2023 BMW i7: Electric limousine to deliver 625km driving range

UPDATE, April 19: BMW has confirmed the WLTP-rated driving range for its upcoming i7 flagship sedan, just days ahead of its reveal.

The luxury sedan will boast a driving range up to 625 kilometres in its most economical form – consuming 18.4kWh per 100 kilometres – while the 'M' variant of the electric vehicle is expected to return a range of 590 kilometres.

Covers are set to come off the electric 7 Series this week, signalling a major shift for BMW with its premium products moving away from internal-combustion engines.

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March 16: The 2023 BMW i7 will be fully revealed at the New York motor show next month.

BMW teased the electric 7 Series at the company’s annual conference, announcing the brand’s electric flagship will come with up to 610 kilometres of driving range.

While full details have yet to be confirmed, it’s expected the i7 will share much of its eDrive powertrain with the iX SUV, with the limousine rumoured to be offered in three variants: an entry-level rear-wheel-drive version, a mid-range all-wheel-drive version, and a range-topping M model.

The high-performance i7 will deliver 580km of range and a maximum of 455kW in M guise – matching the iX M60 – indicating the sedan will likely offer 1100Nm of torque and a 0-100km sprint in around four seconds or less.

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BMW's trademark coffin grille will also feature with LED outlines, complemented with sparkling LED headlights, and its party piece – fully-automatic doors.

Inside, crystal ambient back-lit trims will greet occupants, while a 31-inch screen will slide down from the roof for rear-seat passengers, offering a 32:9 display and 8K streaming resolution.

The new 7 Series will also be available with petrol, hybrid, and fully-electric powertrains, with full specifications to be announced next month.

The 2023 BMW i7 will make its debut at the New York motor show on April 15, 2022, with local availability to be provided closer to its Australian launch.

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The story to here

BMW has released more teasers of its upcoming luxury electric flagship, the i7.

While the i7 prototype in these “official spy shots” remains camouflaged, it is our best look yet at the model all around.

Unlike the EQS, which is changing the shape of Mercedes-Benz's range-topping sedan in EV guise, the i7 appears to be more boxy and traditional in shape – although the finer details are yet to be seen.

As is customary on new BMWs however, the next i7 will feature a huge grille to be shared with the new 7 Series.

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BMW also will introduce a new headlight design like that of the facelifted X7 SUV. Instead of single-unit headlights, there will be split daytime running lamps and driving lights above.

No drivetrain details have been released yet, but BMW’s modular CLAR platform which sits underneath the i4 and iX should also underpin the i7. This groups the electric motor, transmission and electronics into a single unit and reduces production time, and it's lighter – which increases driving range. Anticipated is a dual-motor setup with 385kW of power and all-wheel drive in the xDrive50.

Specs should resemble a 0–100km/h time of around 4.5 seconds and a top speed over 200km/h. A more affordable xDrive40-badged variant with around 240kW is likely to be offered but with a slower six second 0-100km/h time.

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BMW also claims the car’s suspension, steering, braking, driving dynamics and stability systems have been “designed to raise the balance between sportiness and ride comfort that’s typical of the brand’s luxury sedans to the next level.”

With the i7 competing directly against the Mercedes-Benz EQS, we expect BMW will need to achieve a driving range of around 650 kilometres to remain competitive – as the the EQS is capable of almost 800km on a single charge. Rapid charging will be a necessity to be relevant.

Launch timing for BMW’s seventh-generation 7 Series is next year, as it goes on sale at the end of 2022 along with the traditional combustion-engine 7 Series.