Following the launch of the seventh-gen 7 Series PHEVs, BMW sparks up the Malaysian market once again with the new all-electric BMW i7.
A flagship model of the 7 Series line-up, the e-luxury saloon comes decked out in the M Sport Package (exterior), and underpins the fifth-gen BMW eDrive technology.
Offered in one variant (BMW i7 xDrive 60 M Sport), it tags at MYR 707,250 (standard warranty - two years) and at MYR 729,800 (extended warranty - five years).
Prices are on-the-road and without insurance. The latter includes a free service package, BMW Roadside Assistance, BMW Service Online and BMW Group Loyalty+ Mobile App - BMW Privileges Card.
Eight exterior colours. Oxide Grey, Brooklyn Grey, Mineral White, Sophisto Grey, Aventurine Red, Black Sapphire, Tanzanite Blue (+MYR 6,300), and Dravit Grey (+MYR 6,300).
Weighing in at 2,715 KG, the new BMW i7 is 5,391 MM long, 1,950 MM wide, 1,544 MM tall, and has a wheelbase spanning 3,215 MM.
Imposingly commanding, it radiates a muscularly luxurious and elegant demeanour, with its long front overhang and dynamically stretched cabin.
Tall and upright, its front-end is angularly-flowed with seamless lines emphasising on the BMW Iconic Glow kidney grille (LED illuminated frame).
Accentuating the layout is a sportily-styled M Sport bumper, detailed with horizontal M high-gloss Shadowline, and M high-gloss black side sills.
Portraying an equally commanding appeal, the rear-end is toned and expensive-looking, with horizontal lines highlighting its width.
Minimalistic with clean surfaces, it features the BMW insignia top and centre, which has the reverse camera washer nozzle integrated for a seamless look.
Akin to the front, it sees a sportily-styled M Sport bumper, detailed with chrome trims and blue elements.
Contributing to its focused looking outlook is a pair of inward-tilted, ultra-slim and slit-like split headlamps.
Fitted are BMW Iconic Glow Crystal headlamps, featuring full adaptive LED units with Swarovski crystal-embedded LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL).
Slim, sharp and elongated, the L-shaped tail lamps with a top-chrome-lining on the housing hold a very striking presence. Fitted are LED units.
The side mirrors are electronically adjusted and folded. They come with Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) indicators and an Expanded Exterior Mirror Package.
Sportily luxurious, it glides on a set of 21-Inch M Aerodynamic, 909 M Multicolour Jet Black 3D-polished light-alloy rims, wrapped in 255/40 R21 (front) and 285/35 R21 (rear) tyres.
Cockpit of the new BMW i7 is uber premium with high levels of hand-craftsmanship, where the dash is cloaked in M signature high-gloss fine-wood trim in fine-line black with metal effect highlights.
Main focus is the BMW Curved Display, which is paired to a new backlit BMW Interaction Bar (multi-function control). The latter, horizontally striking across the entire dash with crystal jewellery-like finish, serves as the centrepiece.
Complementing the layout is the exclusive ‘CraftedClarity’ crystal glass trim, outfitted to the fore-and-aft seat adjustment switch, the BMW Controller, the volume control, the Start/Stop button, and the gear selector switch.
Overall, the cockpit’s arrangement is both driver- and passenger-oriented, ergonomically-designed with most accessibilities having very easy reachability.
One half of the BMW Curved Display, it sees a fully digital 12.3-Inch LCD high-resolution instrument cluster with a Heads-Up Display (HUD).
Featuring the BMW Live Cockpit Professional, it runs on the latest BMW Operating System 8 (BMW OS 8), supporting the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant.
Luxuriously upholstered, the interior’s BMW ‘Merino’ leather comes in multiple hues. Black, White, Amarone (deep-red), and Tartufo (caramel-like).
Fitted in the front and rear are M Multifunction seats with electronic adjustments, active cooling, and heating and massage (rear seats) functions.
Then, exclusive is the rear Executive Lounge Seating with individually adjustable seats and backrest angles, heel rest, lumbar support, and memory function.
A fully-automated setup, all seating configurations can be controlled via electronic switches, or the infotainment system.
Alternatively, courtesy of the BMW Theatre Screen setup, it can be done via the BMW Touch Command (rear door-integrated touchscreens).
Completing the luxurious ambience is the ‘Sky Lounge’ panoramic glass roof with UV-protected laminated glass structure.
Unique, it is accentuated by light graphics that illuminate a silk-screened pattern (side-integrated LED modules).
Courtesy of its extended-wheelbase cabin, it offers very generous head, shoulder and leg rooms, thus front and rear occupants have no issues with space.
Notably, the rear offers ample movements with its lounge setting that features a fully relaxed seating arrangement (Executive Lounge Seating).
Entirely, the cabin’s spaciousness is majorly due to its presidential size (large dimensions), an elongated and widened build.
Equipped is a flat-bottomed two-spoke M Leather steering wheel, with multi-switches (media, vehicle settings), column adjustments (tilt, telescopic), and an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system.
It has numerous storage areas including side door pockets, compartmentalised and caverned spaces in the centre console, armrest pockets and a decent-sized glove box.
There are four cup holders, two in the front centre console and two in the rear seating’s centre armrest. The latter is hidden until revealed (power-operated).
Bottle holders are also present. There are four in total with each located at the side door pockets.
