Style Edit: BMW’s i7 flagship range of electric executive cars
The i7 models are the electric options in the flagship 7 Series, aimed at the sweet spot where refined aesthetics, peak performance and sustainable technology meet
The i7 is an imposing beast on the road, one with a trademark aesthetic that combines heft and elegance in equal measure. And, as if the BMW i7 eDrive50 model weren’t action-packed enough, for an extra injection of dash, there’s the BMW i7 eDrive50 M Sport Edition, which adds extra-dynamic bumpers, side skirts and window surrounds; headliner in anthracite; leather steering wheels; high-gloss shadowline; the M Sport brake in dark blue metallic and a rear spoiler. Both have 20-inch alloy wheels. Owners can opt to amp up the visual impact even further with a two-tone paint job, available in eight different shades on the lower section of the bodywork and two above the shoulder line. The sense of aesthetic wonder extends to the i7’s dazzling external lighting, which includes crystal headlights lit by 22 LEDs, developed in collaboration with Swarovski (equipment is optionally available).
The car’s interior is equally sumptuous. Seats are made from Merino leather; the internal trim also features optional wool-cashmere and wooden finishes (equipment is optionally available); and the glass sunroof is 40 per cent larger than in previous models. The 12.3-inch instrument panel and 14.9-inch centre console form the trademark BMW Curved Display, while the new BMW Interaction Bar reduces the number of buttons, to make driving a cinch.
Nor does the i7 compromise when it comes to performance. Its two motors together offer a combined output of 455hp and torque of 650Nm – propelling it to 100 km/h in 5.5 seconds. At 195kW, the battery can be recharged from 10 to 80 per cent in around 34 minutes. Despite that, its range can extend to as much as 611 kilometres.
Those motors avoid the use of rare earth metals and generate zero emissions when running. But it isn’t just the electric engines that bolster its green credentials: BMW uses 100 per cent renewable energy to make the vehicle, cutting the climate impact of its production by as much as 18 per cent.
It all adds up to make this a vehicle that hits the sweet spot where refined aesthetics, peak performance and sustainable technology meet.