The new BMW 7 Series flagship will be revealed on 20 April
- Electric i7 will be sold alongside the next-generation 7 Series
- Battery and motor from iX SUV with a 400+ mile range
- Large illuminated front grilles
The new BMW 7 Series is to be officially unveiled on Wednesday 20 April, and will be the first iteration of the long-standing model to be offered with an electric powertrain. The new 7 Series will be available with 48-volt mild and plug-in hybrid powertrains, while electric models will adopt the new ‘BMW i7’ nameplate.
Both cars are expected to be on sale before the end of the year and will act as direct rivals for other luxury flagships such as the electric Mercedes EQS, Porsche Taycan and Tesla Model S, as well as the combustion-engined Audi A8 and Mercedes S-Class.
Images released by BMW show that the new car will feature an illuminated version of the iconic kidney grille; this will be stretched even wider than they are on the BMW iX and BMW 4 Series, which may actually result in a less challenging look than those cars. There will also be slim LED headlights with crystal technology available. Underneath the grille will sit a full-width air intake.
Buyers of the new BMW 7 Series and BMW i7 will be able to specify a 31-inch Theatre Screen system for rear-seat occupants, which appears to hang from the roof like a television. We expect the interior will look similar to the iX, with quite a minimalist design, plus there could be the option to add distinctive artwork to the dashboard like in a Rolls-Royce – a company owned by BMW.
As BMW’s flagship saloons, both the forthcoming 7 Series and i7 will be full of the manufacturer’s latest technology. One of the main focus areas will be autonomous driving, and we’d expect the i7 to feature enough gadgetry to be able to drive itself for long periods of time, where legal. This development mule looks to be adorned with an array of sensors and cameras.
Both cars will sit on BMW’s CLAR platform, which can accommodate both an electric powertrain and conventional engines. There will be a wide range of power options for the new 7 Series, including petrol or diesel with 48-volt mild-hybrid hardware, and a plug-in hybrid. The i7 will use BMW's fifth-generation eDrive technology. This integrates the electric motor, electronics and transmission into a single unit, reducing total weight and size.
Full performance details have yet to be released but to be competitive, the i7 will need a range of at least 400 miles. The Tesla Model S currently offers a range of up to 390 miles, while the Mercedes EQS manages nearly 500. The BMW iX SUV can manage a range of up to 380, so the more aerodynamic i7 should manage that with similar hardware. Given that all the power in electric cars is available instantly, we expect the new i7 to be blisteringly quick in a straight line.
BMW 7 Series prototype drive by Sean Carson
The 7 Series has long been the flagship of the BMW range and while its luxury price tag makes it unattainable for most buyers, it remains incredibly important as each new car sets a standard for the rest of the brand’s lineup.
This latest-generation 7 Series represents the on-going shift into a new age as all models feature at least some form of electrification, whether that be mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid or the fully electric model that’ll be dubbed the BMW i7.
We got to drive two prototype versions: one an eight-cylinder mild-hybrid petrol, and the other the electric i7, to see whether BMW has managed to reinvent the iconic limousine in a way that looks to the future while also not forgetting the brand’s history of building cars that are luxurious and great to drive.
Kicking things off with the i7, this is the first model to receive this nameplate and is likely to be offered in three different versions that are set to bring varying levels of power and range. The mid-range model that we drove – likely to be badged the i7 xDrive60 – used an electric motor on each axle to give it four-wheel-drive and predicted a range of just under 300 miles from 98% charge. Looking at the recorded consumption figure of 1.77 miles per kWh, we can estimate that this model will use a hefty 120kWh battery and will offer a claimed range of over 400 miles when not driven as exuberantly as we did during our test. It will also be available with 195kW charging – allowing for a 10-80% top-up in around half an hour.
Of course, being an electric car, the i7 was virtually silent out on the road which further added to the cosseting nature of this flagship limousine. Yet, a simple tap of the accelerator pedal was a quick reminder of the mountain of power available from the electric motor. If that wasn’t enough, the Boost mode adds an extra bit of grunt for around 10 seconds, perfect for making a swift overtake on the motorway.
On the other hand, the muscular eight-cylinder mild-hybrid almost appeared coarse in comparison. Although the inherent rumble of the engine under acceleration sounded good and it delivered power smoothly, the added noise and interruption between gear shifts from the automatic gearbox meant the petrol-powered 7 Series felt less seamless than its electric sibling. Plus, while its engine braking function is one of the best on the market, it can’t quite match the one-pedal regenerative braking ability of the i7 which simultaneously enhances efficiency as well as driver comfort.
Despite all the mechanical changes for this new model, the 7 Series maintains its ability to be both a comfortable cruiser and a competent sports car all in one package. The 7 Series’ new adaptive air suspension and anti-roll control allows the car to waft down the road and iron out any bumps that may disturb any chauffeured executive.
However, flick the drive mode selector into ‘Sport’ mode and the dampers tense up slightly to provide sharper handling. This is bolstered by a rear-axle steering system which makes the 7 Series feel more direct at low speeds and stable on the motorway.
As is typical for a flagship saloon such as this, the new BMW 7 Series and i7 both showcase some of the brand’s latest technology. Both cars will be available with Level 3 autonomous driving technology which should allow for full hands-free driving at speeds of up-to 37mph – although this is likely to be an expensive option.
The new cars will also debut BMW’s updated Parking Assistant Pro pack as a paid over-the-air update after launch. This will be able to identify designated parking spaces, rather than just gaps between vehicles. The car will also ‘remember’ up to 10 different tricky manoeuvres such as pulling out of a tight driveway, and will be able to execute them autonomously.
As for interior technology, most of the car’s cabin was camouflaged for the prototype drive. However a sneaky peek underneath the covering revealed a curved iDrive instrument panel, similar to that found on the BMW iX. As mentioned, the 7 Series can also feature a new drop-down 31-inch ‘Theatre Screen’ for the rear passengers – the largest of its kind fitted to a production car.
Verdict:
Our first drive in the new BMW 7 Series truly does feel like a modern interpretation of an old-fashioned luxury limousine. While the mild-hybrid model is impressive, the electric i7 steals the show with its unrivalled smoothness and proves that the iX’s success was not just a fluke. Comfortable, powerful and full of tech, the i7 is ready to take the fight to the Mercedes EQS and Tesla Model S when it debuts later in April.
Keyword: New BMW 7 Series and electric i7: specs, release date and prototype drive