The BMW i7 undergoes its final acoustic tests

The Bavarian brand is testing and putting the final touches on its BMW i7. Now, the German carmaker has released new details about its upcoming electric sedan. This new member of the zero-emissions family is designed to combine “the distinctive pleasure of driving with a level of comfort that is unique in its class.” The BMW i7 is undergoing testing at the Research and Innovation Centre in Munich.

Some of these tests have focused on noise, since BMW has stated on several occasions that the level of comfort in a luxury sedan is “largely determined by the degree to which annoying noises can be kept away from the occupants.” This is particularly true in electric cars, which are relatively quiet and can make unwanted noises sound much louder.

The BMW i7 is about to come out of the oven

To ensure the cabin remains calm, engineers examined a variety of possible sources of noise as part of their acoustic tests. As the company explained, the irritating noises identified by engineers during road tests were recorded and then recreated in the laboratory so that they could be “selectively eliminated.” The Bavarian brand has not gone into much detail, but it has noted that the electric drive units feature acoustic optimisation, while the electric motors have “newly developed noise encapsulation.” The model also benefits from greater rigidity, as well as special tyres that have a foam damper on the inside to minimise noise and vibration.

In other markets, the model features weight-optimised sound insulation that uses “innovative materials developed in conjunction with lightweight acoustic construction.” Likewise, the company said there are sound dampers in the pillars, seats, roof lining and rear shelf. The model also includes “comfort glazing” in the windows, as well as “fleece elements in the doors and in the sills and wheel arch trims that reduce rolling noise.”

The focus on sound extended to the exterior design, so the i7 was equipped with “well-defined body surfaces, flush-integrated door handles, aerodynamically optimised exterior mirrors and an almost completely enclosed underbody” to improve aeroacoustics. Thanks to all these efforts, i7 owners will be able to relax in silence while driving. However, if they prefer some background noise, they can opt for the “emotionally powerful” BMW IconicSounds Electric developed in collaboration with Hans Zimmer.

The redesigned 7 Series will be presented later this year and is scheduled to be offered with petrol and diesel engines, as well as electric and plug-in hybrid propulsion systems. The company has been reticent about details, but it previously suggested that the i7 will follow in the footsteps of the iX.

Technical specifications of this car

SedanBMW i73 versions · from 116,000 €