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BMW Serie 7 Protection and i7 Protection: luxury and maximum security go hand in hand

David Lopez @espacionblanco 10 August 2023 4 min.

With over 45 years of experience in this sector, BMW adds new armoured vehicles to its range with the new Serie 7 Protection and i7 Protection

Just over a year ago the BMW i7, the electric version of the new generation Serie 7, went on sale in our country, while the Serie 7 itself did the same at the beginning of this year. Yes, the electric variant began its commercialisation a few months earlier. Now, both the Serie 7 and the i7 continue to add members with the new Protection version, where luxury and maximum security go hand in hand.

BMW has a long tradition of developing armoured vehicles, having been doing so for 45 years, which makes it a brand of guaranteed value when choosing this type of vehicle. The new members of the German brand’s armoured vehicle section are the Serie 7 and its electric version, the i7, both of which have achieved a VR9 rating, partly thanks to the new BMW Protection Core, which is based on a self-supporting body structure specific to each model, made of armoured steel.

First of all, it should be noted that the details that differentiate the Protection versions of a Serie 7 or i7 from one with the M Sport package are minimal, including the technological equipment inside, which is even expanded as we will see later. In addition, the brand allows personalisation options for both the exterior and the interior closely aligned with the standard versions, and it is also possible to adapt both the equipment and the design of the cabin in detail according to personal needs or wishes.

Now, going into more detail and as I mentioned a little earlier, the Serie 7 Protection and i7 Protection feature the exclusive BMW Protection Core, through which for the first time the entire load-bearing body structure is built from armoured steel, forming a protective cell that combines with the doors, the glass and the armour of both the roof and the underbody; the latter are special to withstand attacks from explosives or even drones carrying explosive loads. The Serie 7 also features a self-sealing fuel tank, meaning it has a casing that seals it if it is hit by a bullet to prevent fuel leaks.

Mechanically, the BMW i7 Protection takes the i7 M70 xDrive as its reference, from which it inherits numerous components. For this version it is fitted with an electric motor on each axle, with a combined output of 544 CV and a torque of 745 Nm. Its level of protection is undoubtedly assured but, being electric, I dare say that its agility to escape risky situations is open to question, if only because it takes no less than 9 seconds to reach 100 km/h, while its top speed is limited to a laughable 160 km/h.

The exact opposite is true of the BMW Serie 7 Protection, which, with less power and without instant acceleration, considerably improves those figures. It is equipped with a 4,400 cc V8 TwinPower Turbo and 48 V mild-hybrid technology, with which it produces 530 CV together with a torque of 750 Nm, figures that allow it to reach 100 km/h in 6.6 seconds and a top speed of 210 km/h.

Both models have received specific adjustments to other components, such as the chassis, especially taking into account the greater weight due to their protection features. BMW can also say that both models are the first armoured vehicles in their segment to fit Integral Active Steering, which reduces the turning circle and increases precision in corners thanks to steering on the rear wheels. In addition, all driver assistance systems focus on helping and supporting the driver with information and warnings, without actively intervening to try to control the vehicle as in a normal car, since this could cause an accident in risky situations where, for example, evasive manoeuvres are required.

As for everything else, both the BMW Serie 7 Protection and the i7 Protection display all the luxury and refinement that any user of this luxury saloon would desire, with equipment fully up to the task, including elements such as the following: