The highly anticipated upcoming electric version of the BMW 7-Series is almost here, with the company announcing that its unveiling will commence on April 20 at the Beijing Auto Show. The fully electric luxury sedan will be unveiled together with the entire range of the next-generation 7-series as its most powerful version. BMW have been keen to share some teaser photos that show off plenty of the i7’s design before its official debut. Though, it's been deliberately shot with a dark filter to keep details hidden until next month.
Is It An Exterior To Be Admired?
Starting with the design, the elephant in the room needs to be addressed, the most notable styling detail, the monstrous kidney grille up front. This almost hints to take inspiration from the 4-series and iX’s controversial noses. Thanks to the released images, more about the i7’s driving range estimates, futuristic interior screens, and headlights can be suggested. Just like the i4 and 4-series, which are visually identical, it can be expected that the gas-powered versions of the new 7-series will share many of the same elements as the i7. It’s expected to debut alongside the EV version, and both models will go on sale in the U.S. later this year.
BMW has estimated that the i7 will have a driving range of 305 miles on the U.S.-specific EPA cycle. That’s quite a bit behind its chief rival, the Mercedes-Benz EQS, which claims 350 miles in base EQS450 form and 340 miles with the more powerful EQS580 version. The German company describes the i7 as “the world’s first all-electric luxury sedan”, which is correct, since its Mercedes rival comes with a rear hatch.
Just How Well Has BMW Combined Car And Entertainment?
During the BMW Group Annual Conference, it was stated that the i7 ‘combines the best driving experience with the ultimate digital experience.’ According to the most recent reports, the BMW will feature a 120-kWh battery, while the high-performance variant is rumored to feature a tri-motor setup producing a combined 740 hp. Already we can expect an extremely exciting vehicle and from previous teasers, we know that the i7 will be powered by a dual-motor electric system granting an all-wheel drive. It’s possible that this new luxury car will offer both rear and four-wheel drive.
The slender LED headlights appear to be part of BMW's new styling direction, as they’ve previously been seen on the iX electric SUV. Some other sneak photos have been spotted which suggest that lighting elements like these will make their way onto other models in BMW’s lineup, such as the face lifted X7, expected to arrive anytime soon.
Entertainment And A Sublime Drive: What More Could You Want?
Besides the exterior shots, BMW has given its customers a glimpse inside the cabin. The big news is the movie-theater-style screen for rear passengers, which was earlier revealed at CES. It appears that the i7 will be the first production application - exciting! It’s a mega 31-inch high-definition screen which comes down from the roof and sits in between the front and rear seat; creating a cinema-like feel for entertainment on the go. This is a different take on the 56-inch Hyperscreen found on the dashboard of its EQS rival, with BMW focusing more on its rear passengers.
BMW has hinted at various new displays inside the i7. This is likely what the company describes as the ‘Interaction Bar’, and it appears to be a screen on the door panel with various displays and cool control functions. The motor will also have a curved display for the gauge cluster and an infotainment screen running BMW’s latest iDrive software. The i7 will also be equipped with a Sky Lounge panoramic glass roof with LED light threads, which will be interesting to see how this combines with the Theater Screen. Last but certainly not least, the driver will have access to the new ‘My Modes’ feature which gives access to different driving modes while changing the interior ambience accordingly. With the evolution of the relatively new electric vehicle continuing to expand rapidly, they tend to be more expensive than their petrol and diesel-powered equivalents, so the BMW i7 will likely carry a premium over the regular 7 series. Don’t be surprised if the i7 range hits the market at a starting price of $112,000.
It’s expected that BMW will sneakily provide more teasers of the BMW i7 before its official debut in the coming weeks. From what has been shown already, it’s clear that motor lovers can expect a whole different breed of machine, combining elegance, entertainment, and down-right brilliance.
Sources: CarAndDriver, CarScoops, Motor1