Sources inside BMW claim that a new 7 Series-based EV will be introduced in 2022, with its 5 Series sibling scheduled to follow a while later. The current ICE lineup will remain intact, though.
BMW already turned its 5 Series into a battery car in 2019. The experimental ‘Power BEV’ saloon drove the wheels with insane 720 hp (537 kW). The company never promised to launch it into production, though.
As for the 7 Series, it contains the 745e, which is a hybrid car available in RWD and AWD variants, as well as with a normal and a long wheelbase. Its three-liter straight-six engine and electric motor together produce 394 hp (294 kW) and 600 Nm (443 lb-ft) of torque. A 12.4-kWh battery lets you cover between 50 and 58 kilometers (31 – 36 miles) on electric power alone, and the fuel consumption lies in the 2.1 – 2.6 liter per 100 km range. For UK, this means between 108 and 134 MPG; for USA, between 90 and 112 MPG.
The interest BMW shows towards electric cars is not surprising at all. The Tesla Model S is a steady best-seller, as is the Porsche Taycan revealed last year. The battery-powered Jaguar XJ and Mercedes-Benz EQS should join them soon, tightening the competition.