BMW i7 launched at Rs 1.95 crore

BMW has launched the new i7 sedan in India at Rs 1.95 crore (ex-showroom, India). It is essentially an all-electric version of the new 7 series and is offered in a single variant – xDrive 60. It comes to India as a fully built import. 

1. BMW i7’s battery has a range of up to 625km
2. It rivals Mercedes EQS 580, Porsche Taycan
3. i7 gets the 31.3-inch, 8K ‘cinema’ screen for rear passengers

BMW i7: exterior design

As it is based on the ICE-powered 7 Series, the i7’s differentiating factors are limited to blue accents all around, new alloy wheels and “i” badges on the gargantuan front grille. The i7 also has the same split headlamp design, similar door handles as seen on the BMW iX and 7 series, and a clean, long-wheelbase design. Even the rear of the i7 is nearly identical to the 7 series, save for the i7 badges.  

BMW i7: interior and features

The i7 has the same interior design as the 7 Series. It also sports a curved display for the infotainment and instrument cluster, with a 14.9-inch unit for the former and a 12.3-inch unit for the latter. The unit runs BMW’s latest iDrive 8 operating system and sits atop a full-width light band. 

Furthermore, the i7 also features the 31.3-inch, 8K ‘cinema’ screen that is mounted on the roof and folds down to offer video streaming via Amazon Fire TV. The rear doors are also fitted with a 5.5-inch touchscreen that controls not only the infotainment system but also the climate control, seats, etc. 

BMW i7: powertrain

The i7 xDrive 60 variant produces 544hp and 745Nm from its two electric motors, mounted on each axle. It packs a 101.7kWh lithium-ion battery that has a range between 591 to 625km on the WLTP cycle. BMW claims the i7 has a 0-100kph time of 4.7sec and a limited top speed of 239kph. 

The electric 7 series can be charged at up to 11kW on an AC system and up to 195kW on a DC system. The latter can charge the batteries of the i7 from 10 to 80 percent in a claimed 34 minutes. 

BMW i7: rivals

The i7 will see direct competition from the Mercedes-Benz EQS 580, priced at Rs 1.55 crore (ex-showroom). It will also rival the Porsche Taycan which is priced between Rs 1.53 crore-Rs 2.34 crore (ex-showroom). The i7 will also compete with the Audi e-tron GT, which is also at Rs 1.70 crore (ex-showroom).