A curved display familiar with iX. This is the core of BMW’s digital push, combining a 12.3-inch instrument display with a longer 14.9-inch main infotainment glass touchscreen. The whole is a sculpture in itself, sitting on thin brackets atop open-pore matte wood trim. Audio, navigation, Apple CarPlay, and more are displayed in separate, customizable tiles. There’s also voice activation (not all of them work), allowing passengers to access their personal his assistant. There’s even an unnecessary digital clock widget by Qlocktwo that spells the time. If you choose the Heat Comfort Package, the steering wheel, armrests and center console are equipped with panel heaters. This is a more efficient way to keep your EV warmer than turning up the air conditioner.
Beneath the center screen is the Interaction Bar, new to the 7 Series. It has discreet crystal surfaces and backlighting and spans almost the width of the cabin. At this point, BMW definitely has Crystal Jones. It takes its cues from the My Mode colors you’ve done. Red is sport, green is expressive, and blue is efficient. His recent BMW Art Car artist Cao Fei has created a bespoke digital art mode. They also change the sonic character, as co-developed with Hollywood movie soundtrack master Hans Zimmer. They are mostly variations of escalating SF pulses.
The center console is lower than the iX and looks more conventional, but it has the same small (optional) Crystal Drive controller and other tactile touchpoints. It’s an easy, quick method and satisfying.
Just like iX, press a button to escape. New in the 7 are automatic doors. There is a small button under the wheel that allows you to close the door from the inside or set the system to close the driver’s door when you press the brake pedal. Or, if you’re incredibly lazy, use voice activation. In fact, there are four ways to open a door without touching the door handle. Door gyros and sensors recognize slopes, hazards and obstacles, so don’t worry if you can’t get out.
The seats are very nice, with multi-functions and massage programs. The back of the headrest has wood he trim with an electroplated accent strip. The (optional) wool cashmere trim is sustainable and looks and feels great. There are various interiors of wood and metal, and there is also a vegan specification. The overall effect is as good as the car’s interior really gets this aspect of a Bentley, Range Rover or Rolls Royce. It won’t be one of the first cars with heated seats (the so-called “on-demand feature”) that people are asking for.
movie driving
Photographer: Daniel Krause/BMW
Let’s take a look at the long-awaited 31.3-inch 8K theater screen. It folds out from a recess in the roof lining, houses an Amazon Fire TV and runs Bowers & Wilkins surround sound. An optional pumping version, with 36 speakers and 1,965 watts of power, features an ‘exciter’ in the seat back. For a car in this price range with so many expensive extras, the audio quality is amazing. Streaming capabilities vary by region, but watching some “content” wind its way through has never made me feel sick. The rear and side sunblinds automatically raise and the panoramic he sunroof closes. However, the proximity of the screens can be a little too close for some people, and they only descend when the front seats slide forward to a predetermined position.
