BMW i7

Essentials

BMW i7 xDrive60 Excellence

Price: £108,305

Powertrain: 101.7kWh battery, 2x e-motors Power/torque: 537bhp/745Nm Transmission: Single-speed automatic, all-wheel drive 0-60mph: 4.7 seconds

Top speed: 149mph

Range: 367-388 miles

Charging: 195kW, 10-80% in 34 mins

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BMW i7

FIRSTDRIVE All-electric version of BMW’s 7 Series limousine combines tech, luxury and plenty of space

NEED TO KNOW

Every 7 Series sold in the UK will have a plug; there are two plug-in hybrid models as well as this pure-electric i7

“By focusing its efforts on what luxury limos do best, BMW has refused to cut corners when it comes to comfort”

Richard Ingram

Richard _ Ingram@autovia.co.uk @rsp_ ingram

AS we transition from petrol to electric, manufacturers are forging their own paths when it comes to construction, body shapes and styling. Some build bespoke EVs with unique platforms, others adapt ICE cars to house bulky battery technology.

BMW thinks it has one solution to suit all: first pick your model, then your powertrain. In the case of the new 7 Series, that means each customer gets what is ostensibly the same 5.4-metre body, with a choice of petrol, diesel, plug-in or fully electric powertrains.

In focusing its efforts on what luxury limos such as the 7 Series and Mercedes S-Class do best, BMW has refused to cut corners when it comes to comfort. By keeping that familiar shape, the new 7 Series offers imperious rear-seat practicality.

Technology is placed front and centre, even before you get in. You can option automatic doors, which open and close at the touch of a button. They have sensors to prevent them opening into oncoming hazards, but the downside is they rarely operate seamlessly. To open the driver’s door, you need to be standing rearwards of the B-pillar; it doesn’t feel that intuitive.

Inside, you’re greeted by BMW’s latest single-piece curved display and software. The dashboard is clean in its design and the materials used are first rate. The centre forcing the car to sit back on its rear axle if you plant your right foot from a standstill. And yet the car’s new active roll stabilisation makes a decent fist of keeping the 7 Series level during fast cornering; select the Executive Drive Suspension for £3,500 and the car will “actively adjust the body height on the corresponding side of the vehicle” to reduce lean. It works well, although we’d argue this is of greater benefit to those in the back, since it removes engagement you might have enjoyed as a driver.

It’s impressive how something of this style and stature blends refinement with deft, executive-car composure, however. The i7 seems to ride beautifully.

We struggled slightly to determine how many miles the i7 would cover on a charge, with the car’s trip computer swinging wildly in fairly consistent conditions. Overall, we think a real-world range of just over 300 miles is feasible.

BMW has shied away from the 800V electrics found on cars like the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT, favouring the larger peak charging plateau of 195kW. A 10-80 per cent charge takes 34 minutes.

Prices for the i7 start from £108,305, including adaptive LED lights, a fixed glass roof, four-zone climate control and all-round air suspension. M Sport costs £4,500 more and features gloss black trim, bigger wheels and M Sport brakes.

console has a minimalist feel, with no bulky gear selector. Thankfully, BMW has opted to retain the easy-to-use clickwheel.

The tall roofline means rear headroom is generous, while the long wheelbase ensures there is loads of legroom in the back, too.

That hi-tech experience is elevated to another level in the rear. Nestled in the doors is a pair of touch-sensitive remotes, operating everything from the blinds to the temperature. They also control the 31-inch Theatre Screen. This £4,000 display folds from the roof, granting access to things like Netflix and YouTube. It’s slick, and with 8K graphics, the visuals are fantastic. The Bowers & Wilkins stereo has ‘exciters’ in the seats, vibrating to add cinema-like sensation to whatever you’re watching.

And yet despite the car’s gargantuan wheelbase, it all feels a little close set. Even with the front seats pushed forward, there’s limited scope to position the screen further away. It’s a bit like sitting in the first few rows of a theatre; immersive, but not that comfortable. If your driver has particularly long legs, the screen won’t fold down at all.

But as has always been the case, BMW wants the 7 Series to be the luxury car for drivers, as well as those who like to be driven. From launch there is just one i7 available: the xDrive60. It boasts 537bhp and 745Nm of torque, plus all-wheel drive.

As you can imagine, with that kind of power the i7 pulls strongly at any speed,