The sedan isn't finished yet! 2023 BMW i7 electric car to be more popular than petrol-powered sibling

BMW Australia is readying its new-generation 7 Series to hit local showrooms later this year, and it’s hoping the all-electric i7 flagship that costs nearly $300,000 will be the volume seller.

Talking to CarsGuide ahead of the launch, BMW Australia 7 Series product manager Howard Lam said the Bavarian brand is optimistic about the take-up rate of the colossal i7.

“Electrification is the future, and we do hope the i7 – and any form of BEV – will grow significantly in Australia,” he said.

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“We’ve got strong intertest from dealers and customers, and we have had feedback from previous-generation 7 Series owners to get into an i7, even sight unseen.

“We have had some big names expressing interest as well.”

Mr Lam would not be drawn on exactly who those big names are, but the box-fresh 7 Series that was revealed in April seems to be hitting a chord with local customers despite rising popularity in SUVs.

This could be due to the fact that the new-gen 7 Series might look like a traditional sedan, but sports a number of innovations to make passengers a bit more comfortable.

For starters, the height of the car has jumped up 65mm, while the wheelbase has increased from 3070mm to a staggering 3215mm – making it even longer than the previous-gen long-wheelbase model (3210mm).

As a result, the 2023 7 Series is easier to get in and out of, while the seating position in both front and second rows towers over most other cars.

But wait, doesn’t BMW have the X7 for those that want a luxurious and capacious flagship model?

Mr Lam said the X7 and new 7 Series can cohabit peacefully without either stealing the other’s thunder as they both appeal to different buyers.

“We call it organic growth, whether it be the X7 or the 7 Series, we’re keeping them within the BMW family, which is great,” he said.

“And we give customers a choice.

“They both have two distinct characters as well, so those who prefer SUVs may continue to drive SUVs, whereas those who prefer a more luxury limousine with the added benefit of better ingress and egress, then the 7 Series is perfect.”

The seventh-generation 7 Series will be offered in Australia in two forms – the petrol-powered 740i priced from $268,900 before on-road costs and the flagship i7 xDrive60 positioned at $297,900.

Powering the former is a 3.0-litre turbo-petrol inline six-cylinder engine with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system to deliver 280kW/540Nm to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The i7 meanwhile, scores dual electric motors for all-wheel-drive traction and a combined output of 400kW/745Nm, while also boasting a driving range of up to 625km.

Of note, neither powertrain is available on the current X7, which is offered with a 195kW/620Nm diesel or a 390kW/750Nm turbocharged V8, further differentiating the two.

Despite the expected popularity, the 7 Series is expected to do little to move BMW Australia’s bottom line and will function more as a technological flagship for the brand.

In 2021, BMW sold just 81 examples of the 7 Series (albeit in runout), and Mr Lam predicted there will not be a problem suppling new cars to customers, even with the semi-conductor heavy i7.

“Supply is pretty good at the moment on 7 Series … because when we think about the production point of view, being the flagship, there’s a big emphasis on prioritising 7 Series on production,” he said.