I much prefer electric vs ICE

[Streamliner]

Just saw this Car and Driver long term review of the BMW I4:

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...ing%20Audience

I really love one staffer’s quote shown below and highly agree. I had a brand new 740i loaner for about 10 days recently and even though it was a nice car, in my opinion, it does not compare at all favorably with my I7. I actually picked my car up before the repair parts arrived (a mirror) because I missed my I7 so much. In my opinion, luxury sedans are at their very best when they are electric.

[roamio]

I have to agree 100%. I have X5M60 with V8 and while this powertrain is great it's still not as refined as iXM60i I drove for some time. Silent instant torque of EV is simply too awesome.

[BMW5and7]

I also 100% agree.

Driving any ICE car nowadays after actually owning and daily driving an EV genuinely feels like HUGE stepping back into a mechanical museum piece. You press a button and… things start vibrating, fluids start circulating, gears start negotiating with each other… you hear noises… and it reminded me how insane human body is by ignoring the clunky transmission shift that in fact should not even exist in a luxury car. In an EV, it’s all just about refinment.

I get the appeal for a weekend V8 toy, coupe, light car with exhaust noise and drama for a weekend ride. Totally fair. But for a luxury daily? Especially when real-world use like multi-day family trips are already handled by a proper ICE SUV? That’s where ICE luxury sedans start to feel like we’re defending complexity for the sake of tradition, not actual benefit. For me, It honestly makes me question whether I could ever downgrade again to ICE. Even if someone magically built a “better-than-7-series” sedan but only offered it in ICE, I’d still hesitate. . And the funny part? I realized this years ago. Even back when I had my Tesla Model S, a very inferior product in terms of luxury, with all its well-known bad build quality, I still found myself preferring it over the 2nd best car I had at that time which was my W222. An objectively flawed EV still managed to outshine one of the best ICE luxury sedans ever made, simply because the underlying experience was that much better.

At this point with luxury sedans like the 7, if combined with refined materials and execution, plus this drivetrain, for me it’s then game-over. I can’t even wish for anything better including if money was a no object (well, Spectre is a Coupe, so I still consider this to be the very best option on the planet today).

[Salespunk]

100% agree. I do like ICE for my truck, fun cars and road trip vehicle, but for a daily EV is the way to go at this point. Have taken our old EQS on a long road trip and it was fine, but the charging infrastructure needs to be built out a little more to make it as convenient as gas.

[SW17LS]

EV powertrain is so perfect for a luxury sedan...

[jettie1767]

I love my i7 and I prefer EV's myself. I'm looking forward to longer ranges though.

[DroMike]

Stellar post, BMW5and7.

I’m an i7 owner as well and certainly prefer the EV experience -- "refinement" is definitely the perfect word for it. While it’s hard to imagine going back after fifty years of reliable driving with an ICE, there was a unique satisfaction in those mechanics. The liquids, gears, pistons and sounds made you feel as if you’d tamed a massive, complex machine. Undeniably, however, gas-powered transport will eventually go the way of the dinosaur. Jumping in with both feet on an EV back in 2023 has proven to be a wise, prescient decision -- and a lot of fun!

[BMW5and7]

Originally Posted by DroMike

Stellar post, BMW5and7.

I’m an i7 owner as well and certainly prefer the EV experience -- "refinement" is definitely the perfect word for it. While it’s hard to imagine going back after fifty years of reliable driving with an ICE, there was a unique satisfaction in those mechanics. The liquids, gears, pistons and sounds made you feel as if you’d tamed a massive, complex machine. Undeniably, however, gas-powered transport will eventually go the way of the dinosaur. Jumping in with both feet on an EV back in 2023 has proven to be a wise, prescient decision -- and a lot of fun!

