Guest
Thanks: Silent Auto @Silent-Auto 2024 BMW i7 Starting at $ Highs: Hides its size and weight well in corners, powerful electric powertrains, the cabin's so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Lows: Can't cruise for the same highway distance as a gas-powered 7-series, tech overload inside, styling isn't for everyone. Verdict: With more connected features and displays than a Silicon Valley keynote address, the i7 is a luxury EV for the chronically online. Overview Electric powertrains make a lot of sense in a large luxury car. Take the 2024 BMW i7, which features a powerful EV powertrain with a nearly silent operation that only serves to enhance the feeling of serenity that luxury buyers expect. Couple that with a smooth ride and a spacious cabin built from premium materials and you have an electric 7-series that's worth its asking price. The i7 is a sedan for the tech-savvy buyer, too, as it's filled to the brim with digital displays and even can be had with a drop-down theater system for those chauffeured in the back—something its chief rival, the Mercedes-Benz EQS, doesn't offer. The i7 xDrive60 comes with 536 horsepower and a driving range of up to 318 miles, while a performance-oriented M70 trim boosts power to 650 hp and offers a range of around 295 miles. A rear-wheel drive eDrive50 model is offered too, and although BMW hasn't said yet, it should offer the most driving range of the bunch. Those range numbers are good enough to compete with rivals such as the Porsche Taycan and the Tesla Model S, neither of which offer anywhere near the sort of sybaritic luxury that the i7 does. What's New for 2024? BMW has added the 650-hp M70 and 449-hp eDrive50 models to the i7's lineup for 2024. The more powerful electric powertrain is said to power the big sedan to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds and still offers an estimated 295-mile driving range per charge. The eDrive50 uses a single, rear-mounted motor but BMW hasn't yet disclosed its performance or range estimates. Otherwise, we're expecting that the i7 will carry over to the new year with no other major changes. Pricing and Which One to Buy eDrive50: $106,695 xDrive60: $125,195 M70: $169,495 EV Motor, Power, and Performance All-wheel drive i7s use a similar electric powertrain setup as the brand's EV SUV, the iX, with two electric motors—one driving each axle—making a combined 536 horsepower. In our testing, the i7 xDrive60 hit 60 mph in 4.1 seconds. The rear-wheel drive eDrive50 model makes 449 horsepower and performance will likely be slightly slower. The more powerful M70 model dials up the heat to 650 horsepower and we estimate that model will hit 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds. Handling is surprisingly agile for a large sedan but the regular i7 won't attract buyers looking for sports-sedan handling. Those seeking a comfortable and luxurious experience will find much to like and during our first test drive, we noted its particularly smooth ride and hushed cabin. The M70 model dials in more fun, and the large sedan feels unnaturally light on its feet, but it's not as sharp as BMW's real M-series cars. If you'd prefer a gasoline-powered 7-series, one is still available; we review that model separately. Read More 📌 Instagram ▶ 📌 Tiktok ▶ @cartvpress
