First Drive: BMW’s revised i7 brings more refinement than ever
The i7 has always offered top-class luxury, but what have recent changes done to the experience? Jack Evans finds out.
What is it?
The i7 was just the same, but in keeping with this cutting-edge theme, it’s been updated to incorporate some of BMW’s very freshest features. We’ve been driving it for the first time to find out what has changed.
What’s new?
On the outside, the i7’s design has been updated to bring it closer into line with the ‘Neue Klasse’ iX3 and i3 models currently on sale. That means larger illuminated kidney grilles and sleeker, slimmer headlights.
What’s under the bonnet?
A top-whack charge speed of 250kW means that a 10 to 80 per cent charge can be conducted in as little as 28 minutes when the i7 is hooked up to a suitably rapid charger. In addition, a plug-in hybrid version is available for those who would still like a form of electrification but with a petrol engine working in the background.
What’s it like to drive?
For those who are planning on experiencing the i7 from the back seat, prepare for a comfortable ride. There’s bags of space back there and the well-cushioned seats help it to all feel truly first-class. Given that the 7 Series has always been a popular chauffeur option, we can see no reason why this new i7 couldn’t continue the trend.
How does it look?
Then there are the illuminated kidney ‘grilles’. They’re larger than ever and hard to miss, and will certainly prove to be a talking point. But from side-on, the i7 retains the classic silhouette of the 7 Series through time, so while some areas are quite controversial, in others they feel old-school. We were big fans of the new metallic green paint that our test car was finished in, too.
What’s it like inside?
What about space in the back? As mentioned, there’s loads of room to stretch out and get comfy, and there are plush headrest cushions to fall back on. Need entertainment during the journey? Activate the enormous 31.3-inch Theatre Screen which folds out from the roof to transform the back of the i7 into a cinema. It’s now equipped with a camera, which means that you could host video conferences while on the move. Or leave the office at home and enjoy a film instead.
What’s the spec like?
From there, you can run away with the options should you want to. The Theatre Screen, in particular, is part of the £6,350 ‘Executive Lounge Pack’ which adds that huge display alongside a lounge-like rear seat which folds out and provides an extra leg rest for the best-possible comfort when you’re on the move. Given that the i7 is often picked by those who want to be driven rather than drive, we can see this being a popular box to tick.
Verdict
BMW says that the i7 has undergone ‘the most extensive model update’ in its history and in many areas, we’d agree. It feels a lot more tech-heavy than its predecessor, but fortunately none of the classic limousine-like features have been lost. This remains one brilliantly refined and comfortable saloon car, continuing a BMW tradition that has been in place for decades.
As we’ve said previously, electric power feels like the right choice for the 7 Series and, in this new i7, it’s a setup which feels better than ever.