The Ultimate Viewing Machine. If you need more evidence that the modern motorcar is morphing into a rec room on wheels, one of the main talking points at the global reveal of the all-new seventh-generation BMW 7 Series was the “Theatre Screen.” That would be an optional 31.3-inch 8k touchscreen display that covers nearly the full-width of the interior and, in conjunction with a top-of-the-line Bowers & Wilkins sound system with optional in-seat bass drivers, provides rear-seat passengers with, according to the German automaker, “an all-encompassing user experience.”
To be fair, this presentation was a static one, with two new Series 7s parked in an industrial building in downtown Manhattan on the eve of the 2022 New York Auto Show. Had the assembled world press been able to actually slide behind the sport steering wheel and drive the luxury sedans, this column would most likely begin with glowing words about the performance and handling of BMW’s flagship. As in, the Ultimate Driving Machine. We’ll save that for a later date.
As much as the Theatre Screen and other assorted new tech features of the new 7 Series were talking points, the real scene-stealer was the unveiling of the 2023 BMW i7 xDrive60, the first-ever all-electric 7 Series in its illustrious 45-year history. It was joined on stage by its gas-powered stablemate, the 2023 760 xDrive, which features 48V mild-hybrid technology.
A plug-in hybrid version will be coming soon, too. That trio means that BMW is the only luxury automaker with three different powertrains available in its flagship all-wheel-drive sedan: ICE, BEV, and PHEV. And yes, an M model is on the horizon.
The Theatre Screen system includes a 31.3-inch 8K touchscreen display, built-in touchscreen remotes in the door panels, and an automated rear shade system that closes when the screen is turned on.
And further, it would seem BMW is the only global automaker, luxury or otherwise, to offer a gas and all-electric model for the exact same price. According to BMW Canada, the base price for both the i7 xDrive60 and 760i xDrive is $147,000. Price parity is often cited as the proverbial ‘tipping point’ for EV adoption, and while that’s probably not the case for a vehicle of this luxury status and price point, BMW is making a big statement with that pricing model.
That’s not the only big statement the all-new seven-gen 7 Series makes. It is a big and bold vehicle, befitting flagship sedan status. From the side view, it has a distinct Rolls Royce-feel about it, with its large doors, big wheels, beefy door handles, high body sides, and somewhat blunt corners. The new 7 Series has grown by 12.9 cm in length, 4.8 cm in width, and by 5 cm in height. The front is unmistakably BMW, that polarizing kidney grille a little more suitably scaled on the big-bodied sedan than on the smaller 4 Series, where it has been unfavourably compared to, among other things, a baleen whale’s maw.
What really sets the front end of the new 7 Series apart is its front headlight design. Gone are the twin circular headlights that have defined BMWs for decades, and in their place are lighting arrays divided into two separate areas: daytime running lights, side marker lights, and turn signals are prominent on the top area, with an optional Swarovski crystal design available; while low-beam and high-beam headlights are set into the dark lower area of the apron.
2023 BMW i7 xDrive60 Photo by BMW Canada
2023 BMW i7 xDrive60.
2023 BMW i7 xDrive60.
2023 BMW i7 xDrive60.
2023 BMW i7 xDrive60.
2023 BMW i7 xDrive60.
We’re focusing mostly on the i7 model here, but in terms of power, the new gas 7 Series boasts an all-new V8 — a 4.4-litre twin-power turbo — equipped with a 48V mild-hybrid technology, which according to BMW generates 147 lb-ft of torque and a boost of up to 12 horsepower. Total power output is 536 hp and torque of 535 lb-ft, with an estimated zero-to-100-km/h time of 4.2 seconds. That power is channeled through an all-new eight-speed steptronic transmission. There is also an upgraded highway assist system that allows you go hands-free for twice the previous time, and up to 130 km/h.
BMW’s approach to designing and engineering the all-electric 7 Series runs counter to most every automaker out there. Instead of building a dedicated BEV architecture, the i7 shares the same platform as the gas-powered and plug-in hybrid model. The downside is that there is no frunk, and the passenger cabin isn’t as spacious as it could be with a completely flat floor to work with, but the upside is that the company hasn’t invested tens, perhaps hundreds, of millions needed to design and produce BEV-dedicated platforms, and customers essentially can choose the powertrain of their choice and still get a nearly identical 7 Series.
That philosophy will see BMW have an all-electric model in every segment by the end of 2023. Further to its electrification strategy, the BMW Group plans to build nothing but all-electric Rolls Royces and Minis by the early 2030s.
Now, about the i7’s electric powertrain. There are two electric motors – one on each axle, thus xDrive all-wheel-drive — that create a combined output of 536 horsepower and 549 lb-ft of torque. What is notable is these electric motors are designed with no rare-earth metals in their rotors. The i7 allows AC charging at a rate of up to 11 kW, while DC power can be taken on board at a rate of up to 195 kW. The size of the battery pack has not been released by BMW. Full-charge range is estimated to be 480 kilometres based on the EPA test procedures, and according to BMW the i7 xDrive60 will sprint from zero to 100 km/h in about 4.5 seconds.
2023 BMW i7 xDrive60.
2023 BMW i7 xDrive60.
2023 BMW i7 xDrive60.
2023 BMW i7 xDrive60.
2023 BMW i7 xDrive60.
2023 BMW i7 xDrive60.
2023 BMW i7 xDrive60.
2023 BMW i7 xDrive60.
Inside, the new 7 Series is more spacious than its predecessor; however the all-electric version has a slightly smaller trunk that the gas model (501 litres versus 540, the latter some 25 more litres than its predecessor). As much as the exterior of the new 7 Series repositions the iconic sedan, it is in the cabin where a new design language, based on minimalism, really redefines the model. The overall number of switches has been reduced from the previous model, although there are a few new buttons that are used to operate the all-new automatic doors. You can also open and close the four doors with the BMW app on your phone.
Some of the interior design highlights include: a re-designed steering wheel with two spokes and a flat-bottomed rim; a 12.3-inch information display behind the steering wheel, and a 14.9-inch control display screen; standard multifunction rear seats on the i7 xDrive60; and a standard Panoramic Sky Lounge LED roof on all new 7 Series models.
2023 BMW 760i xDrive.
2023 BMW 760i xDrive.
2023 BMW 760i xDrive.
2023 BMW 760i xDrive.
The architecture of the all-electric 7 Series…
…as compared to that of the plug-in hybrid model.
There is also an Executive Lounge package that includes a reclining function with integrated leg rest for the space behind the front passenger seat, plus an optionally quilted and heated armrest with glass insert and integrated smartphone tray for inductive charging. The backrest can be reclined up to 42.5 degrees, a benchmark in the segment, and individually adjustable neck cushions and increased headroom compared with the outgoing model also enhance traveling comfort.
And then there is that available 31-inch BMW Theatre Screen in the rear cabin, featuring built-in Amazon Fire TV and 8K resolution, which allows rear seat passengers to watch films and TV shows in 16:9, 21:9, or 32:9 cinemascope aspect ratios. The screen is operated by what looks like a smartphone embedded in the rear door panels, which is called BMW Touch Command.
Pre-orders for the 2023 BMW i7 xDrive60 opened in Canada on Wednesday, April 20, and first deliveries are expected in the fourth quarter of this year.
Keyword: First Look: 2023 BMW i7 xDrive60