Was out for lunch just yesterday, with a friend who has been driving AMGs for 15 years back to back. He has the E63 now. I invited him to take my i7 for a spin. We went to nearby country road. Sport mode for the suspension.. He did 120 MPH (I was honestly anxious lol), and the car literally felt like doing 50-60 MPH. He was shocked and said he had never experienced anything that is as stable as that ever in his life. To me that is the definition of refinement, being a great luxury sedan, and yet driving as good as other sport cars on a straight road. Surely it's not gonna be as good as an Alpina or AMG or M-car on the track, but yes it is for 99% of the time on the road and highway. I can take a roundabout and with the Active Rolls Stabilization package, the body roll reminds me of my former Alpina B8, yet with a car that is much much wider, longer and taller. BMW nailed with this car, and with the batteries weight and low center of gravity, if combined with Autobahn and Active Rolls Stabilization package (must have IMO), no other luxury sedan in this price range can drive nearly as good, not even close especially with the packages mentioned amd EV benefits.

[Malu59RT]

Originally Posted by Streamliner

I really love one staffer’s quote shown below and highly agree. I had a brand new 740i loaner for about 10 days recently and even though it was a nice car, in my opinion, it does not compare at all favorably with my I7. I actually picked my car up before the repair parts arrived (a mirror) because I missed my I7 so much. In my opinion, luxury sedans are at their very best when they are electric.

I've taken my car to the dealership one time in the first year of ownership, and as soon as I got on the road in a loaner 740i, I instantly missed my i7 60. Told my advisor the i7 is the single best car I've driven, and I stand by that 100%. BMW knocked it out of the park with this car.

[Streamliner]

Happy Easter to everyone.

My wife & I drove from our home in Orange County to Westlake Village yesterday, had dinner with friends, spent the night and then drove home this morning. About a 170 mile round trip, mostly on the notorious I405.

An absolutely wonderful drive. The car is just SO smooth & quiet, with the exception of a bit too much road/tire noise—which has been mostly taken care of with Pirelli PZ4 tires. With the sensational massage seats doing their thing and the Driving Assistance Pro Pkg. watching the road, I just can’t imagine any car this side of a Rolls being this comfortable on the highway or anywhere else.

I don’t care for what appears to be the leaked photos of the LCI interior, but if they at least maintain the comfort of the current I7–and possibly even enhance it further, there will probably be a 2028 in my garage.

[BMW5and7]

Originally Posted by Streamliner

Happy Easter to everyone.

My wife & I drove from our home in Orange County to Westlake Village yesterday, had dinner with friends, spent the night and then drove home this morning. About a 170 mile round trip, mostly on the notorious I405.

An absolutely wonderful drive. The car is just SO smooth & quiet, with the exception of a bit too much road/tire noise—which has been mostly taken care of with Pirelli PZ4 tires. With the sensational massage seats doing their thing and the Driving Assistance Pro Pkg. watching the road, I just can’t imagine any car this side of a Rolls being this comfortable on the highway or anywhere else.

I don’t care for what appears to be the leaked photos of the LCI interior, but if they at least maintain the comfort of the current I7–and possibly even enhance it further, there will probably be a 2028 in my garage.

The facelift will offer even better suspension setup, known as Chassis Control. It’s interesting that they attempted to refining the system even more given the fact the current setup is much better than any luxury sedan on the road today. My guess is that this will help the 760 to drive just as good as the i7 both with Autobahn or ARS. Right now, the i7 and autobahn or ARS drives much better than any other sedan on the road, but the 760 with or without this setup does not offer the same “wow” factor. I7 with Autobahn and IRS is a RollsRoyce comfort level. My guess of the Chassis control is that it will combine the new Panamera setup but in a luxury/executive drive theme.

[Streamliner]

Originally Posted by BMW5and7

The facelift will offer even better suspension setup, known as Chassis Control. It’s interesting that they attempted to refining the system even more given the fact the current setup is much better than any luxury sedan on the road today. My guess is that this will help the 760 to drive just as good as the i7 both with Autobahn or ARS. Right now, the i7 and autobahn or ARS drives much better than any other sedan on the road, but the 760 with or without this setup does not offer the same “wow” factor. I7 with Autobahn and IRS is a RollsRoyce comfort level. My guess of the Chassis control is that it will combine the new Panamera setup but in a luxury/executive drive theme.

Sounds very intriguing! Can’t wait!