The 544bhp BMW i7 Protection Does 0-62mph In A Reassuringly Slow 9sec

BMW's long history of producing armoured 'Protection' models for VIPs is continuing with the current 7-series. That includes the i7, meaning BMW has created what it claims is the “world’s first-ever protection saloon with an all-electric drive system,” so you can simultaneously ease both your environmental conscience and your fear of getting shot. Neat!

This hasn’t been created as an afterthought, either. The Protection models were “factored into the development” of the new 7er, and that means it’s been possible to make the whole “supporting structure” of the car from armoured steel for the first time. 

On top of that, you get armoured doors and bullet-resistant glass, while the armoured roof and underbody are designed to resist explosives. In other words, whether you’re being shot at, run over an IED, have a grenade chucked in your direction or are subject to a drone attack, the i7 Protection and 7 Series Protection have your back. 

The fuel tank is self-sealing, which will be handy if it gets holed by an AK47-wielding assailant. Meanwhile, the tyres are specially developed run-flats supplied by Michelin that allow the car to travel at up to 50mph even if all pressure is lost. 

All of this contributes to a ‘VR9’ protection classification from Germany’s (deep breath) Vereinigung der Prüfstellen für Angriffshemmende Materialien und Konstruktionen. That translates to Association of Test Laboratories for Attack-Resistant Materials and Constructions, or if you’re short on time, simply ‘VPAM’. The glass, which can withstand hits from 7.62x54mm R rounds (used by the SVD sniper rifle, among many other things), gets the VPAM 10 classification, which the armoured body can be upgraded to optionally.

All this stuff is quite heavy, and the i7 isn’t exactly light to begin with, tipping the scales at about 2.6 tonnes. BMW hasn’t released a weight figure, but to give you an idea of how bulky the i7 {rotection might be, this 544bhp, twin-motor EV does 0-62mph in nine seconds and will top out at 99mph. Crikey. If you’d rather escape the rebel ambush a touch quicker, the 562bhp petrol V8-powered 7-Series Protection does the 0-62mph sprint in a much more brisk 6.6 seconds, topping out at 130mph. 

Armour and more leisurely performance stats aside, these models are both as per the regular i7/7-Series. So, you still get BMW’s iDrive 8.5 OS, a big curved display for the driver, a Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System and a healthy options list including things like an integrated cool box.

This isn’t the kind of car a manufacturer will bandy about a price for - after all, the target customers don’t have to worry too much about that sort of thing and probably have budget allocated. But we can safely assume the i7 Protection and 7-series Protection are rather expensive, whether you get the optional cool box or not.