With each new car that’s introduced from here out, we will not be surprised to see an electric version of it that complements the gas version, just like the all-new BMW 7 Series introduced today alongside its i7 all-electric sibling.
The BMW 7 Series has always been a staple within the automotive industry to help set a benchmark for large luxury sedans. The new 2023 BMW 7 Series and i7 embark on a new journey to signal to the rest of the automotive industry what is the definitive large luxury sedan, and we think they nailed it in many ways.
The new BMW 7 Series will come in two gas-powered primary trim levels, a 740i and 760i xDrive. The new BMW 740i will get the 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6-cylinder engine with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system to produce a total of 375 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque and can increase torque to 398 lb-ft for a moment when demanded. Zero to 60 mph time is at 5 seconds flat.
The new BMW 760i xDrive will get the brand’s latest 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 with 536 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque moving the large sedan to hit 60 mph in just 4.2 seconds.
The new fully electric BMW i7 xDrive60 takes most of what you find in the gas-powered 7 Series but does away with the petrol engine for two synchronous electric motors, one in front and one in back, to deliver a total output of 536 horsepower and 549 lb-ft of torque. The motors on their own deliver 255 horsepower for the front axle and 308 horsepower for the rear. Working together they should get the new i7 up to 60 mph in about 4.5 seconds and have an EPA-rated range of 300 miles on a full charge. To get that charge in the liquid-cooled 101.7 kWh battery pack you can utilize the full rate of 195 kW at a DC fast charger to get about 80 miles of range in 10 minutes.
BMW’s forward-thinking for the i7 EV will help preserve the battery life through preheating cycles of the battery to prepare it for charging, which can be manually controlled. Also, BMW has an optimized charging planner through the navigation system to find those free, unlimited 10-minute charging sessions for three years via Electrify America charging stations.
Keeping the new 7 Series a real BMW is a thought that hasn’t been overlooked as the 7 Series gets great body rigidity, wider tracks, larger wheels and tires, and optional active roll stabilization. The suspension choice is an air spring setup with electronically controlled adaptive dampers. You also get a return of an Integral Active Steering system that varies ratios and enables the rear wheels to turn up to 3.5 degrees for a tighter turning radius.
Inside the new BMW 7 Series and i7 you’ll find the new design language of the brand featuring the 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 14.9-inch infotainment screen that slightly curves all running the latest iDrive 8 interface. There’s also a new minimalistic character to the dashboard with very few buttons and unique trim surfaces throughout.
Where things really start to pop is in the rear seats with a 31.3-inch 8K touchscreen display that can be dropped down in the back to watch just about anything that you can feed to it, even streamed from your smartphone. An optional Executive Lounge seating setup in the back also makes way for reclining seats and full control via a small touchscreen interface on the door panel.
To round up the innovation there’s a 36-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound system that will surely titillate your hearing senses along with automatic opening and closing doors that may activate upon approaching the vehicle. There’s also the latest hands-free driving assistant for autonomous driving up to 80 mph on select highways while the system monitors the driver’s attention.
The new 2023 BMW 7 Series and i7 are currently available for pre-orders with an expected launch in the fourth quarter of 2022 with prices starting at $94,295 for the 740i, $114,595 for the 760i xDrive, and $120,295 for the electric i7.
