tesla Model S to an extent, with the new 7 series offering more space and optionally a richer range of equipment.
On this point, the EQS does not keep up with the S-Class, for example. With the EQS, however, the best-case scenario is up to 782 km for the EQS 450+ with a 107.8 kWh battery. Mercedes-Benz specifies the electric range of this model as 631 – 782 km.
The next 7 Series will be the first to receive the new infotainment system with BMW OS 8 and 5G connectivity, as first launched in the iX, later in the i4 and most recently in the 2 Series Active Tourer.
A special feature is the 31-inch, 8K widescreen which folds out from the roof lining in front of the passengers in the rear. In “My Theatre Mode”, the sun blinds on the side windows and the rear window come down and the ambient lighting in the rear of the vehicle is dimmed.
The i7 all-electric sedan theatre screen. Source: BMW
A “Fire TV” has also been integrated into the theatre widescreen, integrating Amazon platform apps that can also be used in the car. It is operated either by touching the screen or via two touch panels that BMW has integrated into the rear door panels. A newly developed panoramic glass roof called “Sky Lounge” with several LED light threads also adorns the headliner as an option.
BMW also shared aspects of the redesigned interior and exterior in its teaser: in addition to the curved display, a light and function bar in the area of the instrument panel and the doors should ensure an exclusive visual and haptic perception.
BMW calls this feature “Interaction Bar” and makes it part of the ambient lighting, which has integrated control surfaces. The front of the vehicle is characterized by the upper lighting elements made of crystal glass and the luminous contour of the kidney grille, which is again large.
The i7 all-electric sedan. Source: BMW
Keyword: BMW teases i7 with 610km range and back row 31-inch cinema screen