It will be the strongest member of the 7 Series family.
BMW has been actively evaluating the i7 over the past few months, and it appears that a full debut will be coming soon. A new press release (353 pages) confirms that the electric sedan will be available in April. Although no exact date has been given, we know that the global premiere will take place at locations in New York City, Munich, and Beijing.
BMW has officially announced the following: “All of our BMW employees are excited about the launch of the new BMW 7 Series in the market this year. It is progressive, digital and innovative, and it is the only luxury sedan that offers customers the option of a variety of drivetrain options. The BMW i7, which is the most powerful variant, is completely electric. It will be presented in April in New York, Munich and Beijing to represent the major regions around the globe.
The i7 already sounds very exciting. Previous teasers have shown that the vehicle will be powered via a dual motor electric system, giving it an all-wheel drive. The flagship i7, if our initial information is correct, will share its powertrain (in Sport mode), of 610 horsepower (449 kilowatts) & 811 pound-feet (1.100 Newton-meters). This will allow for two electric motors that produce a peak output of 610 horsepower (449 kilowatts), and instant torque of 811 pound-feet (1.100 Newton-meters). BMW has not yet stated that the electric 7 Series will be powered by more than 600 horsepower.
The fact that the 7 Series’ i7 is the most powerful member of the family will make it interesting to see how powerful these combustion-powered models of the new 7 Series. Different reports claim that the range-topping 760i will feature an electrified V8 engine producing more than 600 horsepower (447 kW), but this has not been confirmed.
New teaser images show that the BMW i7’s front design will look very similar to the BMW iX, which has two large kidney grilles. BMW claims the electric sedan will offer the “best driving experience” in its segment, according to a video. The i7 will be equipped with Level 3 autonomous driving hardware, so those who don’t want to spend time behind the wheel can opt for the Bavarian firm.
According to the automaker, the i7 will offer a range of up to 305 miles on a single charge (580 – 610 km according WLTP). These are estimates, not certified numbers. They are based on vehicle development.
BMW is now conducting final testing of the first-ever BMW i7, and it’s only a few short weeks before its official debut. The presentation of BMW’s financial results also confirmed that the iX1 will be coming later in the year to expand the company’s BEV range. Side note: BMW shipped 103,854 fully electric vehicles worldwide last year, an increase of 133.2 percent over 2020.