When it comes to EVs, BMW and Mercedes take quite different methods, with the former adapting platforms used for combustion engines and the latter developing customized architectures from the ground up. As a result, the new 7 Series G70 and i7 seem almost identical, although the S-Class and EQS are noticeably different. So much so that the EQS isn’t even a regular sedan, but rather a swoopy liftback designed to boost usability and aerodynamics for improved economy.
At the 2022 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, our friends from Autoblog sat down with BMW’s design director to discuss why the company’s two flagships are almost identical. Adrian van Hooydonk made no mention of the two sedans sharing the same platform, as was the case with the X3 and iX3 crossovers, as well as the 3 Series LCI and China’s i3 Sedan. Instead, he said that the style method was a “planned decision.” “We believe that electric mobility will occur, but no one knows how fast.” So we reasoned that combining luxury and electric in one car would be advantageous since, otherwise, we would force our consumers to make an unpleasant decision in the near future. ‘Do I want to be contemporary, do I want to go electric, or do I want a certain level of comfort and space?’ As a result, it’s a nearly unfair choice that we don’t want our consumers to make.”
If you dislike split headlights, which were previously used on the X7 LCI and will be used on the eccentric XM, we have some good news for you. According to Adrian van Hooydonk, the controversial appearance of these four huge cars will not permeate the whole range:
“There will not be a single [design] language applied to all of our automobiles.” Because our selection is rather wide right now, we believe that we need to tailor these cars to certain clients because there are always various rivals in each sector. In broad strokes, the 7 Series exemplifies that attitude at the high end, in the luxury category, but we will do so across the board.”
You’ve certainly seen spy photos of the next-generation 5 Series and i5 testing as disguised prototypes, which lacked distinct daytime running lights. Furthermore, the kidneys were of normal size. The same can be said for the X1 and iX1, two cars that will basically share the same look.
Autoblog is the source.
undefined
