BMW has unveiled the first-ever pure electric BMW 7 Series production car – the i7.
It is the only version of the new BMW 7 Series available in the UK to begin with, while the two plug-in hybrid versions are set to follow in spring 2023.
Priced at £107,400, the i7 xDrive60 is built on BMW’s ‘CLAR’ (cluster infrastructure) platform catering for all-electric drivetrains.
The electric i7’s exterior styling closely follows the internal combustion 7 Series with the same large and backlit front kidney grille arrangement as well as the new split headlight design.
There are two electric motors. The motor driving the rear wheels generates a peak output of 313hp, while the unit on the front axle produces 258hp. Together the drive units deliver a maximum output of 544hp and posts overall torque of 745Nm.
This gives it a 0-62mph sprint of 4.7 seconds and a top speed of 149mph.
The slim high-voltage battery is situated low down in the vehicle floor and provides 101.7kWh of usable energy. It can therefore travel between 367 and 388 WLTP miles on a single charge.
The combined charging unit in the BMW i7 xDrive60 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. This allows 106 miles (WLTP) of range to be added in ten minutes at a high-power charging station.
For technology, one of the most notable features is the optional 8k, 31.3-inch ‘BMW Theatre Screen’. This drops down from the car’s ceiling and is powered by Amazon Fire tablet software.
A 36-speaker Bower & Wilkins surround sound system is available with this. But the standard-fit sound system from the same company also features 18 speakers.
In the front is a fully digital screen consisting of a 12.3-inch information display behind the steering wheel and a 14.9-inch control display. The boot of the BMW i7 has 500 litres of load space.
First UK deliveries are expected to commence from December 2022.