The next-generation BMW 7-Series will be
available with a wide range of powertrains, among them gasoline and diesel,
hybrids and of course an all-electric solution which should power the so-called
i7 variant. We’ve seen the i7 prototype before, except during its spy debut it
wasn’t being driven and those images weren’t quite as revealing as these recent
batches. Visually, we expect the vehicle to feature a somewhat conservative
shape, compared to the Mercedes EQS at least.
Despite being fully camouflaged, these
prototypes appear to have more of a “shark nose” shape out front than the
current 7-Series, while the profile looks elegant, with a strong shoulder line
and pop-out door handles. It’s hard to tell right now exactly where this car’s
headlights are going to be positioned, but it’s possible they might sit lower
than they do in the G11. As for the interior, everything will be digital, from
the gauge cluster to the infotainment system, although we don’t know the exact
layout yet.
We can also merely speculate with regards
to power units. Of course, it’s unlikely that BMW would allow Mercedes to leave
them in the dust with the EQS, which means the i7 should be competitively
specified in relation to its direct rival. Then there’s the plug-in hybrid
variant, which as you can see looks pretty much the same as the fully electric
one – minor aesthetic differences should be expected though, like a different
grille or the fact that the PHEV has quad pipes at the rear while the i7 does not.
The all-new BMW 7-Series and all of its
derivatives should make their public debut sometime in 2022. The i7 will
challenge not only the Mercedes EQS, but also the next-gen Jaguar XJ, which
will be fully electric.
