When I was switching up from an EQS, it honestly was a debate between Lucid, Rivian and BMW. BMW lost my vote due to no frunk and the grill design, but it’s still interesting to see the final result here:
I have been a BMW enthusiast for 30+ years. I drive one now. My favorite was my M5 circa 2005. Former BMWCCA member and club racing enthusiast. I find the current BMW design ethos sickening. What was once the ultimate driving machine and adorable because it was not so stylish is now dying because it is overly styled but with no ultimate purpose. Brand strategists would say BMW has lost its authenticity. The i7 weighs nearly 6,000 lbs. Think about that. How can that be the next gen ultimate driving machine? It cannot.
The new M2 stopped the grill madness the XM did not.I have been a BMW enthusiast for 30+ years. I drive one now. My favorite was my M5 circa 2005. Former BMWCCA member and club racing enthusiast. I find the current BMW design ethos sickening. What was once the ultimate driving machine and adorable because it was not so stylish is now dying because it is overly styled but with no ultimate purpose. Brand strategists would say BMW has lost its authenticity. The i7 weighs nearly 6,000 lbs. Think about that. How can that be the next gen ultimate driving machine? It cannot.
I definitely think this car leans far more luxury, less sporty compared to Touring. It’s slower. It has 100 fewer miles of range. But it does have a ton of bells and whistles. And no doubt some real refinement.Sounds like I'm in the minority here, but I think the i7 doesn't look too bad overall. The kidney bean grill is definitely not my favorite design choice, but I think it looks okay when it's blacked out. My impression is that the interior is going to feel nicer and more comfortable than the Air and that overall fit and finish will be better. I really like the idea of having a full set of massaging seats and a glass roof with a retractable shade, which I cannot have in my Touring. I'm actually planning on going into a dealership soon to see if I'm really interested. I'll probably stick with my Touring order, but the more complete luxury package of the i7 is appealing to me.
I wouldn’t quite say that for the interior (the ICE comment). There’s something to be said for different preferences in styles of luxury like minimalism versus gaudy. As for the outside, it is clear that the chassis is designed with ICE and BEV in mind which is irritating.I definitely think this car leans far more luxury, less sporty compared to Touring. It’s slower. It has 100 fewer miles of range. But it does have a ton of bells and whistles. And no doubt some real refinement.
I agree, the interior probably feels better than it looks. I just find it such an eyesore.
But when you look under the bonnet and see there’s all this crap where a frunk should be, you’re reminded that ICE companies are still just converting their ICE designs into EVs without putting in the extra time to take advantage of everything an EV has to offer. Roomy as that interior is, and for as long as this car is, there’s so much wasted space up front.
Don’t know if you saw Doug’s video, but at one point he pops the hood and shows what’s underneath. And it’s a steaming pile of crap where the frunk should be.I wouldn’t quite say that for the interior (the ICE comment). There’s something to be said for different preferences in styles of luxury like minimalism versus gaudy. As for the outside, it is clear that the chassis is designed with ICE and BEV in mind which is irritating.
I can also say the iX did not take a good swing at EVs as their first “real” attempt, and historically BMW fell face flat on other past attempts in this area.