This is how the BMW i7 goes, the rival of the Mercedes-Benz EQS in the battle to win the electric Champions

• New BMW i7: the flagship has a groundbreaking design. Will bimmers like it?

The new era

that the car is entering could change even the most established status quo: the

arrives later this year with petrol versions (only plug-in hybrids in Europe), diesel and 100% electric (the i7 that we drive here still "disguised") to try to steal the crown from the historic leader

worldwide, the

(now teamed with the

).

While

limited itself to improving a few details in the latest facelift of the A8 and Mercedes now divides its most

customers between the "traditional" S-Class and the electric EQS,

when it comes to replacing to its flagship 7 Series. This is a completely new car that

and that, unlike the arch-rival of Mercedes, is visually identical (with slight nuances) regardless of the energy that makes it move.

This means that the new generation - the seventh - which arrives on the European market shortly before the end of the year uses

, from which

, which will not be on sale in Europe but yes in the United States and China), a

(740d xDrive), two plug-in

(750e xDrive and 760e xDrive) and

(others only in 2023).

Its surfaces are described as "monolithic",

a good way of defining the new style of the 7 Series front, reserved for the luxury models of the Bavarian manufacturer.

Also noteworthy is the thin illuminated frame of the huge front grille and the headlights with two areas of light beam projection, the upper ultra-thin one for the main lighting functions (daytime driving, side and turn signals, and which can optionally use Swarovski crystal, which can be generate several colors and participate in something similar to light choreographies) and a lower one, already embedded in the bumper, for the medium and long lights.

In the case of the i7 (which

, the grille looks completely closed (to optimize aerodynamics and because the electric motor does not need as much cooling as combustion engines) and shows the logo of the BMW i sub-brand in "electric" blue that is reproduced in the horizontal bar of the lower air intake, in the side skirts and rear bumpers and in the frames of the BMW symbols at the front and rear.

Both on the flanks and at the rear, the very flat horizontal lines and the few wrinkles on the bodywork stand out, while at the rear the commitment to stylized and horizontal optics also prevails.

The tires start at a size of 19" (for regions where the roads are very irregular) and go up to 22", with specific designs and construction for the 7 M Series,

that accompany with several other decorative and functional elements with marks of its sporty character, inside and out.

And for the first time a 7 Series can have the bodywork painted in two different shades.

the greatest ever

This is the largest BMW ever built.

Unlike its predecessors, the 7 Series will now only exist with one wheelbase (the long one, which has grown 5 mm to 3,215 mm), which is understood because its two main markets worldwide (China and the United States) they only "consume" the size "XL".

The increase in length was 13 cm (at 5,391 m), width 4.8 cm (1,950 m) and height 5.1 cm (1,544 m).

And if we specifically compare the i7 with its rivals

we see that the BMW is the longest and tallest of all and also has the longest wheelbase (although almost equal to that of the EQS).

On the other hand, the

and the Porsche Taycan (which are structurally the same car) are slightly wider, as is the Tesla.

If it is easy to understand

- for image and for being the model that allows higher profit margins -, in this case the 2022 Series 7 takes even greater prominence for an industrial issue.

This is because it will be the first BMW to be produced on the same assembly line, regardless of drive type.

.

State-of-the-art technology inside

When BMW removed the covers and showed the world the new 7 Series, it was possible to confirm that the dashboard is essentially that of the BMW iX and i4, with the central area of ​​the screen slightly directed towards the driver.

The seats are extremely comfortable and can be electrically adjusted.

in multiple ways, as you would expect from a high-end car from a luxury brand.

The world of exclusivity, luxury and technology that characterize the cabin can be accessed through automatic opening (and closing) doors, which require an extra payment.

The modern concept of the latest BMWs, with

is maintained (although there are new presentation modes), as is its well-known orientation towards the driver.

The steering wheel (which can have two or three spokes) is new, "cut off" at the bottom, and includes new haptic controls.

Other novelties are

, as well as the interaction bar, a horizontal strip under the screens, which occupies the entire width of the dashboard and integrates lighting, decorative and other operational functions, as well as hidden ventilation outlets.

