BMW i7

  • 2023 BMW i7 at Forwardism, by BMW in Malaysia – 625 km EV range; fr RM707k; 158 units OTR as of Aug 31

    2023 BMW i7 at Forwardism, by BMW in Malaysia – 625 km EV range; fr RM707k; 158 units OTR as of Aug 31

    At BMW Group Malaysia’s Forwardism, by BMW event happening from September 23-24, 2023 near Mandarin Oriental in Kuala Lumpur, visitors can get up close and personal with the BMW i7, which was officially launched here back in June this year. The i7 is available in a sole xDrive60 M Sport variant that retails for RM707,250 on-the-road without insurance.

    This price is with a standard two-year warranty, and if you want the extended warranty and service package, it goes up to RM729,800. These prices factor in the ongoing incentives provided by the government, and a good number of customers have already taken deliveries, with 158 units registered on the road as of August 31, 2023 according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia’s data.gov.my portal.

    BMW Group Malaysia revealed today that it has delivered over 1,600 units of BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad electric vehicles (EVs) in just eight months this year. With these figures, the i7 effectively makes up nearly 10% of all EVs sold by the company in 2023.

    2023 BMW i7 at Forwardism, by BMW in Malaysia – 625 km EV range; fr RM707k; 158 units OTR as of Aug 31

    With the i7, you’re getting an EV that will provide up to 625 km of range following the WLTP standard and a dual-motor setup capable of getting the over-2.5-tonne luxury limousine from 0-100 km/h in just 4.7 seconds on its way to electronically limited top speed of 240 km/h. The specs are as follows:

    • Electric motors output: 544 PS (536 hp or 400 kW) and 745 Nm
    • 0-100 km/h time: 4.7 seconds
    • Top speed: 240 km/h
    • Battery capacity: 105.7 kWh gross (101.7 kWh net)
    • Range (WLTP): 625 km
    • AC charging: 11 kW Type 2; 0-100% in 9.5 hours
    • DC charging: 195 kW CCS2; 10-80% in 34 minutes

    The i7 we get here comes standard with two-axle adaptive air suspension and Integral Active Steering, the latter allowing the rear wheels to turn up to 3.5 degrees. Other items in the kit list include the M Sport exterior package with more aggressive bumpers front and rear, accompanied by a set of 21-inch M Aerodynamic style 909 M alloy wheels in a multi-colour Jet Black finish.

    There are also automatic soft-close doors, a Sky Lounge panoramic glass roof as well as Iconic Glow illumination for the kidney grille as well as crystal headlamps with adaptive LED technology and High-beam Assistant.

    The interior upholstery is BMW Individual Merino leather paired with Fineline black fine-wood and M signature high-gloss metal effect trim, Crafted Clarity crystal glass applications and an anthracite headliner. Other appointments are the glitzy backlit BMW Interaction Bar, an M leather steering wheel and Executive Lounge seating with a dedicated rear console, heel rest, massage function and lumbar support.

    Passengers will also get to enjoy creature comforts such as a 21-speaker Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system, while a wireless phone charger, four-zone climate control, comprehensive ambient lighting, roller sunblinds as well as and powered, ventilated and heated comfort seats (with ventilation). The Rear-seat Entertainment Professional package is also included, bringing with it the 31.3-inch BMW Theatre Screen that rear passengers can use to consume content on the move.

    As for infotainment, the i7 gets the BMW Live Cockpit Plus system with the Curved Display (12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 14.9-inch centre touchscreen) and BMW Operating System 8. The system includes Connected Package Professional (wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support), My Modes and IconicSounds Electric on top of a multitude of media and connectivity features.

    Last but not least, the Driving Assistant Professional package includes front and rear autonomous emergency braking, Lane Change Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Front/Rear Crossing Traffic Warning, Exit Warning, Active Cruise Control with stop & go function, Speed Limit Info with Automatic Speed Limit Assist and Evasion Assistant.

    More driver assistance systems come in the form of Parking Assistant Plus that provides features such as Reversing Assistant, Active Park Distance Control, Lateral Parking Aid and a surround view camera.

    2023 BMW i7 at Forwardism, by BMW in Malaysia – 625 km EV range; fr RM707k; 158 units OTR as of Aug 31

    The i7’s colour palette is vast, with no-cost options being Oxide Grey, Brooklyn Grey, Mineral White, Sophisto Grey, Aventurine Red and Black Sapphire. For an extra RM6,300, you can have two BMW Individual hues, namely Tanzanite Blue and Dravit Grey.

