When it comes to the top tier of luxury vehicles, one of the standard bearers, the BMW 7 series, now offers its customers a choice of propulsion. On one hand, it can be had with a TwinPower Turbo 3.0-liter six-cylinder or a zero-emissions, fully-electric powertrain.
From left: Lars Nielsen, BMW Group Asia Managing Director; Spencer Yu, SMCACDC President; and Ramon S. Ang, SMC Vice Chairman.
SMC Asia Car Distributors Corp. (SMCACDC), the distributor of BMWs in the Philippines launched the all-new seventh-generation flagship sedan in two versions. The petrol version is offered as the 735i Pure Excellence while the fully electric version is i7 xDrive60.
The all-new 7 Series features a more angular body and is easily distinguished by its new split headlight design. The upper headlights serve as daytime running lamps while the lower units feature LED headlights. Like all current models, it bears the one-piece kidney grille.
The side profile truly emphasis its shark-like nose and long hood. It also boasts of a generous 3215mm wheelbase. When it comes to wheels, the 735i gets 19-inch alloys while the all-electric i7 rolls on larger 21-inch wheels.
Behind, the 7 Series gets a wraparound LED taillights, sitting just above the very simple but elegant rear design.
As expected, the 7 series offers a truly unique and luxurious interior. The interior gets generous amounts of wood inlay on the dashboard, paired with leather seats. Techies will enjoy the massive digital displays, part of BMW's latest Live Cockpit Plus running the newest iDrive 8 software.
It’s divided into a pair of massive digital screens: one as the instrument cluster and for the infotainment. The instrument cluster is a 12.3-inch
screen that can show customizable views of driving information. The 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment display shows all the relevant vehicle and entertainment options. It comes with wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless charging pad, satellite navigation, a Bowers & Wilkins sound system, and BMW intelligent voice control.
At the bottom of the center screen is a touch-sensitive bar that manages the vehicle's ventilation and climate control settings. It manages the four-zone climate control as well as heated and ventilated seats (front/rear). The vents for the climate control are actually cleverly hidden from view behind the screen.
Behind is the seat for the bosses. Each side comes with a door-mounted 5.5-inch tablet that controls the infotainment system and climate control. There are also settings for the power-adjustable front/rear seats, and electronically-adjustable roller sun blinds.
Those that opt for the petrol 7 series will find a 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo inline-six. It comes with a 48V mild hybrid (MHEV) system that gives it a combined 286-PS and 425-Nm of torque. It runs through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The inline-six is nothing to scoff at as it can accelerate from 0 - 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds.
Those that opt for the new electric 7 series will be delighted by the electric motor driving each axle, making it an AWD. This results in a combined system output of 544-PS and 745-Nm of torque. Powering it is a massive 101.7-kWh lithium-ion battery pack that allows it to drive as far as 590 to 625-km on a full charge. It’s even faster than the petrol version, accelerating from 0 - 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds, which is practically supercar territory.
Every i7 buyer will get a BMW i Wallbox charging system. They will be installed by BMW i partners in the customers' homes. The box is
rated for 11 kWh and comes with an intelligent battery management system to ensure the battery's health is up to standards. This home charger can fully charge the battery in nine hours.
Whether you opt for the petrol or electric, each 7 Series is held aloft by adaptive two-axle air suspension. It has an automatic self-leveling system and adaptive suspension with electronically controlled dampers. These features work to constantly maintain the optimum ride height at all speeds.
After purchase, customers can enjoy long warranties for the vehicle. The 735i (petrol version) has a five-year BMW factory warranty. The i7 is covered by a five-year BMW factory warranty, an eight-year high-voltage battery warranty, and a six-year BMW Service Inclusive warranty.
The 735i Pure Excellence is priced at P8.99 million and can be bought from any BMW showroom. The 7 Series i7 xDrive60 is priced at P10.390
million and is only available at BMW Libis in Quezon City and RSA Motors in Greenhills, San Juan.