There are more parameters and settings affected by the driving modes

(My Modes), which can be up to seven (Personal, Sport, Efficient, Expressive, Relax, Digital Art, Theater).

They change the dynamic response of the car, the screens (including the head-up display, for the first time) and ambient lighting and can be selected by voice command or by the button on the center console, which replaced the experience control switch. of conduction.

On-board temperature-related comfort could hardly be more sophisticated

, as the four climate zones are combined with the possibility of heated door panels, center console and steering wheel.

And this added to the additional space in the rear, together with the increase in boot volume (up to 540 liters - 25 more than before - or 525 in the case of plug-in hybrids (105 liters more than in the previous generation) or 500 liters in the case of the i7 But by using the same

, the i7 has a tunnel in the central area of ​​the second row of seats, unlike the Mercedes EQS, for example, which uses a dedicated electric platform.

Behind the wheel of the i7 xDrive60

The focus of the Bavarians in Europe is, initially, the 100 percent electric version that, like the variants with a combustion engine, only exists with a long wheelbase and all-wheel drive.

That it was precisely the prototype that we were able to drive in Bavaria, still quite camouflaged, something that, fortunately, does not affect its dynamic behavior.

Maximum system power is 544PS / 745Nm (the rear motor produces a maximum of 313PS and the front 258PS, with fully variable torque delivery between the two axles), enough to take the i7 xDrive60 up to 240 km/h with acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h completed in 4.7 seconds.

As with all electric BMWs, power is sent through a single gear change for each motor.

The driving route combined country roads with some curves and motorway.

When we press harder on the right pedal, the acceleration makes us sink a bit into the well-shaped leather seat, while

.

In the second case, even with 21" wheels (255/45 R21 front tires and 285/40 R21 rear tires, mounted on this unit)

to the highly effective variable damping and to the electric stabilizer bar system (optional), which has a decisive action in reducing vibrations in motion and, above all, in preventing body roll (having so much weight from the battery on the rear bottom of the car also helps, of course).

Ground clearance is reduced by 10mm in Sport mode or in all other modes above 120km/h (140 on combustion engine versions).

To overcome obstacles on the road or drive up/down ramps, the suspension can be raised 20mm at the touch of a button.

Just as impressive, if not more so, is the steering response

(with variable gear ratio), which conveys very precisely (rarely in electric cars) the way the tires contact the road, as well as the involvement of the steering rear axle (the wheels turn up to 3.5 degrees to increase stability at high speeds or decrease the turning diameter, in this case by 0.8 meters) which has the great merit of making the car more than five meters long seem shrunken.

Even so, a less shocking effect than in the rival Mercedes EQS, whose rear wheels can turn between 4.5 and 10 degrees).

, although sometimes it is difficult to modulate the feel of the pedal, probably because the advanced energy recovery system makes it anything but organic and immediate.

Surprisingly - or perhaps not so much, given that the same thing happened with the iX at the time of its arrival on the market - at the commercial launch in late 2022,

, which is only expected to arrive a year later (knowing that Mercedes will release it later this year).

The autonomy promised by the 101.7 kWh battery

is from 590 to 625 km (from an approved consumption of 19.6 to 18.4 kWh/100 km), that is,

that announces 670 km (we already know that, in both cases, they can be much lower, if the routes, speeds and ambient temperature are unfavourable).

This happens for three main reasons: the Mercedes' battery is larger (107 vs. 101 kWh), the EQS drag coefficient is better (0.20 vs. 0.24), and the i7's frontal area is larger (2 .6 m2 vs. 2.5), since the BMW is slightly wider and taller than the Mercedes.

As usual, there are several levels of energy recovery through braking/deceleration, ranging from the normal level (in driving position D) to high, medium and low levels, depending on the driver's choice (if he chooses by putting the selector in position B the highest level is activated, which generates the driving effect with a single pedal).

Regarding the BMW i4 and iX, it

, in addition to more advanced software in the navigation system for routes with optimization of stopping points according to load needs.

