Is this the most magnificent Seven yet? Apart from its electric-pure drivetrain, the i7 is also a technology masterpiece … and can even be ordered with a cinema. It’ll be here before year-end.

SHOULD Government stick with using BMW’s largest sedan as its state and ministerial car, and also stay true to electric car commitment, then surely the model unveiled overnight will be in the Ardern administration’s portfolio?

 It’s the first ever all-electric BMW 7-Series. Ultimately this brazenly-styled new generation model will also continue with fossil fuel options – albeit all with plug-in tech - as well as in fully battery-committed format, yet from tenor of communication from Munich, the i7 is the priority build.

BMW New Zealand appears set to be among first right-hand drive markets, with promise today that first examples will be here before year-end. That puts us on par with the United Kingdom, a much bigger volume market, which takes the car from November. Potentially, too, the BMW might land ahead of an arch rival, Mercedes EQS sedan.

 Based on the latest version of BMW’s ‘CLAR’ (cluster architecture) platform, which allows for the use of pure combustion, PHEV and all-electric drivetrains, the new model is a world away from the diesel-powered models that have served the Government for more than a decade.

 Quite aside from the obvious styling changes, which deliver the notable feature of a large and backlit front kidney grille and new split headlight design that will be reserved for its flagship models, there’s the massive technology imprint, much of it already being experienced by Kiwis who are buying into the new iX. 

 First out into the roadscape is the xDrive60 which features two electric motors – one, of course, for each axle - giving total outputs of 420kW and 745Nm of torque.

 It’ll be followed next year by the family flagship, an i7 M70, with a provisional power output of 486kW.

 The 0-100kmh time for the xDrive 60 is 4.7 seconds, and the top speed is 240kmh.  In WLTP testing the 101.7kWh battery has shown a draw rate of 19.6-18.4kWh per 100km, suggesting a range of up to 625km. Not quite the same endurance as a diesel Seven but probably easily enough for most daily demands asked of the Ministerial fleet. DC-charging capacity of up to 195kW means the maximum ability to add approximately 170km of range in around 10 minutes at a compatible charger.

 The suspension setup involves double wishbones at the front with a multilink rear, and widened tracks compared to the outgoing G11-generation 7 Series. Air suspension is fitted as standard and is able to drop the ride height by 10mm in Sport mode (or at higher speeds to lower drag), or raise it by 20mm if the conditions demand. 

 BMW has done away with separate short- and long-wheelbase models, instead deciding on the bigger of the two for the new model, which obviously allows more space inside, but also makes the car proper longer, wider and taller than before.

 Problem? Not really. Yes, it’ll be quite a big thing in urban settings, yet might not be too much of a whale. An all-wheel steering system turns the rear wheels by up to 3.5 degrees, in the opposite direction to the front wheels at lower speeds and in the same direction at higher speeds. This brings handling benefits at speed and a reduction in the turning circle around town. Further improving dynamics are a 48-volt motor-based active anti-roll system and variable-ratio steering. 

 The model has Level 2-plus self-driving capability meaning that it has a suite of functions that, in certain situations, allows the driver to remove hands off the wheel, though they must be ready to resume control at all times.

 The bulk of this autonomous ability comes in the form of the Active Cruise Control with a Stop and Go function, which, working with the Steering and Lane Control Assistants, can remove some of the driver workload. This is operated by a single button on the steering wheel. Speed Limit Assist can also control the speed of the car based on its ability to recognise warning signs rather than just the speed of the vehicle ahead.

 Also onboard is Assisted View, which relies on an array of sensors and cameras to build up a picture of other nearby vehicles, relaying it to the driver's instrument cluster, potentially eliminating dangerous lane-changes where the driver has failed to see another car in their blind spot.

 The car also has automated parking functions with the Reversing and Manoeuvre Assistants able to memorise and replicate complex series of steering and pedal inputs. BMW says that, as of 2023, drivers will be able to park and summon their car remotely using a smartphone app from up to six metres away.

 Inside the i7, the most notable feature is the optional 8k, 31.3-inch ‘BMW Theatre Screen’. It drops down from the car’s ceiling, and runs on Amazon Fire tablet software.

 As soon as the screen is switched on, the car's window blinds descend automatically to prevent glare, and the screen's audio can either be tuned to a set of Bluetooth headphones or heard through the Bowers and Wilkins surround sound system, which in optimal form has 36 speakers (double the standard count), some built into the seats. The screen can be moved around to make it more visible or accessible to the rear-seat passengers and can be remotely controlled by smartphone-sized touch-panels on the rear doors.

When the BMW Theatre Screen isn't fitted, the car has a panoramic glass roof as standard with the ability to activate a twinkling LED lightshow after dark.

The driver faces the same BMW Curved Display found in the iX. This combines a 12.3-inch infotainment system with a 14.9-inch digital instrument binnacle.

 The i7 and its 7 Series sibling achieve a ‘BMW Interaction Bar’ stretching across the dash and onto the door cards. That’s been described as an ambient light bar mixed with a control surface. It’s able to display different themes and provide visual feedback for things like safety warnings and incoming call audio. 

 Automatically-opening doors that can be activated either by just touching the handles or via the key fob are available. These are monitored by an array of ultrasonic sensors around the car making sure that they don't accidentally open into oncoming traffic.

 Another option is the Executive Lounge seating in the rear, which allows the back seats to recline by 42.5 degrees and features an integrated leg-rest and a heated armrest with inductive smartphone charging on each side of the car.

A vast range of wood and fabric options are available. Seats have quilted faux-leather as standard, though genuine leather and Cashmere fabric can be optioned.

 As said, the Seven hasn’t wholly committed to electric, though everything from now on is electrified.

 A mild-hybrid diesel, the 740d xDrive, is expected in the first quarter of 2023, developing 223kWfrom its six-cylinder 3.0-litre engine and sending its power to the four wheels through a new eight-speed automatic gearbox. Also set to maintain allegiance to Big Oil are two plug-in hybrid models, the 750e xDrive and the M-developed M760e xDrive, both using 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engines, developing 231kW and 426kW respectively. Both are capable of up to 89km of electric-only driving, BMW says.