BMW i7 Buyer's guide review

In the realm of European vehicles, originating from Germany, BMW (Bavarian Motor Works or Bayerische Motoren Werke) stands out as a symbol of luxury, performance, and innovation. The first electric car manufactured by them was the 1602-E model of 1972. Although it wasn't a huge success, BMW started dominating the electric market, with the release of the i3 model in 2013. According to the new regulations of the European Union, they have decided to manufacture an electric car for the seven series. BMW i7 is the world's first luxury electric Sedan vehicle. It has three different models namely; eDrive50, xDrive60, and M70. This article delves into the exterior design, interior design, and the enduring legacy of the BMW M Sport Pro trim level, a brand that continues to captivate enthusiasts worldwide.

Taking a look at the front exterior, there isn't a crystal DRL in the basic model, but an upcoming LED DRL. It has high-end LED headlights and they are adjustable and have many features since i7 is an electric vehicle. Various software can be used to customize the lights and settings. There is the controversial BMW grill giving a solemn look although it has no purpose as the real air intake is located over there. By blacking out the overall look of the grill, they have hidden the sensors and cameras. Around the badge of the electric version, there is a small blue line to make a difference as most of the vehicles of the seven series are close-looking. The i7 has a massive bonnet space compared to other electric cars. AS there are many electric controls, and a few battery packs in the bonnet, there is no frunk space.

From the side, the i7 looks more like a Rolls-Royce than a BMW with the iconic silhouette as when Rolls-Royce and BMW merged, they also merged the seven series. There is the same door handle as the iX model, along with a sporty rim set.

Coming to the rearview, the spoiler of the M Sport Pro model is different than others. There are integrated brake lights and signal lights with grill patterns from the sides in a way that they won't just show a red light. There's a space of 500 liters with an under-cabin space inside the boot. One can keep the charging pack and other equipment inside the under-cabin. The M70 variant has an extra space of 25 liters. Everything has an auto-closing feature, such that no need to make an effort to close a door.

The BMW xDrive60 has a dual-motor 536 horsepower setup. Having a maximum torque of 445 Nm, one can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.1 seconds, with a thrilling top speed of 240 km/h, when the numbers are matched, although the i7 is a 5-seater 2-ton luxury sedan. Talking about the charging and battery capacity, it has a 101.7 kWh battery pack. While BMW claims a range of over 600 kilometers from that, it gives a maximum range of 580 kilometers practically when fully charged. There are both slow-speed AC and fast-charging DC ports in the same location. Using the normal AC port, one can have the battery fully charged overnight, and using the fast charger, one can achieve a full charge within 45 minutes or less than an hour. With the fast charger, a charge of 100 miles can be gained into the battery within 10 minutes.

The layout of the interior design is inspired by the BMW iX. There are two large displays as the theme of the vehicle. There is the user HUD display, along with the infotainment and climate control systems. Looking at the overall interior, it is a mixture of various textures, Including leather and carbon fiber-looking plastic panels. The seats also have a comfortable, perforated leather finish. There is the option for vegan leather instead of traditional leather. There is a crystal mood light setup. There is an attractive mirror for both the driver and the passenger. There are airbags in all beams except for overall protection methods giving the safest BMW sedan experience. There is a chunky steering wheel with a borderline sporty feel. They have added separate controls to the steering wheel. There's an option called 'Boost', all the infotainment system controls are easily accessible from the side, center, and up. As the infotainment system has most of the controls, shortcuts for those controls, such as navigation, telephone, and media, have been laid out around the driver for ease of access. It has power seats with programmable driver settings. When the phone is connected to the infotainment system, it memorizes the driver settings and identifies the user, and adjusts the seats according to their settings. Even though it has a crystal in the luxury version, the M Sport model trim level has a clear sporty item.

There's enough space on the door bin with a DRL as an added effect to keep a water bottle. The squared cup holders have round holes in them. With the help of the prongs, it has enough support to hold the cup tight, rather than holding it with friction. There's a wireless charging pad near the cup holder. Even opening the armrest gives an amazing experience. Inside the armrest compartment, there are USB-C type fast charging ports, along with another wireless charging pad. There are so many buttons in the center console; the driving mode selector, along with the start/stop button. One of the most important shortcuts is "My Modes". The experience of the vehicle, not the driving experience, but the overall look and feel of the vehicle, the DRL control system, and everything else could be experienced. When it switches to the digital art mode, it has a full psychedelic vibe. The DRL changes and shifts its colors. According to the mode, the overall sound of the vehicle changes. The AC vents that are controlled electronically are integrated into the beam and they are not visible. It has the standard crystal-clear Bowers & Wilkins sound system with a mode for listening to it.

As soon as one sits on the rear seat, it automatically adjusts the seat according to the position. It has plenty of leg space in the back. There are several fast-charging ports, wireless charging pads, two cup holders, and an armrest. The armrest has plenty of space available, along with two more USB fast-charger ports. The touchscreen system on the door is a feature that can’t be seen in the back of many vehicles. The climate controls and the vehicle modes can be adjusted from there. The theatre mode can be turned on from the back using the screen. The i7 gives the largest 8K resolution display ever featured in a vehicle. Theatre mode automatically adjusts the seat according to the tilt of the screen. In the sound system, all the starting sounds of the driving modes were catered, according to the sounds of the famous movie composer, Hans Zimmer. They have added factory-made cushions and the massage seat option to increase comfort. The boss mode is the most superb experience. The front seat moves to provide some more leg space. One can experience 90% of the luxury of the i7 from the base model. The back doesn't have integrated air vents like the front, but they are beautiful and controllable. Not only the blinds on the glass but the moon roof blinds and everything else can be controlled with the touchscreen. The interior is not leather, but fake carbon fiber plastics.

Talking about the limitations, the BMW has put everything into the display similar to all other electric cars. Most adjusting features such as climate controls and cruise controls, must be accessed through the display. Although most electric cars get software updates, the BMW still doesn’t. So, it is a must to visit a service center instead of the internet to get those updates. Many more features are accessible only after logging into the BMW account. If it's a different user, they need to log in too. While someone enjoys the view of the rear beautiful display, the driver won't be able to enjoy the rear view. Therefore, the driver won't see the back or what the passenger is doing with the display.

Although the front grill of the BMW i7 seems a bit controversial, no need to be contentious about any other features of the vehicle as it is the best electric luxury sedan in the world. Instead of using technology to enhance the driving experience or technology, they have used it to enhance the luxury experience of the vehicle. Therefore, it has every feature and technology that can be expected from a luxury vehicle.

As of April 2024, the average Sri Lankan market price for BMW i7 lies is around 150 million LKR depending on its condition. You can find the latest price with more details and cars of this model for sale from the following link BMW i7 Latest Price