Review: BMW’s all-electric i7 limo offers ‘goblin mode’ on the go

My in-laws were in town on vacation and sat quietly in the back seat of BMW’s new electric flagship. They’re rarely quiet, but here we are, lying on a first-class massage throne in an all-new 2023 BMW i7, made quiet and nailed down not by the fact that the car is electric or its shocking price tag. I was. screen. This makes the JumboTron look basic.

With the push of a button, the 31-inch theater display swivels from the roof and moves forward and backward along motorized tracks, adjusting to the optimum position for rear-seat occupants. Motorized curtains obscure the car’s glass roof and rear window, rendering the rear-view mirror completely useless, and shades darkening the side windows.

The $147,000 BMW i7 is actually a home theater disguised as an electric car. Passengers can enter “Goblin Mode” on the go.

Getting stuck in traffic is just an excuse for passengers to lie down, open their Doritos, binge on Netflix, and retreat from the world into this gorgeous, dark cocoon. Its heated and cooled recliner put La-Z-Boy to shame. The theater display features a brilliant 8K maximum resolution and built-in Amazon Fire TV. If the cellular data reception is good enough, he can stream movies and TV in 4K. Surround sound is incredible, probably better than most home his theaters. The optional Bowers & Wilkins Diamond stereo system has 36 speakers, including 4 on the roof and 2 on each headrest. An “exciter” in your seat vibrates to make you feel the roar of the jet engine. Top Gun: Maverick.

The display screens are controlled by touch screens on each rear door, or by touching the screen itself. All this technology can be complicated, but it’s easy to use. My in-laws, who admit to not being particularly tech savvy, were able to stream the original Addams Family TV show.

Globe Drive editor Jordan Chittley went for a test drive with two kids in the back and never once asked, “Are you still there?” He said it would be difficult for his children to return to the family’s station wagon.

The problem, of course, is that mobile home theaters aren’t cheap. At $147,000, the i7 is more than three full-featured Subaru Outbacks, but the BMW is within $500 of his closest rival, the Mercedes-Benz EQS.

At that price, you might think BMW could throw in a giant screen, but that’s not the case. $4,900 option. Reclining rear seats and footrests are part of the Executive Lounge His package for an additional $2,800. The B&W Diamond Surround Sound System is $5,900. Including a $12,000 two-tone paint job, our test car came to $194,200 excluding taxes and fees.

The i7 is electric, so it doesn’t cost much. The battery-powered i7 is the same price as the petrol-burning 760i. The two cars are basically identical except for the propulsion system. (At least, in this scarce automotive industry, EVs and gasoline cars have already reached price parity.)

Given the eye-popping prices BMW is charging here, it’s a shame to see so much cheap black plastic on the front of our test car. All the fun gadgets that keep this car entertained are optional.

When it comes to all-important range, Mercedes and Tesla beat BMW, at least in theory. In sub-zero temperatures, the i7 was a heat crank and he estimated distances in excess of 400 kilometers. Officially, the dual-motor all-wheel drive i7 xDrive60 is rated at 476-512 kilometers in Canada. (The 19-inch hoops offer the longest range, depending on wheel size.) By comparison, the all-wheel-drive Mercedes EQS 580 is rated at 547 km, while the $135,000 Tesla Model S is rated at It outperforms both in cruising range. of 652.

As the gadget-packed electric flagship, the i7 offers a lot more to in-laws, children, or other passengers than the Mercedes EQS. And in the electric age, high-tech features are becoming an increasingly important differentiator.

Technical specifications

2023 BMW i7 xDrive60

• Base price/when tested: $147,000/$194,200
• engine: dual motor electric
• Transmission/Drive: Single speed/all wheel drive
• Energy consumption (in liters per 100 km): 2.7 City, 2.6 Highway
• Alternative proposal: Tesla Model S, Mercedes-Benz EQS, Lucid Air, BMW 760i, Mercedes S-Class, Audi A8

looks

The i7 has more presence than the bean-shaped Mercedes EQS, but like most BMWs these days, it’s hard to love. With the i7 (and iX, and his updated X7, 4-series, M3/4), the brand is going for a more striking design, with an enlarged buck grille in front, seen here. .

interior

At least, the interior is impressive. This is a substantial generational leap from the older 7 Series. The cabin feels much more luxurious and expensive than the Tesla or Mercedes EQS. BMW’s color-changing crystal strip that runs around the cabin is a nice touch.

performance

For a 2.6-ton luxury car, it’s well-balanced in corners, resists body roll, and only understeers if the driver tries to use all 544 horsepower mid-turn. The i7 is not a sports sedan. For that, try Porsche Taycan or Lucid his Air.

technology

The doors are supposed to open and close with the push of a button, but they were inconsistent in their functionality. Thankfully, the i7’s optional hands-free highway driving assist worked much better. (Like all other cars currently available in Canada, the driver is still responsible for driving.) If you take your eyes off the road too long, the car will notice the distraction and ask you to get behind the wheel.

cargo

The petrol-powered 760i has a slightly larger cargo capacity of 540 liters compared to 500 liters.

verdict

It’s not the best luxury EV, but it’s a great way to enjoy home theater on the go.

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