BMW is partnering with Rimac, the Croatian-based carmaker, to develop a high-voltage battery for the new all-electric BMW i7. The project integrates BMW’s sixth-generation eDrive technology (Gen6) with 4,695 lithium-ion cylindrical cells. These cells provide a 20% increase in volumetric energy density compared to the prismatic cells used in current Gen5 systems.
According to BMW, these improvements will enable the new BMW i7 to achieve a “significantly increased” range and support much faster charging speeds.
For comparison, the existing BMW i7 xDrive60 uses a 101.7 kWh battery with a range of 625 km (WLTP). That model supports 11 kW AC charging and 195 kW DC charging, the latter allowing a 10-80% charge in approximately 34 minutes.
The new high-voltage battery systems are being jointly developed by both companies, with production taking place at the Rimac Campus in Croatia, after which the batteries will be delivered to BMW’s plant in Dingolfing, Germany, for vehicle assembly. Furthermore, the collaboration marks Rimac’s shift to a ‘Tier One’ supplier, effectively becoming one of BMW’s main suppliers.
RELATED: The upcoming BMW 7 Series facelift will come with an even more garish nostril grille
While full details of the 7 Series facelift remain under wraps, a recent teaser suggested an updated exterior featuring an even more brazen “Iconic Glow” kidney grille. While the actual dimensions are similar to the current G70, the tweaked profile and illuminated surrounds now envelop each “nostril” individually to increase its visual presence.
Inside, the cabin could adopt the Panoramic iDrive dashboard from the Neue Klasse platform, which projects information across the entire width of the windscreen. However, we will have to wait for the full review of the new BMW i7 at its world premiere on 22 April at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show next week.
ALSO READ: BMW’s Neue Klasse tech is also heading to MINI and Rolls-Royce
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