AC (alternating current) charging up to 11 kW and DC (direct current) up to 195 kW can be carried out, in both cases somewhat less than the Mercedes EQS (22 kW and 200 kW respectively).

But

(to be applied automatically when the car returns to a "known" station) and the function of pre-heating the battery before charging can now be activated. manually, without the browser having to be active.

Looking at the i7's advertised charging times (compared to its rivals), BMW says that in 34 minutes it's possible to squeeze the battery

from 10 to 80% (at DC),

(which has a larger battery but slightly more charging power), while the

and

(with 93 kWh battery) advertise 22 minutes (in addition to the slightly smaller battery, they have a higher voltage). of 800V system,

.

The "others" Series 7 on sale in 2023

All combustion, gasoline and diesel engines will be equipped with a 48V mild hybrid system, which integrates an electric motor within the transmission and acts as a generator/starter.

The system can generate 200Nm and 12PS depending on the driving situation, but in Europe it will only be available on the 740d xDrive diesel (on sale January 2023) as the

.

The 3-litre inline 6-cylinder block is mated to the 8-speed automatic transmission and produces a maximum of 300PS and 650Nm, which increases during a limited period of acceleration to 670Nm.

6.3 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h and an average consumption of 6.9 to 5.9 l/100 km are on its technical sheet

In the spring of next year, the range of the new 7 Series will be expanded with the arrival of the plug-in

: the 750e xDrive (6 cylinders, 3 liters and 490 hp and 700 Nm as total system power) and the -first plug- in M - M760e xDrive (6 cylinders, 3 litres, 571 hp and 800 Nm).

Both use

inserted in the gearbox.

The motor draws its power from an 18.7 kWh lithium-ion battery (an increase of more than 50% over the previous generation, which helps explain the electric range of up to 80 km) which, for the first time in a BMW plug-in hybrid, was installed on the floor of the car, with the resulting advantages of lowering the car's center of gravity and reducing the decrease in boot volume.

The on-board charger doubled its power from 3.7 to 7.4 kW, allowing the battery to be fully charged in less than three hours.

The approved consumption of these two models varies between 1.0 and 1.2 l/100 km.

In mid-2023 there will be a second version of the i7

(M70 xDrive), with

.

This interior goes to the cinema

The most surprising sensations can be experienced in the second row

of seats in the 7 Series (combustion or electric), where passengers can attend movie sessions while traveling, provided the car is equipped with the

system , which combines a

(with definition up to

and projection in 16:9, 21:9 or 32:9 formats) and Bowers & Wilkins sound system (with

), integrated, optionally, in the comfortable rear head restraints.This

(so as not to obstruct vision when not in use), it can be moved further away or closer to passengers/spectators, so that touch functions can be used or to have the ideal viewing distance.

(including the LED roof lines) and everything is ready for a special movie session.

So that the right rear passenger does not lack comfort in this traveling theater, his seat can have more recline and leg support without interrupting the main body of the seat.

And both rear side seats can have active ventilation (heating or cooling) and massage functions, with control from the new digital panels (5.5") inserted in the armrests of the respective doors.

Technical sheet BMW i7 xDrive60

Motors

: Two electric (synchronous)

544 CV (Front: 258 CV;

: 313 CV)

  745 Nm

4x4 

1 + 1 speed

Battery

Lithium ions

101.7 kWh

AC power 11 kW

DC power 195 kW

170 km in 10 min - 10 to 80% in 34 m

in 2.3 kW 8h13m 11 kW 1h38m 50 kW 21 m 195 kW 6 min

Suspension

D/T Independent double triangles superimposed/Independent multi-link, pneumatic springs Variable electronic

brakes Ventilated discs

Steering

Electrically assisted, variable development (rear axle steering, 3.5º)

5,391m/1,950m/1,544m Wheelbase 

     m  Boot

   500 liters 

2,715 kg

Tires

D: 255/45 R21;

T: 285/40 R21

Maximum speed

240 km/h 0-100 km/h 4.7 s

19.6 to 18.4 kWh/100 km

590 to 625 km

137,900 euros (base) more complete equipment versions from 162,000 euros, €171,000 and €187,000

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