![]() Curiously, the EV iteration of the i7 has nearly identical ergonomics as the standard 7-series, with no high floor inherent of most gas-powered cars that can be ordered as EVs. In theatre mode, all the shades roll up, and a huge 31-inch TV drops down from the ceiling in an experience unmatched by anything that isn’t a coach-built aftermarket limo. The chairs are soft, made of wool, upholstered, and sculpted with the energy and spirit of Ray and Charles Eames. The attention to detail is sublime, and the drive selector, seat adjustment, and rail that houses the hazard light switch and auto-close door buttons are crystalline, with a geometric triangle relief embossed into its form. It’s a style we’ve already seen on the iX but punched up to the Nth degree for BMW’s luxury sedan flagship. The digital gauge cluster and infotainment screen subtly act as a freestanding element, appearing to hover ever-so-slightly away from the main dashboard shape. The i7’s interior is almost architectural in essence, with random shapes, materials, and surfaces that interact in ways that are offbeat, but well-considered. Inside, however, is a direct 1-for-1 import of the standard 7-series. And I’m not sure if the i7 knows what it is, either. I ask, is that a good thing? After a few hours with both the 7-series and i7, I can confidently say, well, it’s a thing. Now, the i7 is here, with seemingly less visual differentiation between it and the regular 7-series. ![]() Then, BMW introduced i4 in 2021, clearly a slightly restyled 4-series gran coupe, with electric motors and batteries. But those models weren’t commercially all that successful, even leading to former BMW CEO Harald Krueger stepping down after those models flopped. First, the brand introduced bespoke ground-up electrified designs that were a whole new chapter design-wise, with the i3 and i8. Yet, it seems like BMW’s walking away from the idea. We’ve seen it with the Mercedes-Benz EQS which looks nothing like the S-Class it will eventually usurp when the brand makes the shift to full electric. Manufacturers may introduce a similarly-sized, but entirely new EV model that’s meant to replace the gas equivalent, which often shares little design ethos with the car it runs parallel with.
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