    If a two-tone look is what you’re looking for, it’ll set you back an additional RM50,000 for one of eight options from BMW Individual. The first four themes pair a Black Sapphire top half with a bottom that is either in Oxide Grey, Aventurine Red, Tanzanite Blue or Dravit Grey. As for the remaining options, it is a Oxide Grey upper in combination with a lower half in either Black Sapphire, Aventurine Red, Tanzanite Blue or Dravit Grey.

    Meanwhile, the Merino leather comes in Black, White, Amarone (a deep red) or Tartufo (a caramel-like colour). Each i7 comes with a public charging AC cable, roadside assistance, BMW Service Online and the BMW Group Loyalty+ Mobile App – BMW Privileges Card.

    2023 BMW i7 xDrive60 M Sport spec sheet; click to enlarge

     
     
  • 2023 BMW i7 xDrive60 M Sport in Malaysia – 625 km EV range, 544 PS, 31.3-inch theatre screen; fr RM707k

    2023 BMW i7 xDrive60 M Sport in Malaysia – 625 km EV range, 544 PS, 31.3-inch theatre screen; fr RM707k

    Following the launch of the seventh-generation BMW 7 Series G70 in May, BMW Malaysia has now introduced the all-electric version of the luxury sedan, the i7. Available in a sole xDrive60 M Sport variant, the i7 retails for RM707,250 on-the-road (OTR) without insurance.

    This price is with the standard two-year warranty, and if you want the optional extended warranty (five years) and service (six years) package, the figure increases to RM729,800. Keep in mind that BMW Malaysia factors in road tax into the OTR prices of its electric vehicles (EVs), which is RM7,774 for the i7. However, given EVs are exempted from road tax until December 31, 2025, the actual amount payable is lower.

    Even so, the i7 costs more than the plug-in hybrid 750e xDrive that comes in two versions: Pure Excellence at RM649,800 and the M Sport that carries an estimated price tag of RM700,000 (including the extended warranty and service). The premium you’re paying nets you an electric vehicle (EV) with a lot more power than the plug-in hybrid, with a pair of electric motors – one for each axle – delivering a total system output of 544 PS (536 hp or 400 kW) and 745 Nm of torque.

    These outputs are good for a 0-100 km/h time of 4.7 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 240 km/h. You’ll also get up to 625 km of WLTP-rated range from the car’s underfloor-mounted lithium-ion battery with a gross energy capacity of 105.7 kWh (101.7 kWh net).

    2023 BMW i7 xDrive60 M Sport in Malaysia – 625 km EV range, 544 PS, 31.3-inch theatre screen; fr RM707k

    For charging, the i7 comes with a Combine Charging Unit (CCU) that allows for AC charging at a rate of up to 11 kW via a Type 2 connection, with a full charge taking about 9.5 hours. There’s also DC fast charging up to 195 kW with a CCS2 connection, which enables a 10-80% state of charge to be reached in just 34 minutes. Two-axle adaptive air suspension and Integral Active Steering (rear-wheel steering) are also standard fitment for the i7.

    In terms of kit, the i7 comes with the M Sport exterior package that adds more aggressive bumpers front and rear, accompanied by a set of 21-inch M Aerodynamic style 909 M alloy wheels in a multi-colour Jet Black finish. There are also automatic soft-close doors, a Sky Lounge panoramic glass roof as well as Iconic Glow illumination for the kidney grille and crystal headlamps, the latter featuring adaptive LED technology with High-beam Assistant.

    Meanwhile, the interior is furnished with BMW Individual Merino leather upholstery along with Fineline black fine-wood and M signature high-gloss metal effect trim, Crafted Clarity crystal glass applications, an anthracite headliner, a backlit BMW Interaction Bar, M leather steering wheel and Executive Lounge seating with a dedicated rear console, heel rest, massage function and lumbar support.

    For infotainment, the i7 gets the BMW Live Cockpit Plus system with the Curved Display (12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 14.9-inch centre touchscreen) and BMW Operating System 8. The system includes Connected Package Professional (Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support), My Modes and IconicSounds Electric on top of a multitude of media and connectivity features.

    Media playback is handled via a 21-speaker Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system, while a wireless phone charger, four-zone climate control, comprehensive ambient lighting, roller sunblinds as well as and powered, ventilated and heated comfort seats (with ventilation) are luxuries that passengers can enjoy. Those in the rear can also marvel at the 31.3-inch BMW Theatre Screen, which is part of the standard Rear-seat Entertainment Professional package.

    The i7 is equipped with the Driving Assistant Professional package, which includes front and rear autonomous emergency braking, Lane Change Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Front/Rear Crossing Traffic Warning, Exit Warning, Active Cruise Control with stop & go function, Speed Limit Info with Automatic Speed Limit Assist and Evasion Assistant. More assistance comes in the form of Parking Assistant Plus that provides features such as Reversing Assistant, Active Park Distance Control, Lateral Parking Aid and a surround view camera.

    2023 BMW i7 xDrive60 M Sport spec sheet; click to enlarge

    BMW Malaysia is offering the i7 in a multitude of colours, with the no-cost options being Oxide Grey, Brooklyn Grey, Mineral White, Sophisto Grey, Aventurine Red and Black Sapphire. The palette also includes two hues from BMW Individual, namely Tanzanite Blue and Dravit Grey, which add RM6,300 to the asking price.

    For a two-tone look, you’ll need to cough up an additional RM50,000 for one of eight options from BMW Individual. The first four themes pair a Black Sapphire top half with a bottom that is either in Oxide Grey, Aventurine Red, Tanzanite Blue or Dravit Grey. As for the remaining options, it is a Oxide Grey upper in combination with a lower half in either Black Sapphire, Aventurine Red, Tanzanite Blue or Dravit Grey.

    You have a few colour options for the Merino leather too, including Black, White, Amarone (a deep red) and Tartufo (a caramel-like colour). Each i7 comes with a public charging AC cable, roadside assistance, BMW Service Online and the BMW Group Loyalty+ Mobile App – BMW Privileges Card.

     
     
  • BMW i7 xDrive60 configurator shows RM730k price?

    BMW i7 xDrive60 configurator shows RM730k price?

    A configuration link for the BMW i7 xDrive60 in Malaysia has been going around social media, revealing an estimated price of RM730,000. You can’t get to the configuration through the BMW Malaysia website though, it only works if you directly key in the configurator URL in your browser.

    UPDATE: The BMW i7 has been launched in Malaysia.

    Other than the price, the configurator reveals an impressive list of specs for the i7. If this is true, the i7 will end up being a very high spec car. You can browse through the screen caps of the config pages in the gallery below or just head to the configuration link.

    LINK: BMW configurator

    Some highlights include Rear Seat Entertainment Professional, Bowers & Wilkins sound, Integral Active Steering, Sky Lounge panoramic glass roof, massage seats, and even automatic doors, which allow the doors to swing open and close on their own – you no longer need a sliding door MPV for that!

    Of course, given that the i7 hasn’t been launched yet, this might not be the final price and specs of the car.




    Nine exterior colours are available in the configurator, with five of them ‘standard’ colours being Black Sapphire, Mineral White, Oxide Grey, M Brooklyn Grey and Aventurine Red.

    You can upgrade to BMW Individual Dravit Grey or BMW Individual Tanzanite Blue colour choices with a RM6,300 premium, or fork out RM50,000 for the special BMW Individual Two-Tone Black Sapphire Metallic or BMW Individual Two-Tone Oxide Grey.

    This allows you to combine the Black Sapphire and Oxide Grey paintjobs with any other colour, and yes the RM6,300 premium still applies if you pick the Individual colours for the two-tone, so the maximum paint premium is RM56,300, bringing up the price of a customised i7 to RM786,300.

    As for interior, four choices of colour are available – Merino Amarone, Merino Smoke White, Merino Black and Merino Tartufo, all paired with fine-wood black with metal effect trim.

    Of course being an electric car, we have to get down to the specs. The i7 boasts 544 electric horsepower from two motors (one on each axle for all wheel drive) and a massive 105.7 kWh battery that allows up to 625 km of range. The 100 km/h sprint can be done in as quick as 4.7 seconds.

    We also note that AC charging is quoted as 22 kW, so this i7 spec has it upgraded from the standard 11 kW. There’s also DC fast charging up to 195 kW with a CCS2 connection, which enables a 10-80% state of charge to be reached in just 34 minutes.

     
     
  • 2023 BMW i7 previewed in Malaysia – G70 7 Series EV with 544 PS, 615 km range; Mercedes-Benz EQS rival

    2023 BMW i7 previewed in Malaysia – G70 7 Series EV with 544 PS, 615 km range; Mercedes-Benz EQS rival

    In April this year, BMW unveiled the all-new, seventh-generation G70 7 Series, which is also available as an electric vehicle in the form of the BMW i7. Shortly after, BMW Malaysia began accepting registrations of interest for the i7, with the EV also being listed on the company’s website.

    UPDATE: The BMW i7 has been launched in Malaysia for RM729,800.

