BMW 7 Series comes with combustion engine and electric motor but only one design

While most of the competition is giving its models a makeover, BMW is sticking to the tried and true. This is at least true for the BMW 7 Series. Despite the huge electric car boom, the traditional carmaker wants to launch its luxury sedan with three different engine types and only one design. In addition to contemporary electric or plug-in hybrid engines, there is even to be a choice of a diesel engine, which is now widely frowned upon.

Electric drive won’t get its own design

What the S-Class symbolizes on Mercedes’ side is the 7 Series on BMW’s. Both are considered the flagship sedan of their respective manufacturers. But even though both companies have always followed a very similar path in the design of their noble sedans so far, things now look different. While Mercedes is offering its S-Class as the EQS in its own design, which is clearly different from the combustion engine version, BMW is relying on one body for all three possible drive types. This seems so old-fashioned that it almost has to be called innovative again. After all, the current consensus on the electric car market is that you can get the most out of the battery and powertrain with the help of an adapted body.

Rethinking at BMW

BMW’s strategy is a little surprising when you consider the importance of the manufacturer in the field of electromobility. After all, the long-established Bavarian company has arguably launched one of Germany’s first iconic electric cars in the form of its BMW i3. Opinions are still divided on the design of the compact electric runabout, but one thing is certain: it looks like the future. This still results in a pleasingly good efficiency today. But it seems to be more important to BMW to have a uniform design than to get the maximum range out of an electric car.

As beneficial as the i3’s energy-efficient design may have been, it was costly for the automaker. Ultimately, it didn’t really pay off economically for BMW. It’s possible that this also plays into the issue when it comes to the BMW 7 Series’ uniform design. Since the competition from Mercedes, Audi and VW celebrate much higher sales figures on the international market with their e-cars, a separate design for the electric models is also worthwhile for them. BMW no longer seems to be interested in this risky business, at least with its new 7 Series. This is because the Bavarian engine plants can produce all versions of the BMW 7 Series in just one production facility and Dingolfing without further ado.

Electric version to come first

However, it then becomes clear that BMW attaches the greatest importance to its 7 Series with electric motor. After all, the manufacturer wants to be the very first to launch the luxury sedan with an electric motor under the hood. Considering the identical design, not only the body has grown in the upcoming BMW i7, but also in the other two versions. This is probably due to the fact that BMW’s experience on the international market is that it is primarily its longer version that is successful. In its entirety, the BMW 7 Series will measure an impressive 5.39 meters in length. This also results in a pleasingly spacious trunk. Depending on the drive, you should be able to fit 500 to a maximum of 540 liters.

The kidney as a figurehead

Probably the best-known figurehead of any BMW is the tradition-steeped kidney. Naturally, this is also duly showcased on the BMW 7 Series. Ironically, of course, the kidney grille has no significance whatsoever for the electric drive. After all, the i7 doesn’t actually need any vents for the engine. Here, however, design is once again more important than utility.

But once you see the kidney when it’s illuminated, BMW fans’ hearts beat faster. But aside from the eye-catching vents, the model also scores with other design highlights. The company has given its luxury sedan plenty of bling-bling. Fancy light effects and sparkling glass elements give the vehicle a noble appearance. Here, too, it is clear that BMW not only wants to please German customers, but above all wants to celebrate success on the international market.

Also impressive is the large panoramic roof, which comes standard on every powertrain. Unfortunately, you should no longer be able to slide this open or closed. To make sure you can enjoy the view of the sky, BMW has equipped the rear seat of the 7 Series with comfortable chairs that offer a lot of bells and whistles. In combination with the optional screen (31.3 inches) and hi-fi system, the back seat will then probably offer a real cinema feeling.

Electric drive with decent power

The seventh generation will then be heralded by its full name with the BMW i7 xDrive60. BMW is giving this one a 101.7 kWh battery. Power is provided by the combination of two electric drives. While these transmit 190 kW to the wheels on the front axle, the second one provides 230 kW on the rear axle. Consequently, the electric 7-series offers an impressive 400 kW. In combination with a maximum torque of 745 Nm, for example, acceleration from 0 to 100 is said to be possible in just 4.7 seconds. In view of a weight of 2.5 tons, that is really remarkable. In terms of range, the BMW i7, which will be launched in November, has to admit defeat to the competition from Stuttgart.

With a maximum of 625 kilometers, it is just under 150 kilometers below the maximum of the Mercedes EQS. If the i7’s battery should run out, BMW promises that 170 more kilometers can be extracted after just under 10 minutes thanks to fast-charging options with 195 kW. However, BMW is also giving its upcoming i7 an M version. The BMW i7 M70 xDrive then clearly surpasses the performance of the “standard version” with 100 Nm of torque or 485 kW of total power. However, this is not expected to go on sale until next year.

BMW ashamed of exhaust pipes

Let’s move on to the combustion engine models. Here, not much has really changed. While the company is dropping two configurations of the current model, the two 3-liter and 4.4-liter engines remain. A closer look, however, reveals that BMW is doing this with an eye on foreign countries in particular. Finally, the company hides the formerly impressively massive exhaust pipes of the predecessor. Welcome to the age of electromobility.

The combination of electric motor and combustion engine is available in the plug-in hybrid. The BMW M 760e xDrive represents the top model of the upcoming hybrid. This is said to be able to offer 420 kW and 800 Nm. In the standard model of the plug-in hybrid (BMW 750e xDrive), on the other hand, there is still a very good 360 kW and 760 Nm. BMW promises that the battery should now be able to offer twice as much energy content compared to the predecessor hybrid.

Within Europe, it should no longer be possible to rely on the support of a gasoline engine at all with an upcoming model of the BMW 7 Series. At least if you want a pure combustion engine. In our climes, the new 7 Series will only be available as a pure combustion engine with a diesel engine. The 740d xDrive is supposed to be able to create a whopping 670 Nm thanks to the support of an electric transmission motor. BMW is thus apparently perfecting the diesel engine of its predecessor.

Prices still unknown

While it seems certain that the new BMW 7 Series will not be a bargain regardless of its engine, we don’t know real prices yet. However, the company has outlined its schedule. As mentioned above, the i7 is expected to launch this November. The M version of the e-car as well as the other models with combustion engines will not go on sale until 2023. BMW also offers many other versions for the international market that are not even scheduled for launch here. In view of the ecologically questionable nature of these combustion engine versions, this is quite understandable.