Irritation has been one of the most important hallmarks at BMW for some time. No wonder that the new, highest trump card in Munich’s hand also takes this stylistic device to the extreme: The new BMW 7 Series, which is also the electrically powered i7, has a completely new face and hidden headlights. But what initially causes confusion soon triggers astounding visual satisfaction – and opens the view to a thoroughly fascinating car.
The new 7 Series in brief: It is being built exclusively in Dingolfing as a purely electric i7, as a six-cylinder plug-in hybrid and as a combustion engine with a diesel or petrol engine. Of the combustion engines, we only get the six-cylinder mild hybrid diesel in Europe; Six and eight-cylinder petrol engines are withheld from us. All have the same platform. Unlike Mercedes with the EQS, BMW does not subordinate everything to aerodynamics when designing the body of the i7. This has many advantages (not just optical), but also brings a drag coefficient of 0.24 instead of 0.20. The design needs a second lookWho would have thought that the large kidneys weren’t the most polarizing element on the front of the new 7 Series BMWs would be? Despite their conspicuousness, they almost fade into the background because the characteristic headlights have disappeared from the face. To be more precise, they have shrunk to the width of a gap and only represent the LED daytime running lights or the turn signals. However, in a double headlight look and optionally with Swarovski crystals. The main headlights are behind a flat glass surface underneath and only appear when they are in be put into operation. Especially with a dark paint finish, they are practically undetectable and are downright hidden. Unlike the predecessor, the kidneys on the new 7 series are harmoniously integrated into the front, and all lines seem to lead into them. This makes it difficult even for traditionalists to express genuine criticism of the design. Yes, we have already seen these high daytime running lights on the Jeep Cherokee (which quickly lost them), Hyundai Kona, Citroen C5 X, etc., but in conjunction with BMW’s classic Shark Nose, a well-designed front and, in addition, with the glowing kidney frame the impression of coherence grows the longer you look at the car. In reality, probably even more so than in photos. The rear is much more classic, but still fundamentally different from its predecessor, mainly because the roof line remains very high for a long time, so that it is easy to get in. From this you can already see that BMW is focusing much more on luxury than on a dynamic appearance. The fact that the rear bumper area is still so bulky is mainly due to insurance regulations: “If it were flatter, the insurance would cost around 10,000 euros more per year. Rolls Royce doesn’t take anything like that into account, a BMW customer isn’t willing to pay for it,” explained a spokesman at the advance presentation in Munich. A logical decision, because the possible size of the battery depends on the wheelbase (housed between the axles in the floor). At 3.22 meters, this measures a track more than the long version of the predecessor. The whole car stretches to 5.39 meters and grows by 5 centimeters to 1.95 meters wide and 1.54 meters high. The wheels measure at least 19 inches as standard, with the option of up to 22 inches. It goes without saying that the interior space is more than opulent. And in contrast to the EQS, you don’t have to make any compromises on the back seats, despite the battery under your feet. A rolling drive-in cinema flagship in the new interior is the optional “theater screen” for the passengers in the second row. When not in use, this 31.3-inch touch display in 32:9 format with 8K resolution covers the standard glass panorama roof (which is optionally “interwoven” with LED light threads), but offers a first-class cinematic experience when folded down: Amazon Fire TV is integrated and intended for 4K streaming. The optional Bowers & Wilkins sound probably even beats a real cinema, with 1965 watts, shakers in the seats and 36 loudspeakers, four of them in the roof lining (standard: 18 loudspeakers, 655 watts). The on-board entertainment can be operated via 5, 5-inch screens in the rear doors, which also control the lights, seat position and telephone. Yes, for the first time you can also use the on-board system to make phone calls from the back seat.The interior Thank God the interior isn’t as spaced out as in the BMW iX. There is a classic center console, the iDrive controller is also retained, as are some direct access buttons. The operating system is the current BMW OS 8, which takes some getting used to. The way the dashboard is built in front of the driver is a bit reminiscent of Rolls-Royce. We already know the curved display from the iX and the revised X7. It combines a 12.3-inch speedometer screen and a 14.9-inch touchscreen into one area. In contrast to the aforementioned brothers, however, the panel is attached in such a way that it is free on the right side and no bulky stand spoils the impression. One of many examples on the new 7 Series, where designers have done a great job down to the last detail. The standard four-zone air conditioning system does not have any visible air outlets. Instead, the air comes from innovative joint vents. Only small nubbels can still be seen, which control the direction of the air flow. The temperature is set on the display, the fan speed – as well as a few other functions – via touch fields/sliders on the so-called “BMW Interaction Bar” (sometimes difficult to see in daylight). “Cut” like a smoked crystal, this clear plastic bar also performs multiple lighting functions. For example, it lights up differently (partly with color gradients) depending on the driving mode or can also flash conspicuously when a call comes in. The material appearance is probably the best we’ve ever seen in a BMW, right down to the high-pile carpet, which in turn is reminiscent of Rolls -Royce remembers.Only a good half of the drives come to usThe first drive that comes onto the market with us in December is one of the two purely electric: The BMW i7 xDrive60 has two electric motors, which together have 400 kW/544 hp and 745 Nm provide. They use it to propel the luxury colossus, which weighs almost 2.7 tons according to DIN, to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds. The speed limit is only reached at 240 km/h. BMW specifies the WLTP consumption as 19.6-18.4 kWh. At 101.7 kWh net, the battery is slightly smaller than in the iX, and the charging power is also a touch lower at 195 kW. In ten minutes you should be able to “refuel” a range of 170 km. A more powerful version, the i7 M70 xDrive with 485 kW/660 hp, is to be introduced later In-line six-cylinder diesel mild hybrid drive. A small part of the power comes from the electric motor integrated into the eight-speed automatic transmission. Consumption 6.9-5.9 l/100 km, sprint value 6.3 seconds. The two plug-in hybrids with a system output of 490 or 571 hp and an all-electric WLTP range of at least 80 will appear a little later in the spring kilometers. Two in-line six-cylinders with 272 and 380 hp and a 544 hp V8 will be built, but not offered in Europe. Prices for Austria have not yet been determined, but there is an orientation: The BMW 740d xDrive will probably be available in Germany from just under 100,000 euros are in the price list. At least almost 140,000 euros are due for the i7. This, in turn, will probably also apply to Austria, because there is no NoVA. Bottom line, BMW has reinvented the 7 Series to a certain extent. They value luxury far more than they used to and even want to set the benchmark (this side of Rolls-Royce, at least). In Munich, they describe the BMW i7 as the only electric luxury sedan there is. We are curious how Mercedes will counter this statement. Now it remains to be seen whether BMW’s new flagship will live up to the high expectations that it arouses with its mere appearance, but also with pithy marketing announcements. The 7 Series should offer full luxury, but also have a lot to offer dynamically.
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