    Fast forward to yesterday (July 19, 2022), and the i7 has now made its first appearance in Malaysia. It should be noted that the EV was presented during a private preview event and has not officially gone on sale – we don’t know yet when this will happen. Additionally, the car you see here is a left-hand drive, pre-production unit that is not representative of what BMW Malaysia will offer customers here.

    During the global debut of the i7, BMW said the fully electric sedan will initially be offered worldwide in xDrive60 guise before further variants, including the M70 xDrive, arrive in the future. With the xDrive60 powertrain, the i7 features a 101.7-kWh underfloor-mounted lithium-ion battery that offers up to 625 km of range according to the WLTP standard – 615 km is quoted on the ROI page.

    The battery powers two electric motors – one for each axle – with the all-wheel drive setup being rated at 544 PS (536 hp or 400 kW) and 745 Nm of torque. These outputs are good for a 0-100 km/h time of 4.7 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 240 km/h. BMW Malaysia curiously quotes a higher torque figure of 795 Nm on its website, which is what the i4 M50 offers.

    For charging, the i7 comes with a Combine Charging Unit (CCU) that allows for AC charging at a rate of up to 11 kW via a Type 2 connection, with a full charge taking about 9.5 hours. There’s also DC fast charging up to 195 kW with a CCS2 connection, which enables a 10-80% state of charge to be reached in just 34 minutes.

    Styling-wise, the i7 looks a lot like a regular G70, so there’s the unmistakable large kidney grille and split headlamps, accompanied by EV-specific touches like blue accents on certain body panels and the BMW badges. As you’d expect of a flagship EV sedan, the interior of the i7 is lined with lots of premium materials and is loaded with tech, including a bevy of displays that range from small ones on the door panels to a massive 31.3-inch 8K BMW Theatre Screen.

    The i7 will take on the Mercedes-Benz EQS, which has been sighted in Malaysia ahead of a launch set to take place later this week on July 22. We don’t know which variant of the EQS we’re getting yet, but in its highest-non-AMG guise, the EQS 580 4Matic offers 523 PS (516 hp or 385 kW) and 855 Nm (0-100 km/h in 4.3 seconds, 210 km/h top speed) as well as 50 km more range from its 107.8-kWh battery.

    How much will the BMW i7 price be in Malaysia? No news yet, but it has a UK starting price of around 110,000 pounds, which translates to just under RM580k at current exchange rates. Add on some equipment instead of leaving it a base model, and perhaps we could see the BMW i7 priced at between RM600,000 to RM700,000 in Malaysia, which is competitive against the EQS 450+’s RM699k price tag.

    BMW Malaysia is certainly not slowing down when it comes to electro-mobility, as in the past months, the company has launched the iX, iX3, i4 (including the M50 variant). Besides the i7, other BMW EVs listed on the website include the performance-focused M60 variant of the iX as well as the iX1.

    GALLERY: G70 BMW i7

     
     
  • 2023 BMW i7 – first all-electric 7 Series; xDrive60 with 544 PS, 745 Nm, 625 km EV range, 101.7-kWh battery

    2023 BMW i7 – first all-electric 7 Series; xDrive60 with 544 PS, 745 Nm, 625 km EV range, 101.7-kWh battery

    BMW has already announced its commitment to electric vehicles, as exemplified by the introduction of the iX, i4 and iX3. With the debut of the all-new, seventh-generation G70 7 Series, the German carmaker is adding another crucial model to its EV line-up, the BMW i7.

    The i7’s biggest rival is undoubtedly the Mercedes-Benz EQS, but unlike Stuttgart’s offering which is built on a on a dedicated EV platform, the i7 shares the same Cluster Architecture (CLAR) platform with the regular 7 Series range, which has been modified and improved for its latest application.

    The CLAR platform was developed from the start to be modular and can accommodate a variety of powertrains, be it internal combustion engines, mild hybrids, plug-in hybrids or fully electric. In the case of the G70, all four powertrain types are offered, although their availability is highly dependent on the market the latest 7er is sold in.

    If you want to find out more about the regular, non-EV 7 Series, we’ve prepared a separate post for you to check out. Here, we’re focusing solely on the i7, which will first be offered worldwide as the xDrive60 before a future flagship variant, the M70 xDrive, arrives later in 2023, along with further variants.

    2023 BMW i7 – first all-electric 7 Series; xDrive60 with 544 PS, 745 Nm, 625 km EV range, 101.7-kWh battery

    The i7 xDrive60 features an underfloor-mounted lithium-ion battery that operates on a 376.4-volt electrical architecture, is just 110 mm tall and has a net energy capacity of 101.7 kWh. This powers a pair of electric motors – one for each axle – providing the big limousine with all-wheel drive.

