BMW India Launches The New 7 Series In Two Guises
One burns petrol for propulsion, while the other relies on electricity.
To kick-start the proceedings of 2023, BMW India has introduced the new 7 Series. The flagship sedan is available in two guises – the petrol-fed 740i M Sport and the pure-electric i7 xDrive60. While the former comes with a price tag of IN 1.70 crore, the latter costs INR 1.95 crore. Also, the conventionally-powered variant is assembled locally at BMW India’s Chennai plant. On the other hand, the costlier derivative lands on Indian soil as a direct import.
BMW 740i M Sport
Powering this variant is a turbocharged 3.0-litre engine that offers 381hp and 520Nm of peak torque. In the mix is a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, which aids the internal combustion engine with an extra 18hp/200Nm but only in certain scenarios. The oomph goes to the rear wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission. The setup is enough to register a 0-100kmph sprint time of 5.4 seconds and a top speed of 250kmph.
Yes, the features list is an impressive one. It includes stuff like ambient lighting, automatic tailgate operation, four-zone automatic climate control, powered and ventilated seats and an 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system. The list goes on to include BMW’s connected-car technology, a 31.3-inch display with 8K resolution, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a head-up display.Â
The limousine comes with 20-inch alloys and an interior trim consisting of fine wood, oak mirror finish high-gloss grey metallic finishes. BMW India has devised seven exterior colour options and five for the Merino leather upholstery, including Mocha and Amarone. Also, it goes without saying the safety kit on the new 7 Series is extensive, covering stuff like an electric parking brake with auto-hold function, a tyre pressure monitoring system and Dynamic Stability Control.
BMW i7 xDrive60
It’s the first-ever pure-electric 7 Series. Instead of using a fossil-fuel-burning engine, the i7 makes do with two electric motors – one for each axle. Together, they offer an electric all-wheel-drive setup and can propel the luxury saloon with 544hp/745Nm. All that goes to the wheels via a single-speed transmission. BMW claims that the i7 xDrive60 can hit 100kmph from a standstill in 4.7 seconds and reach an electronically-limited top speed of 240kmph.Â
The electric motors get their juices from a 101.7 kWh (Gross) battery, which supports charging via AC and DC feeds. Wait times? An 11kW AC charger would take around 10.5 hours to charge the battery from zero to 100 per cent. That means the wait time is about halved when using a 22kW AC feed. However, using a 195kW DC charger, the car should replenish its battery from 10 to 80 per cent in 34 minutes. BMW says that using the recommended fast charger, the i7 xDrive60 can gain 170km of range in 10 minutes.
Features? Well, the list is almost the same as the 740i M Sport. But there are a couple of extras, including auto-closing doors, active cruise control and 21-inch wheels.
In India, the new BMW 7 Series renews its rivalry with the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the Lexus LS and the Audi A8 L. Obviously, the biggest armour in BMW’s arsenal is that pure-electric derivative, which isn’t present with any other direct rival.
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