2027 BMW i7 first look: A fantastically techy car for the 1 percent

Big, fancy executive sedans are a dying breed, particularly erstwhile it comes to EVs. With nan Tesla Model S and Mercedes' EQ line connected their measurement out, pickings are slim. Aside from nan upcoming S-Class, there's nan Lucid Air, Cadillac Celestiq and possibly nan Porsche Taycan, depending connected really acold you're consenting to agelong nan definition. But arsenic nan marketplace leader successful luxury sedans, BMW isn't giving up yet. With nan presence of nan caller 7-series, nan institution has made a car — pinch a complete scope of gas, hybrid and afloat electrical options — that genuinely embraces modern gadgetry.

Overview

Because we're EV enthusiasts present astatine Engadget, we're chiefly going to talk astir nan caller i7, which is nan battery-powered type of nan caller 7 series. Unfortunately, owed to building regulations astatine Grand Central Station successful NYC wherever BMW's uncover was held, nan institution was only allowed to showcase a gas-powered car, truthful this communicative features photos of nan 740. However, institution representatives told maine that location are mostly only insignificant cosmetic differences betwixt nan ICE and EV models (powertrains aside), truthful consciousness free to comparison my shots pinch nan official property images to spot if you tin spot immoderate changes.

As for nan i7 itself, it will beryllium disposable successful 3 main trims: nan i750 xDrive, nan i760 xDrive and nan i7 M70 xDrive, nan second of which is nan fastest and astir powerful of nan bunch. Pricing starts astatine $105,750 for nan i750 and $126,250 for nan i760, some of which will beryllium disposable astatine motorboat sometime later this year. The i7 M70 will travel later, astir apt successful 2027, pinch pricing still TBD.

Every exemplary will travel modular pinch a dual-motor AWD drivetrain pinch nan guidelines i750 offering 455 horsepower aliases 544hp connected nan i760, earlier going each nan measurement up to a whopping 680hp connected nan i7 M70. Compared to nan outgoing models, nan caller 2027 i7 besides features a importantly larger powerfulness battalion (112.4kWh, up from 105.7kWh) composed of BMW's caller sixth-gen artillery cells. This helps support faster charging speeds of 250kW (up from 195kW) on pinch a autochthonal NACS larboard and a 400-volt architecture, which is bully capable to return nan car from 10 to 80 percent successful astir 28 minutes. The upgraded batteries should besides construe into longer range, pinch BMW claiming nan i760 will present much than 350 miles connected a azygous charge, based connected soul metrics utilizing EPA testing procedures.

Finally, arsenic we're still waiting for nan iX3 to make its charismatic debut successful nan US market, nan caller 7-series is besides BMW's first car for nan States to characteristic nan company's Neue Klasse creation language, which features a massively upgraded postulation of tech connected nan inside. More connected that erstwhile we get to nan interior.

Exterior

One of nan astir absorbing things astir nan caller 7-series is that it was designed to person fundamentally nan aforesaid exterior sloppy of which powertrain each individual exemplary has. BMW claims this not only makes it easier for customers to take if they want a gas, hybrid aliases electrical car, it besides presents a much unified look crossed nan family. That said, location are a number of features for illustration nan grille and recessed doorway handles that make BMW's latest luxury sedan look much for illustration an electrical car than a accepted ICE vehicle. I moreover noticed that connected nan gas-powered 740 BMW had connected display, its tail pipes were pointed down and hidden distant down nan car's rear bumper, which plays into nan various models' shared identity. That said, connected M Sport models and nan M Performance version owed retired adjacent year, things for illustration tailpipes will beryllium overmuch much salient to thief assuage nan benignant of enthusiasts who aren't fresh for nan modulation to electrification.

Up front, BMW ditched nan stacked headlights recovered connected nan erstwhile exemplary successful favour of a caller razor-thin creation that features 24 crystal LEDs that create a neat gem-like appearance. Meanwhile, nan company's signature kidney-shaped grille has been fixed a thoroughly futuristic update, complete pinch built-in lighting (including programmable Welcome and Goodbye patterns) and progressive aero. Around back, nan 7-series' taillights person been extended to astir nan full width of nan vehicle, creating a much unique look.

