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The BMW 7 Series is entering its seventh generation with the arrival of the new 2023 model, and one could argue that, even with all its previous icons, it is the most important 7 ever. For the first time since its debut in 1977, the gas-powered 7 Series comes with its electric counterpart, the BMW i7.
It’s all part of BMW’s push towards electrification. CEO Oliver Zipse said that new EV models will come “thick and fast” starting next year, as the company is fully committed to the Paris Climate agreement and plans to move towards a fully electric lineup in the future, following Rolls-Royce and Mini before then. All told, the BMW Group could have as many as 10 million battery-electric vehicles on the road by 2030, with the i7 joining the previous iX and i4.
You may recall that we got the chance to sample gas and electric versions of the Series 7 in prototype form earlier this month. But the short time behind the wheel provides a quick overview of what to expect. Today, BMW has unveiled its two flagship models in full, and as Zipse puts it, the pair represent “technology marvel at its best.”
Two Gas, One EV
BMW will offer two gas-powered versions of the 7 Series at launch: a basic six-cylinder model and a more powerful V8 version. The base 740i uses an upgraded iteration of the BMW 3.0-liter inline-six turbocharged engine, now with the addition of a 48-volt mild hybrid assist.
Total output for the 740i comes to 375 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, which marks a 40 hp increase over the previous model. With a 48-volt system at full tilt, the 740i can make short trips with a maximum torque figure of 398 lb-ft, allowing it to hit 60 miles per hour in 5.0 seconds.
The high-end 760i xDrive model, meanwhile, sports a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine with the same mild hybrid assist, delivering a total output of 536 hp and 553 lb-ft. That allows the 760i to hit 60 in just 4.2 seconds. Both cars use the same eight-speed automatic transmission found in other BMW products.
As for the electric 7er – officially dubbed the i7 xDrive60 – the EV uses two electric motors and one battery with 101.7 kilowatt-hours of energy that can be used to produce a combined output of 536 hp and 549 lb-ft. That means the i7 can soar to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds and at a limited top speed of 149 mph. The gas-powered model, meanwhile, is limited to the 155.
BMW estimates that the total EPA driving distance for the i7 xDrive60 will be around 300 miles in the US, but that figure is not officially set. And for maximum charging, the i7 can boost speeds of up to 195.0 kilowatts on a DC fast charging station, allowing it to cover a distance of 80 miles in ten minutes. Even better, i7 owners in the US will get unlimited free charging on Electrify America for the first three years of ownership.
Every 2023 Series 7 gets a standard four-corner air suspension system with automatic self-leveling and electronically controlled dampers. Adaptive suspension lowers the Series 7 by 0.4 inches in Sport mode or raises it by 0.8 inches for rough roads and minor obstacles. Furthermore, the i7 automatically lowers a little over 75 mph for aerodynamics. And with the addition of integral adaptive steering, which gives the car more precision at higher speeds, the 7 Series has rear-wheel steering at speeds of up to 3.5 degrees.
Bold Exterior, Technology Focused Cab
Visually, the new 7 Series is very different from the luxury sedan it replaces. The new front end (first seen on the updated X7) is the focal point, featuring a large kidney grille and a new split headlight treatment that places the headlights in the center of the bumper and two-element LED headlights near the hood. . On the i7, blue accents line the base fascia, while the gas-powered car gets the standard M Sport styling.
A no-cost option on the i7 xDrive60, the M Sport bit gives the Series 7 a more aggressive design up front, 20 and 21-inch M Sport wheel options are available, and the standard Shadowline trim, which darkens some of the exterior. accent.
Inside, the 7 Series adopts the latest iteration of BMW Live Cockpit Plus with the latest iDrive 8 software. Front and center is the new Curved Display, which is part of a single glass that houses two plus-sized displays: a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster behind the wheel and a 14.9-inch center touchscreen. And the new Interaction Bar, exclusive to the 7, features a crystal surface with capacitive touch controls for things like ventilation and climate control functions.
But the second row of the new 7 Series is where you want to be. An optional 31.3-inch 8K Theater Display Screen sits between the two front seats, giving rear passengers access to the built-in Amazon Fire TV and other online services. Each rear passenger can control the screen either by touching it or via two 5.5-inch tablets mounted on the door panels.
Added the optional Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System replacing the standard 18 in-car speakers with 36 high-quality speakers. Four of those speakers are even integrated into the headliner, and all 36 speakers offer full 4D audio functionality that uses magnetically controlled vibrations for enhanced bass.
Each 7 gets the standard suite of BMW active driver assistance functions, but for the first time, the 7 Series gets the new “Level 2 Plus” hands-free driving system. We tested the system in an early prototype and found it quite intuitive; excellent lane centering technology and automatic lane change function provide as much functionality as Cadillac’s Super Cruise and Ford’s BlueCruise.
BMW is also expanding the Parking Assistant feature already available on the 7 Series and i7. Now, this system enables advanced Smartphone Remote Parking, as well as a new Reverse Assist that allows the i7 to self-reverse from difficult situations without requiring steering input from the driver.
Price For Plug-In
The first units of the new 7 Series ship shipped this November, with the base 740i starting at $94,295, including a $995 destination fee. While the V8-powered 760i xDrive costs $114,995, and the electric i7 is $120,295 out of the box.
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