BMW is putting the finishing touches on the 2023 i7 and the automaker has released new details about the upcoming electric sedan.
Designed to combine “hallmark driving pleasure with a level of comfort that is in a class of its own,” the i7 has been undergoing testing at the Research and Innovation Center in Munich.
A number of these tests focused on noise as BMW noted the level of comfort in a luxury sedan is “largely determined by the degree to which disturbing noises can be kept away from the occupants.” This is particularly true in electric vehicles, which are relatively quiet and can make unwelcome noises sound more pronounced.
Also Read: 2023 BMW i7 Teased As Electric Luxury Sedan Enters Final Phase Of Development
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To ensure the cabin remains tranquil, engineers examined a variety of potential noise sources as part of their acoustic testing. As the company explained, irritating noises found by engineers during test drives were registered and then recreated in the lab so they could be “selectively eliminated.”
The company didn’t go into many specifics, but noted the electric drive units feature acoustic optimization while the electric motors have “newly developed noise encapsulation.” The model also benefits from increased rigidity as well as special tires that have a foam absorber inside to minimize noise and vibrations.
Elsewhere, the model boasts weight-optimized sound insulation that uses “innovative materials developed in conjunction with acoustic lightweight construction.” That’s pretty vague, but the company said there are sound absorbers in the pillars, seats, roof liner, and rear shelf. The model also boasts “comfort glazing” on the windows as well as “fleece elements in the doors and on the sill and wheel arch trim which reduce rolling noise.”
The focus on sound extended to exterior design, so the i7 was outfitted with “clear-cut body surfaces, flush-integrated door handles, aerodynamically optimized exterior mirrors and an almost completely closed underbody” for improved aeroacoustics.
Thanks to all these efforts, i7 owners will be able to relax in silence while they drive. 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 introduced later this year and it’s slated to be offered with petrol and diesel engines as well as plug-in hybrid and electric powertrains. The company has been coy on specifics, but previously suggested the i7 will follow in the footsteps of the iX.