Interior

For tech enthusiasts, nan wrong of nan caller 7-series is simply a existent marvel of engineering and gadgetry, headlined by BMW's Neue Klasse creation language. Depending connected really you're counting, location are betwixt 5 and 7 different displays. In nan center, there's nan 17.9-inch main surface (which supports some Android Auto and CarPlay), positive nan company's Panoramic Vision (which is really a projector) that adds different bladed show crossed nan full bottommost of nan windshield. Panoramic Vision besides provides a much accepted 3D HUD for things for illustration turn-by-turn navigation while driving.

For nan driver, BMW besides updated nan i7's steering instrumentality pinch what nan institution is calling "shy tech." This intends controls are only illuminated erstwhile a circumstantial characteristic is available, while besides providing haptic feedback for further tactile response. And though I didn't get to thrust nan car myself, BMW reps told maine that nan car's assisted driving tech has been updated truthful that it's much accommodating to small, manual adjustments. On different cars, this mightiness disable hands-free driving wholly aliases unit you to wrestle pinch a robo-controlled steering wheel.

For nan first clip connected immoderate of its vehicles, BMW is including a 14.6-inch Passenger Screen that tin beryllium utilized to watercourse movies, euphony and more, wholly independent of what's connected nan main display. Then location are 2 mini panels mounted connected nan doors for rear spot passengers to power things for illustration ambiance settings and more. And pinch a Bowers and Wilkins sound strategy comprising 36 speakers and 4,000 watts of output, audio surely hasn't been neglected.

However, nan existent showpiece of nan full conveyance is arguably nan optional 31-inch 8K Theater Screen, which BMW claims is nan largest show successful immoderate accumulation car today. It's mounted connected a motorized framework that lowers itself down from nan ceiling and it's simply massive. Gadget nerds will admit that it comes pinch an onboard webcam, truthful you tin usage it for video calls. And erstwhile you're not working, you tin moreover brace accessories for illustration Bluetooth controllers pinch nan surface to play games. There are moreover woofers mounted beneath nan rear spot to supply what BMW says is simply a 4D sound experience.

My favourite portion of this ensemble is nan full-size HDMI jack that’s located adjacent to nan USB-C larboard connected nan backmost of nan halfway console. This will let you to hook up beautiful overmuch thing you want and bask it connected that immense 31-inch display. And akin to erstwhile 7-series models, nan i7 still features BMW's executive seating mode, which pushes nan beforehand rider spot up an other 20cm while reclining nan rear, providing a genuinely luxurious measurement to bask a car thrust (there's moreover a small built-in footrest). Another mini point that imaginable buyers will surely admit is that BMW is besides providing 4 years of information and entree to its Digital Premium work arsenic modular connected each vehicle.

Initial thoughts

With each of these changes, BMW is calling this nan caller 7-series, but it's really person to a mid-cycle refresh pursuing a total overhaul backmost successful 2023. For group who tin ne'er get capable surface space, nan i7 and its gas-powered siblings are practically overflowing pinch displays. Plus, I really emotion BMW's attraction to item that allows users to brace peripherals for illustration crippled controllers to nan onboard displays aliases plug successful outer devices via HDMI. As personification who likes nan much futuristic, streamlined exterior you spot connected a batch of EVs, I deliberation BMW has done a awesome occupation of striking a mediate crushed that useful for some state and electrical powertrains.

Even nan i7’s guidelines specs person gotten immoderate large bumps, some successful position of scope and charging speeds, though astatine immoderate point, BMW will request to upgrade its 400-volt architecture to thing beefier. In a batch of ways, i7's starting value of $105,750 is its biggest hurdle, because for tech lovers, it feels for illustration BMW has covered each nan bases and past some. On nan agleam side, if you tin spend one, you tin astir apt besides spend to prosecute a driver each now and past truthful you tin return advantage of nan 7-series' executive seating mode.