First Details of BMW i7 BEV Powertrain Revealed
BMW has released the first details of its luxury executive BEV ahead of its world premier of the BMW i7 next month.
During the automaker’s annual conference, Frank Weber, member of the board of management for development, revealed the BEV’s range of up to 370 miles on the WLTP rating. Some characteristic design elements of twin round headlights and BMW grille have been reinterpreted for modern tastes. Some of the special design statements are upper light elements made of exclusive crystal glass and the illuminated contour of the kidney grille.
In the interior, the focus is on user experience with new My Modes and the latest generation of the iDrive operating system. My Modes enable the driver to customize the car’s driving characteristics and interior ambience. Also a new type of light and function strip on the instrument panel and the doors provides a visual and haptic quality. The BMW Interaction Bar is part of the ambient lighting and also features integrated control buttons.
The BMW Theatre Screen, which moves out of the roof liner, is an ultra-wide screen with a 31-inch screen, 32:9 panoramic display format and 8K streaming resolution. It tries to create a private cinema lounge for rear passengers to select their personal entertainment program from a diverse range of streaming offers.
Weber said: “The new BMW 7 Series is absolutely trail-blazing in every respect. Like no other model, the BMW 7 Series stands for BMW’s innovative strength. The all-electric BMW i7 is also the most powerful BMW 7 Series. It combines the best driving experience with the ultimate digital experience. This makes it the ideal vehicle for forward-thinking, responsible decision-makers and avant-garde pioneers.”
— Paul Myles is a seasoned automotive journalist based in Europe. Follow him on Twitter @Paulmyles_
