The BMW i7 electric luxury sedan rivals the Mercedes-Benz EQS, Lucid Air & Tesla Model S.
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Latest Generation BMW Flagship – The all-new 7 series & the i7
As we are getting closer to the world premiere of the i7 and the all-new 7 Series, BMW is intensifying the teaser campaign and spy photographers keep spotting pre-production prototypes undergoing final testing. Meanwhile, independent artists are trying to put together pieces of evidence in a bid to accurately render the electric luxury sedan.
Next-Generation BMW Design Philosophy
BMW premiered the striking Concept XM last November but is yet to take centre stage in an auto show. Meanwhile, BMW did show the 750-horsepower machine behind closed doors in the United Arab Emirates and its dealer in Abu Dhabi organized a private event where a select few got up close and in person with the radically styled V8 hybrid beast. The dealership invited only “premium customers” and select members of the press to discover the Concept XM. All who were present at the event tout it as the “most extravagant BMW yet,” which is something we can all easily agree with.
The Concept XM looks polarizing and it remains to be seen how the overly angular design will make the transition to the production model. Also of great interest is the split headlight layout which will be adopted to the next-generation 7 Series, i7 and the X7 facelift.
The BMW logo has an anti-spinner in the wheels which ensures the logo is always upright just as you find on a Rolls Royce. The anti-spinner is a spinner that has an offset counterweight. A spinner is a type of hubcap in the wheel that spins independently of the wheel when the vehicle is in motion.
BMW 7 Series and the i7
A bold approach to digital interpretation has given the 2023 BMW i7 the polarizing front fascia of the Concept XM plug-in hybrid SUV. Both the sedan and XM’s dedicated model will usher in the already controversial split headlight design. Citroën has been taking a similar approach since 2013 when it introduced the second-generation C4 Picasso. If the Concept XM is any indication to go by, the electrified SUV has an interesting headlight set up with the main clusters almost “hidden” in the bumper, making them far less visible than the upper daytime running lights. Spy shots and teaser images of the i7 suggests that the grille won’t be as in-your-face as on the SUV, but who knows what is hidden underneath the camouflage.
It is good to believe that BMW is the most courageous in terms of design compared to its archrivals Audi and Mercedes. The i7 will be nearly identical to the 7 Series as both are built on the same CLAR platform which is not the case with the S-Class and EQS as the two are completely separate models.
Testing of the all-new BMW i7 – The only True Electric Sedan
BMW is gearing up to launch the all-new 7 Series alongside the all-new i7 full-electric sedan which is seen testing as in the pictures. BMW has also made the claim that this will be the world’s first true all-electric luxury sedan as it considers the 10-year-old Model S, the Lucid Air, Mercedes EQS & others as hatchbacks and not sedans.
BMW has said it will be so quiet and refined that it will be in a class of its own. Their updated wind tunnel & audio facilities aim to remove any disturbing noise from the occupants in a “precise and selective” manner. Even the electric drive units have noise cancellation material, foam absorber tyres & weight-optimized sound insulation throughout the vehicle. The i7 also has a totally flat underbody, and clean-cut body lines to eliminate buffeting.
BMW is currently hard at work fine-tuning what is going to be its most important luxury car, the i7 sedan. When it debuts, the BMW i7 is going to need to take on a row of electric luxury sedans, such as the Mercedes-Benz EQS, the Lucid Air, and the Tesla Model S. This is why interior refinement is so important and why BMW is making sure its i7 has acoustic levels up to par with its competition.
Electric cars need extreme levels of interior acoustic refinement, as their lack of power train noise allows other road noises to stand out. This is why automakers go to such extreme lengths to rid their electric vehicles of wind, tyres, and other road noises. BMW is currently going to such extremes for the i7 at the new Research and Innovation Centre (FIZ) in Munich.
Some of the measures BMW has taken to ensure the absolute least amount of wind and road noise enter the cabin of the i7 are clear-cut body surfaces, flush door handles, aerodynamically-optimized exterior mirrors, and an almost completely closed underbody. Sound insulators are also added to the pillars, seats, and even the headliner of the BMW i7, all to reduce exterior noise from getting inside.
Interestingly, BMW’s FIZ R&D centre can simulate many of the extreme climate conditions from around the world. It can produce extreme hot and cold environments, as well as extreme wind, to ensure the i7’s acoustic set its own standards in the industry. There’s even a lab at the FIZ centre that hits the i7 with electromagnetic fields, to make sure its electric systems continue to work properly during such an event.
Additionally, BMW has to make sure the sounds that do make it into the cabin are good ones. For instance, to give the electric power train a bit of emotion and excitement, without sounding obnoxious, BMW has partnered with Hans Zimmer to create its “IconicSounds Electric”. We’ve already heard what that sounds like in cars like the BMW iX and i4 and it will be interesting to hear what it’s going to be like in the BMW i7.
The BMW i7 is going to be one of the most important cars in the brand’s history. It will simultaneously set the standard for BMW’s luxury and electric vehicles, as it will be the flagship for both. So it is encouraging to see BMW go to such an extent to ensure its quality.
All-new BMW 7 family to break cover on 20th April 2022
It is now clear that the company’s flagship car will inherit the bold front kidney grille design from the Concept XM. It has an illuminated contour and is complemented by the backlit roundel. The thin LED strip serves as the daytime running lights since the main clusters are located lower on the bumper. We have seen this on the Concept XM already, and spy shots have revealed that the X7 LCI will adopt the same unconventional layout. Flush door handles that electronically pop out are also noticeable in the BMW i7 and they are likely similar to those of the iX.
The Interiors
The cars will come equipped with iDrive 8 with dual screens, and a 31-inch, 8K-compatible Theatre Screen in the back. The familiar crystal finish has been implemented in the dashboard of the i7 where it is illuminated by the ambient lighting. Speaking of which, there are LED light threads that can be individually adjusted. Interestingly, there is an extra screen with built-in controls on the passenger side of the dash, called the “Interaction Bar”. For its next-gen range-topper, BMW has developed a new Sky Lounge panoramic glass roof.
Powering the BMW 7 family
BMW i7 will have over 600 hp, making it the most potent 7 Series. The unspecified battery pack will enable a maximum range of 379 miles (610 kilometres) in the WLTP cycle. For the US-spec i7, the company estimates a range of 305 miles (491 kilometres).
In addition, the 7 series will pave the way for cleaner gasoline and diesel power trains which may include Turbo 6, PHEV & PHEV V8 options. The V12 is officially dead. These combustion engines will arrive in anticipation of Euro 7 regulations expected later this decade.
i7 supports Level 2+ autonomy and is technically capable to meet Level 3 requirements.
Keyword: BMW's horrendously oversized new grille designs & the next-gen 7 Series