BMW has just lifted the veil on the i7 Protection, a luxury and fully armored version of its electric sedan. Reserved above all for heads of state and wealthy people, this vehicle offers complete protection against attacks with firearms or explosives.
In March 2023, we were able to lay our hands on the BMW i7 xDrive60, the new premium electric sedan from the German manufacturer. This limousine impressed us with its comfort on board, its high performance despite its heavy weight, and the armada of new on-board technologies, such as this 31.3-inch 8K panoramic touchscreen television which covers almost – entire cabin.
A few months earlier, namely in June 2022, the German brand had revealed that it also had other plans for the i7. Indeed, the luxury electric sedan will also be available in a version stamped Protection, in other words 100% bulletproof and explosive proof. Yes, in case you didn’t know, BMW has been manufacturing security vehicles for 45 years now and has great expertise in the field.
BMW lifts the veil on the final version of the i7 Protection
However, the development of this BMW i7 Protection is now complete, as BMW has just announced in an official press release. The new BMW i7 Protection is the very first armored and 100% electric car manufactured by the manufacturer. Like its thermal counterpart (the BMW Serie 7 Protection), this exceptional car is equipped with a armored steel body called BMW Protection Core. This “armour” protects the doors, the basement and the roof against any type of attack, whether by bullets, explosives, drones or fragmentation grenades.
In addition, the windows are equipped with a protective glass classified VPAM 10, the highest level of protection for protection vehicles dedicated to civilian populations. In fact, they can resist to large caliber impacts such as 7.62X54 R. The vehicle also benefits from the PAS 300 standard, which guarantees its resistance to explosives. Besides, the i7 Protection also comes with a self-sealing tankwhich prevents fuel from leaking and causing a fire after sustaining damage.
Performance hampered by armor weight
Regarding the technical characteristics, the electric armored sedan shares some similarities with the most powerful consumer electric model in the range, the BMW i7 M70 XDrive. Thus, we find these two electric motors for a combined power of 544 hp and a maximum torque of 549 lb-ft. Inevitably, the overweight caused by the shielding impacts performance: 0 to 100 km/h takes 9 seconds (compared to 4.5 seconds on the M70), while the top speed is limited to 160 km/h.
This i7 Protection will be manufactured at the BMW Group factory in Dingolfing in Germany, the brand’s largest production facility on the Old Continent. It will be presented to the general public at the Munich Auto Show in early September 2023.
Source: BMW