BMW i7 is finally available in China which is by far the most competitive luxury car market in the world. The i7 wil complete BMW's electric car portfolio with other 4 EVs already on the market - iX, i4, iX3 and China-only i3. The BMW i7 will be initially available only in one trim - i7 xDrive60L. The “L” used to signify a long-wheel base vehicle in the past but the i7 sold in China has exactly the same length of 5,391 mm and the same wheelbase of 3,215 mm as its European counterpart. The “L” seems to refer to First Class Seats in the rear which in China come as standard.
The i7 xDrive60L is the only option but is
available as either Deluxe Package or M Sport Package - both cost exactly the
same eye-tingling RMB 1,495,000 (US$ 210,000). The differences between the two packages are in wheels, interior wood
trim, steering wheel and exterior chrome trim - surprisingly it is the M Sport
Pack that comes with chrome.
The car uses the same powertrain we know
from its European version - two electric motors with combined output of 544 hp and 745 Nm of torque which propels this nearly 3 metric ton luxury
barge from standstill to 100 km/h in just 4.7 seconds. The CLTC gave the car a
range of 650 km but WLTP was far less optimistic at 625 km with EPA being
probably the most realistic at 499 km.
While the i7 xDrive60L went on sale, BMW
announced its slightly less powerful version eDrive50L will be available soon
at a RNB 1,2 million or nearly US$ 172,500 with the presale starting now with a
RMB 200,000 discount. This version is not available on any other markets and it
seems it is using powertrain from BMW i4 eDrive40 with its RWD configuration
and 340 hp output.
BMW is expanding its portfolio of electric
cars in China and plans to have 11 EVs on sale before the end of the next year
- that’s 6 more models within the next 2 months. The China-made iX1 will join
its siblings next year with an expected price of around RMB 300,000 in order to
face its main competitor, Tesla Model Y.
