Comprehensively Re-fettled BMW Seven Series Even More Upmarket
BMW’s eighth generation 7 Series limousine has been re-engineered from the ground up to shove it further upmarket than ever. Significantly larger, more luxurious and more spacious, the newcomer celebrates 45-years of Seven in Rolls Royce style.
Seven is Bigger and Bolder than Ever
Featuring a bold new look based on customer feedback from China to the US, the new 7 Series is immediately different to look at. “We wanted to give the new model a more striking appearance,” 7 Series project boss Robert Kahlenberg points out. “Customers in our largest markets are now younger and demand a more contemporary look than we’re used to in Europe.”
7’s ‘Iconic Lit’ double element grille is now even larger than before. It also carries over the new separated hadlamp look. With the LED DRLs above and the main beams from this week’s X7. To add greater presence to the even more defined long-bonnet three-box silhouette. Two feature lines create a pronounced shoulder, while internal touchpads replace traditional doorhandles. Seven’s boot line angles down slightly to iX-like LED taillights.
A technological tour de force to tackle limousines like the Mercedes S-Class, Audi A8 and Tesla Model S, the new 7 comes in three performance-inspired M Sport, M Sport Pro and M Performance styling packages. With the additional choice of chromed or blackened trims.
Seven Even Packs in a ‘Cinema Screen’
7 Series packs in several recent new BMW gadgets. Including a curved digital display running the latest iDrive 8 operating system atop a new style dashboard. It features a full-width light band housing both a 12.3″ instrument display and 14.9″ infotainment screen. There’s a new flat-bottom steering wheel and a new control panel with a gear selector, a traditional rotary iDrive controller. And other touch-sensitive controls. Options include a cool 31.3in, 8K rear cabin Amazon Fire TV ‘cinema’ screen.
Seven is set to arrive in a range of mild-hybrid petrol and diesel, plug-in hybrid and pure-electric drivetrains powering both axles across the board later this year. The model mix will be market related. There will be no petrol engines European markets. They get new petrol-electric plug-in hybrids with an electric range of over 50 miles.
The range is headlined by the new bi-motor 395 kW i7 xDrive60. It will travel up to 625 km on a charge i7 to rival the Mercedes-Benz EQS and Porsche Taycan. The i7 shares the iX xDrive60’s twin 185 kW front and 223 kW rear electric motor set-up with 735 Nm twist. It is good for 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds and a limited 245 km/h top speed.
ELECTRIC SEVEN COMES FIRST
The electric Seven will arrive first, powered by a 101.7 kWh lithium ion battery pack mounted in its floor. It delivers combined consumption of between 18.4 and 19.6kWh/100km and a tight 80 km, or 12% range variation. AC charging up to 11 kW on AC. Or 195 kW on a DC system makes for a claimed 175 km range from a 10-minute charge. Battery temperature can be more precisely controlled, with more detailed charger information available on the car’s sat-nav.
Upgraded adaptive regenerative brakes take downhill sections and traffic lights into account on a planned route to ensure optimal regeneration. The ‘Gen 5’ electric powertrain does not contain any ‘rare earth’ material. Its battery cells have been manufactured using ‘green energy’. Traditional diesel and petrol-electric plug-in hybrid Sevens will follow. A second, even more powerful 440 kW i7 M70 xDrive EV will also come mid-’23. It also has with ‘a substantial increase in torque ‘to rival the AMG EQS 53
The regular range will start with a 220 kW 670 Nm 740d xDrive. It has a newly developed Euro-6D compliant mild-hybrid assisted turbocharged 3-litre straight-six diesel. It’s good for 100 km/h in 6.2 second and a limited 250 km/h top end. And economy as good as 4.9 l/100 km. The petrol-electric 360 kW 700 Nm 750e xDrive, and 420 kW 800 Nm M760e xDrive use BMW’s latest turbo 3-litre straight-six petrol engine. Both have a gearbox-mounted electric motor for 4.9 and 4.3 second 0-100 pace, and 4.1 and 4.5 l/100, respectively.
Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid, Electric – Pick Your DrivE
The battery electric i7 is set apart by a blanked-off grille and BMW i logo. Along with unique bumpers and sills. Six-cylinder 735i and 740i models and a 760i xDrive V8-powered will be sold in some markets. The new Seven has an adaptive damped air suspension that will lift the car by 20 mm on rough roads. It also has latest Integral Active four-wheel Steering, while optional active roll stabilisation uses electric motors to suppress body roll.
Based on BMW’s heavily reworked CLAR platform it features a new material mix that includes traditional steel, aluminium and titanium without any loss in rigidity. Wheel sizes spread from 19 to 22 inches. Seven is 130 mm longer at 5.39 m, 48 mm broader at 1.95 m. And 51 mm taller, at 1.54 m. Seven now only comes in one 3.2 m wheelbase — or 5 mm longer than the old long-wheelbase model. Boot capacity varies according to the driveline. and your Seven will even tug a 2,100 kg trailer.
