BMW i7

Shared with the seventh-generation BMW 7-Series, the cabin of the BMW i7 is an artwork in itself, blending modern-day art with a host of tech-laden features for both front and rear seats. BMW is offering five different BMW Individual leather upholstery options to choose from, including ‘Merino’ Amarone, ‘Merino’ Smoke White, ‘Merino’ Mocha, ‘Merino’ Black and ‘Merino’ Tartufo, with fine-wood trim oak mirror finish grey-metallic high-gloss trim offered as standard.

The extravagant and opulent cabin of the BMW i7 has a huge curved display placed behind the flat-bottom high-tech two-spoke multi-functional steering wheel as its prime highlight. This curved screen incorporates a 12.3-inch full-TFT instrument console and a 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with augmented view, which are running on BMW OS 8.0 with configurable widgets. The flashy-looking dashboard of the i7 also gets an interaction bar with a faceted look below the curved display, which accommodates touch-sensitive buttons for audio and climate control.

The cabin of the BMW i7 also offers executive lounge seating with continuous leg rest for the rear seat occupants, who can also experience the extravagance of the roof-mounted and foldable 31.3-inch theatre screen for unparalleled entertainment, further accompanied by dual 5.5-inch touchscreen panels mounted behind the front seats.

The sky lounge panoramic glass roof and configurable 15-colour ambient lighting further contribute to the rich experience, and so do other features like a premium Bowers & Wilkins sound system with 18 speakers, front and rear wireless charger and powered and heated and ventilated seats with massage function. It also has four-zone automatic climate control with rear AC vents, a front armrest with storage, touchscreens on rear door panels for controlling various functions and an electrically-adjustable steering wheel with memory and roller sunblind for rear windows and windscreen. 

When the seventh-generation G70 7-Series sedan debuted, it grabbed a lot of highlights due to its bold and out-of-the-box design, which even drew in some brickbats. The overall design language looks fancy and in-your-face but is far from being elegant due to it being too loud in some places, especially at the front. 

The extremism in the overall design language of the BMW i7 is at its highest when looked from the front, with the electric 7-Series having a double kidney grille, the surrounds of which glow up while unlocking and also serve as additional lighting element while in motion. This illuminated front grille is accompanied by split all-LED Laser headlamps, which give the sedan a unique appearance. The front headlamps of the BMW i7 also have Swarovski crystal elements in the daytime running LEDs for an added touch of exclusivity and premium appeal. The front bumper here looks sleek and is garnished with blue and silver accents.

From the side, the BMW i7 looks identical to the ICE version of the BMW 7-Series, with the all-electric sedan having a stretched wheelbase and large 21-inch M light dual-tone alloy wheels. The long wheelbase, low roofline, long overhangs and stretched bonnet and boot lid make the BMW i7 look proportionate and graceful from the side. The BMW i7 also features a chrome finish for its window frame highlighting the Hofmeister kink towards the rear, which makes the side profile of the sedan look more luxurious and expensive. The doors have auto-closing and soft-close functions too, while the window panels and windscreens have comfortable laminated glass. 

Like the front profile, the rear profile of the BMW i7 looks wide and bulbous, with the sedan having sleek L-shaped combination LED tail lamps that are the same as present on the ICE version of the 7-Series sedan. The boot lid has a wide and stretched design and has a thick strip between the inner tapered edges of the LED headlamps. Like the front bumper, the rear bumper also gets contrast blue accents and silver highlights. The i7 also gets four external 12V sockets and an M Sport exterior package, which adds a chrome finish for the radiator, high gloss black door sill trim panels, M badges on front fenders, illuminated door sills with M badges and aluminium inserts, M sport brakes in dark blue colour and M high gloss shadow line. 

The BMW i7 claims to deliver a supremely plush ride quality with its intelligent electric all-wheel drive with variable torque distribution and adaptive 2-axle air suspension. With Servotronic steering assist and integral active rear-wheel steering, the i7 also has BMW Driving Experience Control for enhanced driving experience. This system has drive modes like Personal, Sport, Sport Plus, Efficient, Expressive, Relax, Art and Theatre for a wholesome experience while on the move.

The BMW i7 xDrive60 variant on sale in the Philippines gets a dual-motor setup with one motor each for front and rear wheels, which deliver a combined maximum power output of 544 bhp and a combined peak torque output of 745 Nm. Driven by a fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology with a single-speed fixed ratio automatic transmission, the i7 claims an electronically restricted top speed of 250 kmph and a 0-100 kmph sprint timing of 4.7 seconds. The 101.7kWh battery of the i7 claims a range of 590-625 km.

The plethora of safety features available in the BMW i7 xDrive60 include front and rear park assist with park distance control, active protection with attentiveness assistant, ten airbags, ABS with EBD and brake assist, cornering brake control, front and rear parking sensors, 360-degree parking camera, dynamic stability control, dynamic traction control, tyre pressure monitoring system, steering and lane control assistant, emergency stop assistant, lane change assistant, active cruise control with stop and go and lane departure warning. 

Delivering a true flagship grand experience on wheels, the BMW i7 is a top-ranked all-electric sedan, and the next-level visual drama inside-out and plenty of tech on offer make it deserving all the pennies it asks.