“What works in China – works all over the world” – this slogan once sounded more Europe-friendly – is written in large letters on the impressively illuminated large screen of the Zhangjiang Science Hall in the Pudong District. Times have changed and nowhere is this clearer than at the BMW group evening on the eve of Auto Shanghai. China is by far the most important market for the seven. No wonder that the new top model, for the first time with electric drive instead of V12 power, is unveiled right here. BMW is proud of its new top model, the seven. Anyone who looks at it and its pithy design, especially at the front, and looks out over the streets of Shanghai can easily understand why Bayern’s figurehead looks the way it does. Here in the Chinese streetscape, even the mighty front is not particularly noticeable; is rather an adequate expression of mobile status and corresponding image. What would fit better at the auto show in Shanghai than the top version of the luxury sedan, which BMW has so far discreetly held back. On the eve of the trade fair, the glamorous world premiere of the BMW i7 M70 xDrive, the seven that leaves nothing to be desired. This is not only ensured by the luxury equipment known from its brothers, but also by an electric all-wheel drive, which is intended to open up new spheres with its 485 kW / 660 hp and gigantic 1,100 Nm torque.
From a standing start, the colossus with the M logo in its name accelerates to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds and, unlike some of its competitors, is only locked at 250 km/h. While the electric front axle delivers 190 kW / 258 hp, the rear axle with its 360 kW / 489 hp provides most of the propulsion. With its 101.7 kWh lithium-ion battery in the underbody, the electric luxury model should be able to travel up to 560 kilometers before it has to go back to the charging station. However, due to the lack of an 800-volt on-board network, you can refuel here with a maximum of 195 kW. The battery pack is therefore boosted from 10 to 80 percent in just over half an hour. The standard consumption: at least 20.8 kWh per 100 kilometers. In order to get particularly far if the worst comes to the worst, the vehicle electronics have been expanded to include a new function called “Max Range”, which not only reduces performance and maximum speed but also limits some comfort functions, thus ensuring more kilometers.
Air suspension with roll stabilization, all-wheel steering and a sports brake system and 21-inch wheels, for which sports tires are even available on request, ensure maximum comfort and corresponding sportiness in the Top 7 series. Ultimately, however, it remains to be seen how many customers will order this for an electric car weighing almost 2.8 tons. If the M logo on the vehicle is not unique enough for you, you can customize your 5.39 meter long BMW i7 M70 xDrive with more than 100 special paint finishes. Then, however, the base price of 181,800 euros will be nothing when the new top model rolls onto the European market in July.
