BMW's Armored i7 Will Be An Electric Fortress On Wheels

When BMW lifted the lid on its new 7 Series andi7luxury sedans, the world let out a collective gasp as eyes met the controversial grille and split headlights for the first time. Polarizing exterior design aside, the Bavarian automakerhas gone to great lengthsto ensure the 7er eclipses its strongest rival, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

Vehicles such as this are all about the interior and, on that front, BMW hasn't disappointed. Aside from the incredibly large rear screen, there areseveral delightful touches and featureslittered across the cabin to soothe the fevered brow of many an executive.

It's not just business people that travel in the rear of stately sedans, though - diplomats and politicians are also partial to a German sedan, but often need armor-plating and bulletproofing to fend off potential attacks. But in a world where conspicuous consumption and waste are frowned upon, what are eco-conscious dignitaries to do?

Well, according toForbes,BMW is working on the perfect compromise - an armored i7 electric sedan. Sources told the publication that the company will develop an i7 Protection to bolster the ICE-powered 7 Series Protection. For now, details remain scant but insiders have hinted at different levels of armor, ranging from handgun protection to more serious solutions.

We can't imagine what this would do to the i7's already hefty curb weight. As standard, the electric Bimmer tips the scales at 5,820 lbs - more than the combustion-engined X7 SUV even. Depending on the chosen protection level, armoring can add as much as 1,200 lbs to a vehicle's mass. This means there's a potential for the i7 Protection to weigh as much as 7,000 lbs.

This poses several problems; extra weight will hinder the electric sedan's travel range. Currently, BMW claims the i7 will be able to cover 380 miles between charges, something the armored version won't be able to do unless BMW tweaks the battery pack - adding even more weight.