Strategically placed around the cabin, both variants feature several charging outlets, such as USB ports, 12-V power sockets, and wireless charging trays.
The boot features a remote-control activation with contactless opening function (powered-tailgate), and has 575-Litres of cargo space.
Also equipped are automatic doors, enabling auto open/close of all four doors via the vehicle key, Control Display, voice command, or the door itself.
The new BMW i7 features the following suites of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).
Under Driving Assistant Professional, grouped are Lane Change Warning, Rear Crossing-Traffic Warning, Rear Collision Prevention, Exit Warning, Active Cruise Control with Stop/Go function, Speed Limit Info, Automatic Speed Limit Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Front/Rear Crossing Traffic Warning, and Evasion Assistant.
Whereas, grouped under Parking Assistant Plus are Reversing Assistant, Active Park Distance Control, Lateral Parking Aid, Parking: Start-Up Monitoring, and Surround View System.
Accompanying these are other standard systems. Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Brake Assist (BA), Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), and Hill-Start Assist (HSA).
Passive safety includes airbags (driver and passenger, front side, front and rear curtain), seat belts (anchor, pretensioner, reminder), ISOFIX, parking sensors (front, rear), parking camera, door ajar warning, auto-speed-sensing door locks, Tyre pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), and alarm system.
Seven drive modes selectable via the My Modes feature. Expressive Mode, Digital Art Mode, Efficient Mode, Relax Mode, Sport Mode, Theatre Mode and Personal Mode.
Altering the interior ambience and the driving dynamics, it comes with the BMW Iconic Sounds Electric, featuring driving sounds composed by Hans Zimmer for every mode.
The other half of the BMW Curved Display, it sees a 14.9-Inch central touchscreen, paired to a new backlit BMW Interaction Bar (multi-function control).
Featuring the BMW Live Cockpit Professional (BMW OS 8), it supports BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, Connected Package Professional (Apple CarPlay, Android Auto), My Mode selections, and the BMW Iconic Sounds Electric.
Then, courtesy of the Rear Seat Entertainment Professional Package is the BMW Theatre Screen. A rear ceiling-mounted 31.3-Inch panoramic screen with 8K resolution and HDMI interface.
Plus, it also gets the BMW Touch Command. Two rear door-integrated 5.5-Inch touchscreens, controlling the infotainment system, lighting and seating functions.
The suites of ADAS installed will make cruising through the city or speeding through the highway a more relaxing, and safer experience.
Installed is a 1,965-Watts, Bowers and Wilkins Diamond 4D-Surround Sound System (39 tweeters, subwoofer, shaker).
Embedded in the new BMW i7 are two BMW eDrive electric motors (front-rear, axle-mounted), generating 544 HP/400-KW of max output and 745 NM of max torque.
Fitted is an automatic transmission.
Power is sent to all four wheels (4WD), via BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive system.
0 to 100 KM/H is done in 4.7 seconds, and the top speed is 240 KM/H.
Juicing up the e-motors is an underfloor-mounted, 101.7-KWH Lithium-Ion battery, providing a total driving distance of up to 625 KM (WLTP).
A full charge takes 9.5 hours via an 11-KW AC charger (Type 2), while a 10% to 80% State of Charge (SoC) takes 34 minutes via a 195-KW DC fast charger (CCS2).
Other charging accessories. Flexible charger (mode 2), and public charging cable (mode 3).
The new BMW i7 gets Comfort Access system (keyless entry, engine start/stop button), Expanded Exterior Mirror Package (exterior/interior - automatic anti-dazzle rear-view mirrors), automatic doors, powered-boot operation, four-zone automatic climate control, rear air-conditioning vents (dedicated controls), welcome carpet lights, ambient lighting, steering wheel (multi-switches, tilt, telescopic), multi-function seats (power adjustable, active ventilation, massage and memory functions), BMW Executive Lounge Seating and BMW Theatre Screen with BMW Touch Command, BMW Interaction Bar (multi-function control), Sky Lounge (panorama glass roof), auto-roller sun blinds, BMW Live Cockpit Professional, BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, BMW My Modes (‘Relax Mode’ - blacked-out windows), wireless charging trays, parking cameras, parking sensors, auto high-beam and rain sensing wipers.
Air-conditioning vents are present in the rear cabin with its own set of controls.
The Executive Drive Pro suspension control system installed, provides an engaging driving dynamic without compromising any comfort.
Then, the Integral Active Steering offers more manoeuvrability, agility and stability at any given situation.
Meanwhile, the two-axle adaptive air suspension (active 48V-anti-roll stabilisation), complements the overall comfort and stability aspects.
All in all, it is solid, spacious and extremely comfortable. The ride quality is luxuriously excellent.
Good sound insulation, with all the NVH aspects of the build accounted for. The cabin is able to suppress wind, road and tyre noises extremely well, making them barely noticeable at all speeds and even when cruising through bumpy asphalts.
The new and first-ever BMW i7 is in a class of its own. Radiating an uber luxurious appeal that commands a presence like no other.
Paired to a formidable dynamic powertrain, it offers an electrifying driving experience only a BMW is able to.
Its elegant exterior is very well designed with clean surfaces and powerful contours, emphasising on its presidential demeanour.
Quality of the equipment installed inside and outside, really impresses with the upscale, mature design and restrained detailing.
Outstandingly, the new BMW i7 is just a top-of-the-line breed in the uber-luxury segment, bargaining elegance, performance and practicality all in one.