BMW i7
For the drive in Palm Springs, USA, BMW had lined up two cars and one SUV. On day one we drove the BMW X7 and the 7 Series 760i on day two. It was the all-new i7 electric.
From the outside, the i7 looks identical to the 7 Series; it is when you get inside the car that you notice the difference.
The BMW i7 xDrive 60 comes with fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology with a highly integrated drive system, intelligent energy management, new charging process, and advanced battery cell technology, among others. Efficient electric motors, optimized adaptive recuperation, improved climate control, and high energy density for the high voltage with usable capacity of 101.7 kWh offer a range of 591-625 kilometres in the WLTP cycle, making long journeys easily plausible.
AC charging with up to 22 kW is possible. DC charging with up to 195 kW means the range can be extended by around 170 km within a time of 10 minutes. Anticipatory heat management allows battery pre-conditioning to optimize charging.
The luxurious driving experience has been re-defined by the all-electric drive system of the BMW i7 xdrive 60. Two electric motors with a system output of 400 kW/544 hp and electric all-wheel drive in combination with near-actuator wheel slip limitation ensure poise and assurance with instantaneous power delivery and optimized traction and directional stability. The i7 can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds and go on to attain a top speed of 240 km/h.
It is only when you get inside the car and switch on the power that you realise that this is an electric car and not a regular 7 Series. I have driven quite a few electric cars and they tend to feel similar, but the i7 is different; it feels very similar to the petrol 7 Series in how the power is delivered and how it feels to drive. It has instant acceleration but not like most EVs, where it feels like on and off, whereas the power delivery is linear, more like a petrol-powered car.
To be honest, I am not a big fan of EVs but the i7 has changed my outlook. With the i7, BMW have set a new benchmark in luxury electric cars.
Need to Know – BMW i7 xDrive60
Price: Rs 1.95 crore (ex-showroom)
Battery Pack: 376.4-volt, 101.7 -kWh, lithium-ion
Electric Motors: Electrically-excited synchronous motors, 190-kW (258 hp) front, 230 kW (313 hp) rear
Max Power: 400 kW (544 hp) @ 8,000 rpm
Max Torque: 745 Nm @ 0-5,000 rpm
Transmission: Single-stage fixed ratio, automatic,
all-wheel drive
Suspension: Double wishbone front, five-link rear
Weight: 2,640 kg
