All-electric BMW i7 sedan set to land by end of 2022

The new all electric BMW i7 will arrive on Australian roads from the end of 2022, the German carmaker confirmed today.

Unveiled overnight alongside its 7-series combustion engine stablemates, BMW reiterated its desire to adhere to its principle that customers should be able to select from a variety of drivetrain options for the same model.

As a result, the new 7 Series is available not just as an electric vehicle, but also as a plug-in hybrid, or 48-volt mild hybrid with combustion engine delivering 280kW power from a six-cylinder engine and 540Nm torque.

However, it will be the all-electric i7 that will offer the most power.

It will be available in just one variant to begin with, the i7 xDrive60 features all-wheel drive from two electric motors that produce a total of 400kW power output and 745Nm of torque. Acceleration from 0–100 km/hr can be done in just 4.7 seconds, with a top speed of 240 km/hr.

There is no word as yet on if and when the i7 M70 xDrive, which will offer almost 500kW power and 1,000 Nm torque will be included down the road – stay tuned.

For now, those keen on the electric 7-series will have to content themselves with the xDrive60, which boasts a huge battery pack of 101.7 kWh that provides a range of up to 590-625km (WLTP), and which can charge at a top rate of 195 kW to add 170km in just 10 minutes thanks to an “updated charging curve”.

On a slower AC charger, a top rate of 11kW is possible, with charging to 100% taking 9.5 hours at home on a wall charger installation.

In keeping with BMW’s mantra “Sheer Driving Pleasure”, the 7-series – dubbed by the carmaker “the world’s first all-electric luxury sedan” ahead of its launch – is accordingly aimed at providing a unique driving and riding experience.

While the claim of world-first electric luxury sedan is likely to have many up in arms, one thing is certain: the i7 is a car in which no one needs to feel crammed.

At a wieldy 5.39 metres long, the i7 will almost certainly appeal to BMW’s Asian markets where it sells around 70% of its 7-Series models.

Sporting design elements inspired by BMW’s iX electric SUV, the BMW i7 has small headlights in the front while BMW’s polarising trademark, the massive grill, sits beneath them.

However, unlike its combustion stablemates, this kidney grille can be illuminated in the signature electric blue and is loaded with sensors that prepare the car for level 3 self-driving.

The spacious interior sets the scene for a mobile movie theatre, in which rear-seat passengers can view movies on a 31-inch screen with 8K resolution that can be hoisted down from the ceiling and which can be controlled via an in-built touchpad in the door. There is also plenty of room behind the passengers, with 500 litres of luggage capacity.

Those in the front will find a stripped-down interior with a large centre console between the front seats. BMW’s fully digital “Curved Display,” which covers over half of the dashboard, is found behind the wheel, as it is in the BMW i4 and iX.

On the dash, a new “Interaction Bar” is a backlit, pressure-sensitive surface that runs the length of the space between the doors.

It may be used to set up the air conditioning system, and adapts to the interior colour scheme chosen for the interior, among other things. When getting in and out of the automobile, it illuminates and indicates whether or not it is safe to exit.

See also: BMW iX3 and iX electric SUVs: Cherishing the past and painting the future