BMW’s all-electric I7 will have 600 hp and will be the most powerful version of the new flagship 7 Series sedan.
The all-electric version of the new BMW 7 Series sedan will deliver more than 600 hp, said CEO Oliver Zipse, offering more power than plug-in hybrid petrol and diesel versions.
According to the brand’s recent naming strategy, the electric version will be called i7.
The next generation of the BMW 7 Series will be unveiled at the Beijing Motor Show on April 20, Zipse said at the BMW Group’s annual press conference.
The internal combustion versions will have new engines developed to comply with Euro 7 pollution regulations, which will be announced in July, Zipse said.
He described the new 7 Series as “the next ace in our luxury growth strategy”.
The new model is already in the pre-production phase and will go on sale by the end of the year.
Technical Director Frank Weber presented several interior features, including a 31-inch high-definition rear passenger screen that folds over the ceiling and folds behind the front headrests. A look at the dashboard area revealed a minimalist design seen in the iX as well.
The 7 Series will offer so-called “Level 2 plus” driver assistance features at launch.
Strategy different from Mercedes
All propulsion systems of the new 7 Series will be based on a single architecture, the latest evolution of the CLAR platform with rear-wheel drive / all-wheel drive and have virtually the same body style.
Former rival Mercedes has chosen a different strategy to electrify its iconic sedans. The traditional S-Class offers internal combustion power, including a plug-in hybrid, while the all-electric EQS ​​uses a different platform and has its own body style.
Buyers of luxury sedans are increasingly turning to all-electric models.
Last year, Porsche Taycan was the best-selling segment in Europe, with 17,106 sales, more than three times higher than its Porsche internal combustion counterpart, Panamera, according to Dataforce figures.
The I7 will be one of 15 all-electric models that BMW says will be in production by the end of 2022, including pre-series models.
BMW says that by 2030 half of global sales will be fully electric, although Zipse said the group is working hard to achieve this goal sooner. He said the group’s sales of electric vehicles could reach 1.5 million a year by then, depending on how infrastructure and battery supply are developed.