BMW Keeps Its Options Open With Multi-Powertrain 7 Series and 720-Kilometer i7

BMW parked its new 7 Series inside Vanderbilt Hall at Grand Central Terminal last week. The automaker used the New York transit hub to reveal the first existing model line to carry Neue Klasse technology. Buyers will choose between a 48-volt mild-hybrid combustion engine, a plug-in hybrid, or the fully electric i7.

The strategy is officially branded as technology openness. The company is keeping its options open while competitors abandon internal combustion flagships. Galore Mag, a pop culture publication, noted that BMW even displayed a first-generation 7 Series alongside the new car. It was a clear attempt to anchor this radically styled vehicle to a respected fifty-year lineage.

The electric i7 stretches its WLTP range past 720 kilometers. That translates to roughly 447 miles on the European test cycle. Halve the WLTP highway rating to roughly get the practical range in freezing weather.

BMW achieved this jump by switching to sixth-generation eDrive cylindrical battery cells. The net capacity sits at 112.5 kWh. Volumetric energy density is up by 20 percent compared to the older prismatic cells. The modular housing for this battery maintains the exact same external dimensions as the outgoing unit.

Three distinct electric variants will eventually reach the market. The entry point is the i7 50 xDrive, producing a combined 455 horsepower from front and rear electric motors. The mid-tier i7 60 xDrive pushes out 537 horsepower using a similar twin-motor setup.

The flagship M70 xDrive increases that output to 671 horsepower. It cuts the zero to 100 kilometer per hour sprint to a claimed 3.8 seconds. All three variants use electrically excited synchronous motors to turn the axles.

BMW chose this electric motor design specifically to produce the rotors without using rare-earth magnets. The environmental reasoning makes sense. The lack of permanent magnets also changes the torque delivery curve at high speeds.

The charging hardware reveals a conservative engineering choice. The i7 tops out at 250 kW on a direct current fast charger, completing a 10 to 80 percent charge in 28 minutes. GTspirit, a European automotive news outlet, reported that BMW continues to rely on a 400-volt architecture here.

Most luxury rivals are migrating to 800-volt systems to shave a few more minutes off the plug. Why BMW avoided the higher voltage standard on its flagship is a genuine question. The only reason they did this seems to be cost cutting. I do not have the exact answer from Munich yet.

The mechanical foundation relies on a standard adaptive two-axle air suspension. The system features electronically controlled shock absorbers to manage the heavy curb weight. You can also specify an optional active steering system that includes active roll stabilization.

The physical mass of a large luxury sedan requires massive intervention to prevent the car from leaning in corners. Buyers can select 22-inch wheels straight from the factory for the first time. If you want a trouble free ride over broken pavement, you should avoid those massive rims and stick to the standard 20-inch setup.

Combustion variants remain on the table because certain global markets demand them. The automaker will build all three powertrain types on a single assembly line at the Dingolfing plant in Germany. The entry level combustion model starts as the 740 xDrive, producing roughly 400 horsepower.

Diesel models like the 740d xDrive are still being manufactured for European buyers. The engine delivers 313 horsepower to all four wheels. This will make diesel an even worse option going forward as cities continue to enact strict emission zones, but rural drivers still purchase them.

Two plug-in hybrid options, the 750e and 760e, fill the gap between the extremes. They combine straight-six combustion engines with electric motors to offer an electric-only range of up to 50 miles. If you regularly commute long distances but want electric silence in the city, you should test the plug-in hybrid.

The Dingolfing plant uses secondary materials and renewable electricity to assemble these vehicles. BMW integrated aluminum wheels made with a high percentage of recycled metal. They also implemented new manufacturing processes for the battery cells to lower the total carbon footprint before the car hits the road. You should remember that building any luxury sedan always requires massive industrial effort.

A massive 31.3-inch screen drops from the ceiling for rear passengers. Up front, the dashboard features a new Panoramic iDrive display running on BMW Operating System X. They also added a separate 14.6-inch screen specifically for the passenger.

The software integrates artificial intelligence tools tied to Amazon Alexa for voice commands. I don’t tend to entertain such nonsense when evaluating a car’s mechanical merits. A massive piece of glass does not make a vehicle handle better on the road. The car also features hands-off driving up to 81 mph on approved European highways.

Competitors have fractured their lineups over the last few years. Mercedes-Benz split its S-Class and EQS into entirely different vehicles with separate platforms. BMW kept the 7 Series under one roof regardless of what spins the wheels. This multi-powertrain approach spreads the financial risk across different consumer preferences.

Take the bold exterior styling as a direct result of Asian and North American sales data. The company prioritized a commanding visual presence over subtle aerodynamics. Look past the massive illuminated kidney grille and judge the car by its highly rational manufacturing strategy.