Automakers have mostly been in the pursuit of making cars that are as quiet and as refined as possible. Unless we’re talking about high-performance sports cars, where engine noise and the audible sensation of speed are part of the equation, most automakers are doing their absolute best to make cars just as isolated as your living room. If this is the absolute goal of automakers in general, then the 2024 BMW i7 is a vehicle that’s closer than ever to a car with such levels of isolation.
Fundamentally Well-Engineered
As a recap, the 2024 BMW i7 is the electric version of the 7 Series. This means that unlike several EVs these days, the i7 isn’t using a bespoke electric vehicle (EV) architecture. Instead, it uses a new generation of BMW’s Cluster Architecture (CLAR) platform wherein it can accommodate both an internal combustion engine (ICE), a plug-in hybrid drivetrain, and a pure electric drivetrain.
This means that the BMW i7 should feel slightly compromised, right? Well, yes and no. For one, in fairness to BMW, they’ve built a reputation here at Go Flat Out PH for making efficient EVs despite the platform limitations. Granted, at 4.13 km/kWh, that’s not efficient by EV standards in general, but for a full-size luxury limousine, that’s still a good figure. Furthermore, we’ve been enjoying its sheer power, too, as the dual motors produce a whopping 544 horsepower and 745 Nm of torque–enough for a 0-100 kph time of just 4.7 seconds. Drive efficiently though, and it’s easy to achieve more than 5 km/kWh. For reference, the Audi Q8 e-tron 50 I reviewed recently is less efficient.
With a large 105.7 kWh gross (101.7 kWh usable) battery pack, this energy consumption means that it has a good enough real-world range of around 420 kilometers—though this is quite off from the maximum WLTP-rated range of 625 kilometers. Again, this will be dependent on how you drive as well as other external factors.
Opulence With A Dose Of Athleticism
Where the 2024 BMW i7 xDrive60 shines is with the driving experience. The 7 Series has always been the pinnacle of BMW’s model range, and by going electric, it made the 7 Series even more refined than it’s ever been. The copious amounts of sound insulation, combined with the rigid chassis and the silence of the electric motors make for a large luxury sedan that’s probably nearly as good as a Rolls-Royce. This is one of those cars whose sense of isolation is so strong, that it’s easy to drive past legal speed limits without you realizing it. It’s a good thing this has a large color head-up display because you’ll need it.
Of course, there’s the instant torque that an EV is able to offer, but actually, while there’s that degree of being gut-punched when accelerating hard if you so desire, the i7 is easy to control. The all-wheel drive (AWD) grip is reassuring, and despite being a large limousine, it handles with a surprising amount of athleticism through excellent body control. The steering is responsive, though being a 7 Series, is tuned more with stability in mind, so don’t expect it to have the steering feel of an M3, for example. It’s athletic enough to still deserve the BMW badge, yet supple enough to fulfill its limousine duties.
As a result, an S-Class feels more isolated when seated at the back. In the i7, you can feel the road a bit more than in the Mercedes, but just barely. The 7 Series has always tried to induce athleticism in the limousine segment because even though these are mostly chauffeur-driven cars, the i7 has a high proportion of self-driven buyers–the ones who also want to be the captain of the ship as opposed to just being the passenger.
Nice On The Outside, Even Nicer Inside
Finally, the 2024 BMW i7 is filled with all of the opulence and prestige you’d expect in the flagship Bimmer. The front end has separate LED headlight clusters, wherein the LED daytime running lights have lenses that are made out of Swarovski crystals. The grille is imposing, and while it was controversial when it first came out, I do think it suits the i7’s monolithic design really well. It’s a design statement, for sure–0ne that will make everyone move out of your way.
Elsewhere, the BMW i7 looks surprisingly like your classic luxury sedan from Munich. The lines are simple yet elegant, with just the right amount of detailing to keep things interesting. The sheer length of the i7 also adds to the overall elegance of the limousine–one that the jellybean-like Mercedes-Benz EQS fails to emulate, I’m afraid.
But the main piece de resistance of the 2024 BMW i7 is its tech-filled interior. Just opening the doors is a sensory experience because these doors can open on their own. Oh, and if you’re worried if it’ll hit whatever’s beside it, you have absolutely nothing to worry about thanks to sensors built into the doors. Once inside, you’ll be greeted by an interior that transports you to a place of serenity and isolation. The materials are top-notch, and the tech plays a central role in the i7 experience.
A lot of things in the i7 are controlled in the latest iDrive 8.5 infotainment, which also works in tandem with the digital gauge display. The artistic nature of the interface is eye candy, but if I’m being honest, I’ve probably reached a point where I just wish for something much simpler to look at. iDrive 8.5 is slightly more intuitive than iDrive 8 (which can be updated over the air), but the system is more than ever less reliant on the rotary controller that has made iDrive intuitive to operate. I’m also not a fan of how a lot of stuff is buried in the touch screen, such as the climate control and even some of the drive mode functions. Thankfully, the voice assistant is just good enough–though barely, to understand all of your commands.
What everyone will undoubtedly love is the sheer level of luxury in the 2024 BMW i7. All seats in the i7 now have a massage function that’s probably even better than your masseuse, while the rear seats can be adjusted to your heart’s content. There are shades for all glass sources (except for the front, of course), and also the absolute best Bowers & Wilkins sound system I’ve ever experienced in a vehicle.
Why Electric Is A Natural Evolution For Luxury
This is why electric is a natural evolution for the luxury sedan. If an automaker’s absolute goal is to eliminate all outside noise sources, then the 2024 BMW i7 achieves that with flying colors. The BMW i7 isn’t just a way to cruise around Metro Manila and the provinces in sustainable luxury, but also in a manner where all that matters is what’s inside the vehicle. With the silence of electric motors, combined with the level of isolation that a vehicle like the i7 can offer, you’ll enjoy unparalleled refinement and luxury that challenges even BMW’s own Rolls-Royce ultra-luxury brand. In the case of the 2024 BMW i7, this is an EV whose refined actions speak louder than the noise it emits.
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