BMW’s Flagship 7 Series’ ICE And Electric Siblings Bring The Theatre To Your Back Seat

• BMW 7 Series launched at Rs 1.7 crore (ex-showroom).

• BMW i7 priced at Rs 1.95 crore (ex-showroom).

• Both sedans feature the same styling but with EV-specific design cues for the i7.

• The electric i7 boasts a WLTP claimed range of up to 625km.

• The 7 Series will get a diesel variant later this year.

• Features multiple screens including a 8K 31.3-inch theatre screen at the rear and ADAS features.

• ICE-powered 7 series is a CKD unit, while the i7 is a fully imported unit.

BMW seems to be on a roll with new launches in India. Not even a month has passed since the launch of the XM and facelifted M340i, and we’ve now got the 7 series in its latest incarnation. Both the ICE-powered and electric i7 luxury sedans have been launched, priced at Rs 1.7 crore and Rs 1.95 crore, respectively. While the former is a CKD unit assembled here in India, the i7 is a fully imported unit. Deliveries for both will begin from March 2023.

Screens galore!

The cabin of the luxury sedan leans on the lines of a concept and we say this because it looks way ahead of its time. The approach is brand new and takes the use of screens to the fullest on the inside to a whole new level. First up, you get the curved display comprising a 12.3-inch digital driver’s screen and a 14.9-inch infotainment system.

If that isn't enough, there’s a 31.3-inch 8K screen waiting for you to cater to all your theatre needs at the rear. Even all the controls for the rear seats are to be operated via the 5.5-inch displays integrated into the rear doors. We hope you like screens because if not, you’ll have a tough time spending time inside the new 7 series.

The 7 Series gets all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a bimmer flagship. But there are things that stand out and make you take notice. Forget ventilated and heated seats; you get heated panels for the armrests on both the door panels and the underside of the instrument panel. 

Other highlights include the panoramic glass sunroof with LED light threads, autonomous driving and parking functions, executive lounge seats, and the invisible air vents integrated within the interaction bar (used for controlling various functions, including aircon) running the width of the dashboard.

Design

Controversial and unmistakable BMW. Both the ICE and electric sedan share the same design but with EV-specific styling elements for the latter. Inspiration is derived from the X7 SUV, which can be seen in the split headlight setup at the front. BMW’s signature kidney grille takes up most of the real estate up front and the styling is polarizing, to say the least.

However, it becomes a lot less polarizing coming to the sides where you’re met with a rather coherent profile with smooth-flowing lines and flush door handles. Take a moment and you’ll realise it’s a humongous car and that fact is backed up by its wheelbase that spans across 3.2 meters. 

The rear is rather conventional with a sleek pair of split LED taillamps and protruding bumper with horizontal reflector elements. The only differentiating factor between the gas guzzler and electric sedan is the presence of blue bits around the front bumper, side skirts, and rear bumper and a different set of alloy wheels.

Powertrains

First up the electric i7. It gets its puissance from dual e-motors producing a combined 544PS, which takes the sedan 0-100kmph in just over 4.5 seconds! It is fed using a 101.7kWh battery pack that offers a WLTP-claimed range of 590-625km. Its battery infrastructure supports DC-fast charging of up to 195kW using which, its battery can be juiced up for a range of 170km in just 10 minutes.

The 7 Series on the other hand gets a 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-six engine, mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox producing 380PS and 520Nm of torque which can be boosted up to 540PS with the help of the 48-V mild-hybrid system. The flagship also gets a V8 with an output of 544PS and 750Nm, but unfortunately, it's only available in markets abroad. As for the diesel, it'll be introduced later this year.

Rivals

The electric i7 flagship sedan rivals the likes of the Mercedes-Benz EQS, while the standard 7 Series takes the fight to the Audi A8L and Mercedes S-Class. Deliveries for the 7 Series siblings will begin from March 2023.