The BMW i7 is an enigma, to say the least. This is because we have been seeing the electric luxury saloon on our roads since last year even though its exact launch status was left unclear by BMW Malaysia.
In fact, the EV has been used for chauffeur duties numerous times at official events including the BMW XM launch and Michelle Yeoh homecoming. The mystery surrounding its official status in Malaysia has finally unravelled today as BMW Malaysia has revealed further details about the availability of the i7 for our market.
BMW i7 Malaysia pricing
For our market, the BMW i7 is currently available only in a single variant which is the xDrive60 with the M Sport trim. The model generally represents the all-electric option for customers eyeing any of the current BMW 7 Series line-ups that also includes the 750e xDrive Pure Excellence and 740Le xDrive M Sport.
The i7 xDrive60 also comes standard with BMW Group Malaysia Premium Ownership experience that includes a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty with a free scheduled service programme. It also provides access to the BMW Group Loyalty+ Mobile App & BMW Privileges Card, BMW Roadside Assistance & Accident Hotline, and BMW Service Online.
When it comes to the price tag, the i7 XDrive60 M Sport can be obtained in Malaysia for RM729,800 not inclusive of insurance. Do note that the Extended Warranty and Service Package together with Sales and Service Tax have been accounted into the pricing.
BMW Malaysia also said that the new luxury EV is available with a monthly instalment that starts at RM8,401 under its Straight Line Financing Plan. The figure is based on an 80% loan with a 7-year payment tenure.
Power output, battery, range, and charging time
Featuring a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup with 400kW (544hp) output and maximum torque of 745Nm, the i7 xDrive60 has the ability to go from 0 to 100km/h in 4.7 seconds. Even though the EV may have considerable performance, its top speed has been electronically limited to 240km/h which is still not shabby at all.
The high voltage lithium-ion battery that has been equipped into the i7 has a net capacity of 101.7 kWh which allows the EV to deliver between 591 to 625km of range according to WLTP standard. Through its onboard 22kW AC charger, the EV takes around 5.5 hours to be fully charged from a battery level of 10%.
Naturally, owners can reduce the i7’s charging time by plugging it into a DC fast charger. With a 195kW DCFC, it takes only 35 minutes for the EV’s battery level to go from 10% to 80%.
Luxury-defining interior features
Being part of the BMW 7 Series family, one can expect plenty of features in the i7 that really bring the definition of luxury to your attention. Among them is the massive 31.3-inch BMW Theatre Screen that is mounted on the centre area of the EV’s ceiling, just underneath its Sky Lounge panoramic glass sunroof.
When activated, the 8K screen with a 32:9 aspect ratio would “ascend” down from the roof which is a sight to behold. Not enough with that, BMW has also integrated 5.5-inch touchscreens into i7’s rear doors that let passengers control the infotainment system, air conditioning, seat settings, and many more.
There is also another massive BMW Curved Display on the front section of the i7’s cockpit. The display is essentially a combination of the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 14.9-inch centre infotainment touchscreen under one seamless screen although it is still being angled more towards the driver.
BMW has also equipped the EV with a Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System that has 39 tweeters, mid-range speakers, a subwoofer, and a shaker. Not only that, the audio system also has a massive output of 1,965 watts to help deliver an immersive audio experience during every journey.
In addition to the comprehensive audio system, another interesting element within i7’s audio experience is BMW IconicSounds Electric. Through this feature, the driver and passengers would be presented with specially made driving sounds that were composed by Hans Zimmer which differ from one driving mode to another.
Do note that all the features we highlighted above are based on the information currently listed on BMW Malaysia’s website but since the configurator for i7 is not yet online on the website, it is unclear what are the exact features available with the EV for our market.
On the other hand, the announcement from BMW Malaysia today was surprisingly light on detail as it mainly focused on pricing. So, do take into consideration that things may change once the configurator goes online.
BMW i7 vs Mercedes-Benz EQS
Another name that always stands out when it comes to premium EV brands in Malaysia is Mercedes-Benz and the fellow German marquee also has a similar offering to the BMW i7 xDrive60 in the form of the CKD EQS500 4MATIC. If you just look at the specs alone, the offerings from Mercedes-Benz lose out slightly in terms of performance.
This is because the EQS has a lower 330kW (449hp) output and 210km/h top speed. That being said, the EV still has a much higher torque rating of 828Nm and it can sprint from 0 to 100km/h in 4.8 seconds which is just 0.1 seconds slower than the i7.
A higher 108.4kWh net battery capacity also helps the EV deliver a better range than the i7 at up to 696km according to WLTP standards. Let’s also not forget that the starting price of EQS 500 4MATIC is noticeably lower at RM648,888.
Since the i7 is priced at RM729,800, it also seemed fair to compare the EV with the Mercedes-AMG EQS53 4MATIC+ which goes for RM798,888.
Even though it has the same battery capacity as the EQS500, the full-blown AMG variant is able to deliver even more performance at 484kW (658hp) and has a century sprint time of 3.8 seconds which is much superior to the i7. However, the EV’s top speed can’t match BMW’s offering though since it is capped at 220km/h.
In addition to that, having those extra firepower means that the AMG model would have to sacrifice its range. With a maximum WLTP range of 571km, the EQS53 4MATIC+ certainly can’t go the distance on the same level as the EQS500 4MATIC and i7 xDrive60.
