BMW i7 xDrive60 | The Sky Is The Limit
The i7 xDrive60, BMW’s most luxurious EV, offers sustainable performance, cutting-edge technology, and premium comfort. I’m always in for testing luxurious cars so I definitely couldn't be missing out on this one! Let’s explore the various features and capabilities of the BMW i7 xDrive60 and see how it stacks up against our expectations.
The Giant Berline
First things first, this car stands out on Belgian roads with its big and robust look. You really can't drive this car incognito, everyone will turn their head to take a look at this giant beast. By saying this, we definitely should start our tour with the exterior of the BWM i7. Starting at the front, we’ll see it looks very aggressive for an EV but at the same time, It also gives me a bit of a Rolls Royce feeling. Probably because of the higher guise of the front. It also features BMW's signature kidney grille, which is reimagined with an specific pattern that gives the car a distinct and modern look. A funny thing about that grille is that it can be optionally illuminated, how cool is that?!
But that’s not the only cool thing on the front, something really eye-catching are the sleek state-of-the-art LED headlights. They’re both functional and aesthetically pleasing. The pleasing part is because of the Swarovski crystal elements inside the headlights. They are so shiny and add so much value to this car. The functional part on the other side is because of the high beam assist that will light up the road ahead perfectly without blinding other drivers on the road. Oh, and when you are close to the car, the lights will start to illuminate! Integrated lights in the door will provide you a carpet of light projected on the ground and the Swarovski crystals inside the headlights will show off so perfectly you just have to fall in love with this car.
Let’s continue our tour and look at the side of the BMW i7; believe me, the side profile of the i7 is impressive! Its long and elegant silhouette of 5.39 meters emphasizes the car's size and power. Even though, when driving this car it doesn’t feel that big because BMW has built this car in such a balanced way. You just forget how enormous this thing is, all of the proportions are just right. I also really like the 21-inch light-alloy wheels which are unique to the i7. They don’t look like the average wheels of an electrical car, and they just add to the car's modern aesthetic look. Another thing that grabbed my attention, are the tinted rear windows. They are so dark you can’t even see if there’s someone in the back, which is a big plus for the privacy of the passenger. All windows also have solar control glass that reduces the sun's heating effect. The last side view highlight we’ll mention is the BMW Individual Dravitgrau two-tone body paint that makes the i7 look even more luxurious. It's a cool but expensive option to choose for but it makes the BMW i7 stand out just that little bit more!
Let’s go a bit further and let’s take a closer look at the back. Just like the front, it’s kept clean as it should be so there isn't much to talk about. The most important highlight of the rear are the L-shaped LED taillights. They have the same sleek design as the headlights and are also animated when they illuminate. Because of its length, the trunk is very big and especially very deep. It also features a power-operated trunk lid, which can be opened and closed with the touch of a button. This is a convenient feature that makes it easy to load and unload cargo, especially when your hands are full. Overall, the BMW i7’s exterior is a masterclass in modern automotive design.
Technology On Point
The inside of this car is all about technology and luxury. You don’t feel like you’re in a car when you take place behind the wheel because the seats feel better than most sofas you will ever have at home. All of the seats have heating, cooling, and massage functions, and that last one is amazing! You just want the massage to be activated all the time! But this car is actually more enjoyable when you don’t have to drive but just can be driven around by someone else, more about that later! The first thing that you will notice when getting behind the wheel is the 14.9” curved display and BMW Interaction Bar which spans across the dashboard and continues into the door panels. It provides access to the vehicle's infotainment system, navigation, climate control, and other functions. The screen is intuitive and the infotainment system is easy to use.
The interior of the BMW i7 is superior! All of the seat control buttons, gear selection knob, and infotainment navigation scroll wheel are made out of Swarovski crystals, similar to what we saw before in the front headlights. Even the ambiance lighting in this car is stunning and out of this world. The BMW Interaction Bar in the dashboard and the translucent Sky Lounge sunroof turn into a true work of art at night. The lines in the sunroof and background of the Interaction Bar create an incomparable atmosphere through dynamic lighting effects. Of course, you can change the whole ambiance and color of the car via all the screens in the car. If you don’t want any light above you, you can activate the blind with one press of a button. When you want to get out of the car, a simple touch on your screen or a push on the doorknob will open the door automatically. You can even open all doors at once and close them again with one touch on the touchscreen or even by a simple voice command! The BMW i7 xDrive60 is just too crazy! Btw, did you notice the M-theme colored lines on the dashboard and headrests, a perfect finishing touch if you ask me!
As I said earlier, the BMW i7 is way more enjoyable when you move to the backseats. When you get comfortable in the seat behind the passenger, you can turn the seat into a real Lounge. The passenger seat goes completely to the front and the backseat turns into a super comfy lounge with leg support and massage function of course! Once you’re comfy, you can activate the most special and never seen before experience. This car turns into a real cinema with one simple press of the integrated 5,5” touchscreens in the door. The Skylounge sunroof gets covered and the giant 31.3” screen slides into its position. To be honest, it’s the craziest thing I have ever experienced in a car. With the theatre screen activated you can now watch your favorite movie or series and enjoy the ride in a way you never imagined to be possible. With the Bowers & Wilkins diamond surround system you get 35 speakers that maximises the whole cinema experience! All of this is the main reason you shouldn’t buy this car if you don’t have a personal driver who drives you around.
The Drivable Ship
But still, driving this car is a pleasure in itself. It’s big and bulky but I’ve never expected this car to drive as smoothly as it did. With its 544hp and 4-wheel drive, this heavy car sprints from 0–100 kph in just 4.7s. It really doesn’t feel like it weighs 3250kg and is almost 5,4m long, crazy! The rear wheels also turn the opposite way when you need to park the car for example. You really don't notice you're driving such a big car but the only thing that gives away how big and wide this car is, is how small the roads are when driving the i7. This makes it a bit difficult for some of the driver assistance systems like the lane-assist to make sure you stay in your lane. It tends to push the car a bit too much from left to right, but that’s the only negative remark.
Talking about driver-assistance systems, not a single one is missing in the BMW i7. There’s lane assist, adaptive cruise control with traffic sign recognition, park-assist, and executive drive pro which makes this car completely adjustable to your needs. You can change the way your steering wheel feels, adjust the height of the air suspension, and the way the car reacts when taking a turn for example. With a range of 591-625km (WLPT), this one can take you to a galaxy far, far away! And when you need to charge, it goes from 10% to 80% in approximately 34 minutes with a fast charger. So this is one of the not-yet-so-many electric cars that will take you a long way without needing to charge every 300km.
The Ship Wrapped up
This car didn’t disappoint, not even a bit. If you're looking for a high-performance luxury electric vehicle that is both sustainable and sophisticated, the BMW i7 is an excellent choice. This is the perfect car for anyone who has the money to spend on it and the reason I’m saying this is because this car comes with a correct but nonetheless high price. The BMW i7 xDrive60 starts at €137.970 (BE) for the basic one and €145.000 (BE) for the one with the M-package. But when you add some of the great options, you will reach €200.000 (BE). For this price, you’re getting one of the most amazing cars on the market at the moment with an unparalleled driving experience that is both thrilling and eco-friendly.
