BMW India has begun its new year operations with the launch of its flagship sedans – the 7 Series and i7. The ICE-powered 7 series has been priced at Rs. 1.70 crore ex-showroom while its electric derivative comes 25 lacs dearer.
The luxury sedans were launched at the brand’s own JoyTown auto fest in Mumbai’s BKC, on the 7th of January. The 7th-gen 7 Series sports the German automaker’s new split LED headlamp design coupled with a massive illuminated kidney grille.
Both the cars are open for booking through BMW dealerships with deliveries starting in March.
The 7 Series & i7: Exterior Design
With split LED headlamps & a bigger grille, the automaker has made the sedan appear more radical-looking yet premium. The futuristic styling elements provide them with an unmistakable road presence and are sure to turn heads on Indian roads.
The gloss-black elements on the bumper flow towards the sleek, vertical air vents placed under the headlights. Over to the rear, two sleek, horizontal LED bars adorn the boot along with air vents located on the bumper. The side profile features illuminated, flush-fitting door handles and also a new design for the 19-inch alloy wheels.
Blue accents, the ‘i’ badge on its grille & missing chrome exhaust tips in the i7 are the sole differentiators. The design is largely the same with only certain aspects marking the petrol & electric powered limos apart.
Interiors
The rear seat is the main highlight of the flagship bimmers which are laden with an array of touchscreen units. BMW has equipped its luxury limousines with a roof-mounted, 31.3-inch, 8k cinema screen that folds down to offer video streaming. This is done by integrating the screen with Amazon Fire TV in order to play shows from various OTT platforms.
That’s not all, both the rear door-pads also get 5.5-inch touchscreens for controlling the cinema screen, air-con, & other features. All the doors of the limousines are powered & come with soft closing while supporting smartphone key operation as well.
The dashboard is adorned with a range of different textures and layers, especially the back-lit crystal-glass bar accents all around. The brand’s curved display with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch touchscreen uses the latest iDrive 8 software.
Powertrain Options & Other Specifications
740i M Sport – In India, the 740i M Sport comes with a 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder petrol engine producing 380hp and 580NM of torque. This motor is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and propels the sedan from 0-100kph in a claimed 5.4 seconds.
The sedan also gets the latest version of BMW’s Integral Active Steering, which provides up to 3.5 degrees of steering angle to the rear wheels. Thanks to the xDrive AWD system, adaptive air-suspension, and electronically controlled dampers, this sedan achieves a top speed of 250kph.
i7 xDrive60 – The BMW i7 has been launched in India in its top-spec xDrive 60 variant that gets two electric motors. A 101.7 kWh battery powers the combined 536.4 bhp and 745 Nm of torque-producing motors for a certified 625 km/charge.
Official Statement
At the event, Mr. Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India said, “The seventh-gen BMW 7 Series marks a turning point. It is a symbol of ‘Forwardism’ that continuously challenges the ordinary, a unique quality distinguishing those who shape what’s next. But one thing hasn’t changed – it is still the measure for all things luxury. The first-ever BMW i7 is a true all-electric luxury sedan that clearly demonstrates how an exclusive driving experience can be combined with an unwavering commitment to sustainability.”
The 7 Series will be locally produced at the BMW Group Plant in Chennai while the i7 will be imported to India as a CBU.