From Ars Technica · · 3m
BMW's i7 gets a bigger battery for 2027
The flagship electric sedan receives a power upgrade but still lags rivals in outright speed.
In brief
The flagship electric sedan receives a power upgrade but still lags rivals in outright speed. BMW upgraded the 2027 i7 with a larger battery and sixth-generation powertrain to keep pace with its own newer EVs, but it remains slower than competitors from Porsche, Tesla and Lucid. Originally reported by Ars Technica.
BMW's flagship gets a refresh
The 2027 i7 receives major updates to keep pace with newer electric models in BMW's own range. The sedan gets a larger battery and the sixth-generation powertrain used in newer EVs.
Battery capacity jumps significantly
The new i7 battery pack holds one hundred twelve point five kilowatt-hours net, up from one hundred one point seven kilowatt-hours. BMW kept the four hundred volt architecture rather than upgrading to higher voltage.
Three powertrains available
The i7 lineup includes a less-powerful fifty xDrive and a more-powerful M seventy xDrive. The midrange sixty xDrive model tested here produces five hundred forty-four horsepower and five hundred forty-nine pound-feet of torque.
Acceleration lags modern rivals
The i7 sixty reaches zero to sixty miles per hour in four point six seconds with launch control.Electric sedans from Lucid, Tesla, Porsche and Chinese automakers reach that speed in less than half the time.
Comfort over sportiness
The i7 delivers a relaxed, smooth ride rather than sharp handling. The steering is precise and the car coasts beautifully downhill. Regenerative braking is smooth all the way to a complete stop.
Range and charging details
BMW claims between three hundred forty-four and three hundred sixty-two miles of range depending on wheel size.DC fast charging reaches two hundred fifty kilowatts, and a ten to eighty percent charge takes about twenty-eight minutes.
AI helps plan efficient routes
The powertrain domain controller works with route-planning software to improve efficiency. BMW runs AI simulations of the battery based on previous charging cycles and factors in the cost per kilowatt-hour at different charging stations.
Cabin gets radical redesign
A new Panoramic iDrive screen runs along the base of the windshield. A trapezoidal infotainment touchscreen replaces the older system. A new domain controller lets the front passenger screen and rear theater screen operate independently.
Theater screen has practical limits
The thirty-one point three-inch rear theater screen offers eight K resolution but displays movies with large black bars on either side due to aspect ratio.Viewers must tilt their heads back significantly to see the screen.
Software performance mixed
The main infotainment screen shows noticeable lag despite increased processing power. The Alexa-based voice recognition software improved significantly compared to earlier BMW models. The Dolby Atmos sound system impressed.
Pricing starts at one hundred six thousand
The new i7 range starts at one hundred six thousand two hundred dollars for the fifty xDrive. The sixty xDrive model costs one hundred twenty-four thousand seven hundred dollars.
The short version
BMW upgraded the 2027 i7 with a larger battery and sixth-generation powertrain to keep pace with its own newer EVs, but it remains slower than competitors from Porsche, Tesla and Lucid.
