BMW has revealed the all-new seventh generation of its flagship 7-Series sedan, and those controversial split headlamps drafted in from the latest X7 SUV are arguably the least interesting talking points. That’s because the 2023 7-Series also heralds the arrival of the model’s first-ever EV, the i7 xDrive60, and some pretty cool technology, like the humungous 31-inch rear screen that hangs down from the headliner to bring a whole new meaning to drive-in movies.
Speaking of dinosaurs, while many buyers
will be turned on by the idea of the 7-Series going electric, there’s still
plenty here to keep ICE fans happy, including an entry-level car that’s 40 hp more powerful than before. The base 740i costs US$ 93,300 (plus US9 95
destination) and comes with a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six featuring
48-volt mild-hybrid technology, and developing 375 hp and up to 540 Nm in electrically-boosted mode. Step up to the US$ 113,600 (+ US$ 995)
760i xDrive and you gain all-wheel drive, swap a six for a V8, still with
mild-hybrid tech, and now have 536 hp and 750 Nm at your
disposal. That’s enough to chop 0.8 seconds from the 740i’s 5-second 0-96 km/h time. Sadly, there’s no V12 in the range this time around, meaning
the US$ 119,300 (+ US$ 995) i7 xDrive60 is the new flagship. Featuring two highly
electric motors with a combined output of 536 hp and 744
Nm of torque, it will sprint from 0-60 in about 4.5 seconds and take you 300
miles before requiring a fill.
BMW might have made an effort to reduce
the carbon footprint of the 7-Series by as much as 39 percent versus the old
car, but its physical footprint is bigger than ever. The latest Seven has grown
by 126 mm in length and now measures 5.4 m between the
bumpers, making the standard short wheelbase car BMW revealed today close in
size to the stretched version of the old car. The 3.2 m wheelbase is
only 5 mm bigger than last year’s, but some of that extra overall
length means luggage capacity in ICE versions gets a boost from 18.2 cu ft to
19.1 cu ft (the i7 makes do with 17.7 cu ft). Like the latest X7, the 7-Series
mates a huge pair of grille kidneys with a tiny set of headlamps, or at least
that’s what BMW’s stylists want you to think. In fact, the top set of lights is
merely DRLs, while the main headlight units are slightly hidden in a bumper
recess below.
There are some interesting design changes
along the side, too, in the form of flush door handles and a thick chunk of
chrome on the C-pillar that really draws your eye to BMW’s famous Hofmeister
kink. And taking a leaf out of Mercedes’ Maybach book, BMW is offering two-tone
paint options through its BMW Individual service.
But if you prefer your 7-Series to exude a
sportier look, you’ll be heading for the M Sport package instead. Standard on
the 740i and 760i xDrive and optional at no extra costs on the i7 xDrive60, it
brings minor styling tweaks that can be upgraded further with the optional M
Sport Package, (confusing, we know, but this one has a capital “P”) on the i7
xDrive60. Or you can go balls-out and specify the M Sport Professional Package
on any of them, adding M Sport brakes with blue or black calipers, a small rear
spoiler, and an extended Shadowline treatment.
Beyond the tautly surfaced doors, which
feature Digital Key smartphone unlocking, and optional automatic opening and
closing capability, there’s the now-familiar sight of BMW’s curved digital
display that blends a digital instrument pack with a touchscreen infotainment
system and the latest iDrive8 software. Like the BMW’s Mercedes S-Class rival,
the latest 7-Series features 5G connectivity to allow passengers to watch
video-on-demand services like YouTube, though not when the car is in motion.
There’s a smaller, redesigned shifter for
the automatic transmission on the console, something we’ve seen on the X7, but
what we haven’t seen before is the Interaction Bar, a touch-sensitive strip
running right across the dashboard that provides ambient lighting while at the
same time housing virtual buttons for many of the car’s features. But for many
7-Series owners it’s what’s happening in the rear seats, and not those in the
front, that really matters. Extending the voice assistant coverage to the rear
compartment brings the 7-Series into line with its rivals, but the big news
here is the availability of an optional 31-inch Theater Screen display
suspended from a roof that sits 2-in closer to the clouds than the old car’s,
resulting in a noticeable increase in rear headroom.
When passengers activate Theater Mode, the
rear of the car is transformed into a private cinema, the 4K, Amazon
Fire-equipped display screen is lowered, the sun shades are raised, and the
seating angle and interior lighting are adjusted to help you get lost in the
moving movie experience. Those rear seats can be reclined an impressive 42.5
degrees, so getting comfortable shouldn’t be an issue. Rear occupants also get
5.5-in Touch Command digital switch pods in the doors that look like mini
smartphones and allow them to operate various functions including placing calls
which they’ll hear through optional headrest speakers if they spend big to
upgrade the standard 655 W, 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins hi-fi to the same
company’s 1,965 W, 36-speaker Diamond Surround Sound System.
Whether you’re sitting in the front or the
back you’ll benefit from standard air suspension and adaptive dampers, while an
optional rear-wheel steering system can reduce the turning circle by 0.8 m. An also-optional active anti-roll package promises smooth progress on
less than smooth roads. But in a sign of where the 7-Series, like all luxury
cars, is headed, BMW proudly says the 2023 car is capable of hands-free driving
at speeds of up to 130 km/h when equipped with the optional Driving
Assistance Professional Package. If you like the idea of driving your 7-Series
rather than it driving you, this latest G70-generation car could be your last
chance.
The 2023 7-Series launches in the U.S. in
winter 2022, but pre-orders for the i7 open on April 20.