BMW projects US range of up to 305 miles for flagship i7 sedan, due for launch in April
BMW projects an EPA-rated range of up to 305 miles for the i7, the electric version of its flagship 7-Series sedan. The i7 will be revealed in April and is expected to go on sale as a 2023 model.
The next-generation 7-Series will likely be offered in a form that closely resembles both petrol and electric powertrains. BMW says both versions will have similar exterior styling with an enlarged grille and a similar interior.
However, the i7 will debut the BMW Theater Monitor, a 31-inch widescreen with 8K resolution extending from the roofline, allowing rear-seat passengers to watch movies while they’re with the driver.
Trailer for BMW i7 2023
BMW has returned to building electric vehicles based on its existing petrol models. It planned to offer a electric version of the 3-Series sedan, but instead we get i4, a fastback based on the 4-Series Gran Coupe. The IX3 is an electric version of the X3 crossover SUV, but it’s not sold in the United States.
However, dedicated EVs may offer more opportunities to increase efficiency. BMW’s estimate is around 3 mph/kwh which is a bit lower than we’d expect from a flagship model like the i7.
The Lucid Air offers up to 520 miles of range, over 4 miles/kwh of performance and an interior that is said to match the 7-Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class in terms of space. Mercedes is also proud in terms of the performance of its EQS, touted as electrically equivalent to the S-Class, but quite different from that sedan.
BMW i7 prototype in 2023
Granted, BMW’s range estimate is in line with the automaker’s previous claim that it don’t target 400 miles range or more. The automaker expects to continuously expand its charging infrastructure to make the extra range unnecessary.
With the discontinuation of i3, BMW there won’t be a true dedicated EV platform until 2025, when a new line of electric vehicles called “Neue Klasse” (German for “New Class”) is scheduled for launch. The name refers to a group of models that saved the company in the 1960s and largely forged BMW’s modern identity. The automaker expects electric vehicles to account for half of global sales by 2030, but has not set an expiration date for internal combustion engines.