    According to BMW, the front electric motor is rated at 258 PS (255 hp or 190 kW) and 365 Nm of torque, while the rear electric motor pumps out 313 PS (308 hp or 230 kW) and 380 Nm. Both are paired with a single reduction gear (8.77 ratio front and 9.4 ratio rear), with the total system output being 544 PS (536 hp or 400 kW) and 745 Nm.

    With a kerb weight of 2,640 kg, the i7 xDrive40 is considerably heavier than the V8-powered 760i xDrive that tips the scales at 2,270 kg. Even so, the EV version of the 7 Series takes just 4.7 seconds to get from 0-100 km/h and will hit an electronically limited top speed of 240 km/h, which is 0.5 seconds and 10 km/h slower than the 760i xDrive.

    In-house comparison aside, the i7 xDrive40’s main competition is the EQS, and the Mercedes-Benz EV in its highest-non-AMG guise, the EQS 580 4Matic, offers 523 PS (516 hp or 385 kW) and 855 Nm, good for a century sprint time of 4.3 seconds, although it maxes out at 210 km/h. With its 101.7-kWh battery, the i7 xDrive60 offers a maximum range of 625 km following the WLTP, around 50 km less than the EQS 580 4Matic – the Mercedes has a 107.8-kWh battery. Other rivals? The Tesla Model S and Lucid Air.

    2023 BMW i7 – first all-electric 7 Series; xDrive60 with 544 PS, 745 Nm, 625 km EV range, 101.7-kWh battery

    For charging, the i7 comes with a Combine Charging Unit (CCU) that allows for AC charging at a rate of up to 11 kW via a Type 2 connection, with a full charge taking about 9.5 hours. There’s also DC fast charging up to 195 kW with a CCS2 connection, which enables a 10-80% state of charge to be reached in just 34 minutes.

    The battery can also be recharged with energy recuperation, and BMW says it has further honed the feature for the i7. Termed adaptive recuperation, BMW says its system allows the intensity of brake energy recuperation during overrun and braking to be automatically optimised for the road situation, using data from the navigation system and the driver assistance systems’ sensors.

    For example, the level of recuperation can be increased when approaching a junction to feed energy back into the battery, while on the open road, the coasting function can take over so the car can “freewheel” with no drive power being sent to the electric motors, reducing consumption.

    2023 BMW i7 – first all-electric 7 Series; xDrive60 with 544 PS, 745 Nm, 625 km EV range, 101.7-kWh battery

    While adaptive recuperation is the default when the car is put into D, drivers can also manually choose the amount of brake regeneration via the iDrive menu, with the highest setting (automatically activated in B) resulting in one-pedal driving.

    As with the other variants in the 7 Series line-up, the i7 features double wishbones up front and a five-link setup at the rear, both with adaptive air suspension and dampers. The i7 also has its own heat pump technology used in the integrated heating and cooling system for the cabin and drive system for better efficiency, including a dedicated 5.5-kW electric flow heater for the high-voltage battery.

    We did mention that there will be an M70 xDrive in the future, and that variant will also sport dual motors, but with a lot more power. BMW says it will have over 600 PS (592 hp or 441 kW) and 1,000 Nm, making it the most powerful BMW model ever registered for road use, and will do the 0-100 km/h sprint in under four seconds. The M70 xDrive will take on the Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4Matic+.

    2023 BMW i7 – first all-electric 7 Series; xDrive60 with 544 PS, 745 Nm, 625 km EV range, 101.7-kWh battery

    Styling-wise, the i7 is marked out from the rest of the 7 Series range by the blue accents on the lower portions of the front and rear aprons as well as the sides (rocker panels and wheel hub caps). The hue is also used on the outermost ring of the BMW badges, with other identifiers include the BMW i emblem on the largely closed-off grille and the “fuel” door opens to reveal the charging port.

    Inside, you’ll find the same blue-ringed BMW badge on the steering wheel, slightly different “gear” selector text on the centre console and EV-specific displays. Beyond that, the interiors of the EV and non-EV versions are pretty much identical and can be trimmed and furnished to whatever levels of luxury a customer might want. As for the overall design, we discuss the (likely) controversial exterior and mesmerising interior in our main overview of the 7 Series.

    With all said and done, what do you think of BMW’s first fully electric 7 Series? Does the performance and range impress? Do you prefer it to the Mercedes-Benz EQS? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

     
     
 
 
 

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Last Updated Jun 27, 2024