The i7 has a base xDrive60 sedan and does not get an M60, like the performance-spec iX. It also doesn’t fit in with BMW’s M or M that’s-not quite M models. The 2024 BMW M70 xDrive is the most powerful 7 Series class car we’ve seen. The M Division has a six-phase motor that produces 483 horsepower at the rear. This motor is the most powerful yet in the i7. Its output of 2.41 kW/kilogram or 25.5% higher than that found in the base i7xDrive60.
The M70 can produce 650 horsepower when you combine that with a motor of 255 horsepower on the front axle. The torque figures, however, are impressive, as you would expect from an electric vehicle. The two motors produce 748 lb.-ft. in Sport mode. However, using launch control and a feature called ‘M Sport Boost,’ that figure can be increased to 811 lb.-ft.
Straight-line figures are enough to describe a limousine weighing 5,929 pounds. The BMW i7 M70 xDrive 2024 will accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds, with a top speed of 155 mph. The acceleration of this car is comparable to that of BMW’s M cars, but it’s still not as good as the most extreme models. It will give sports cars a run for their money. The M70’s tuned chassis and M-specific adaptive self-leveling air suspension help keep the power and weight under control. This i7, a three-ton electric vehicle, also features active roll stabilization and extra body bracing.
What About Battery and Charging?
While it’s exciting to boast about a car’s massive horsepower and torque, that won’t matter if your EV can’t travel more than 500 yards from a charging station. The 2024 BMW M70 xDrive has a battery pack with a capacity of 101.7 kWh. BMW estimates that this will allow you to drive 295 miles per charge.
BMW claims that the i7 can charge up to 11kW using AC. You can charge it to 195kW if you are using a DC quick charger. This rate is similar to the iX M60, and it’s a good clip, if not impressive compared with other EVs such as the Porsche Taycan.
BMW has added a “Max Range” mode that is similar to the Eco Pro+ mode on the old i3. The maximum speed is limited to 56 mph, and the climate control system is deactivated to use as little power as possible.
Customizing the i7M70
The Sapphire Black upper paint and Liquid Copper bottom paint scheme are one of the most striking features of this car. This is part of BMW Individual’s range of colors, which goes beyond the usual options to create more distinctive shades like this two-tone effect. The i7 M70 also comes with 21-inch alloys, but you can specify a performance tire package that uses slightly smaller 20-inch wheels. The M Performance Professional package adds black brake calipers and a rear M spoiler, as well as a black grille.
The Bavarian beancounters, despite the obvious fanatic case for the BMW M7 sedan, have never seen a compelling enough reason to give the flagship luxury car the full-on performance treatment by M GmbH. The new i7 M70xDrive has a 0-60mph (0-96km/hr) time of just 3.5 seconds. It also boasts 650 horsepower (660 PS/485.5 kW) and 811 lb.-ft. (1100 Nm). These numbers sound like they should be on an “authentic” M car. BMW’s all-electric i7 M70 is the fastest and most powerful BMW model. It’s also faster than the BMW XM Label Red, BMW’s latest standalone M model, which has a 0-60 mph sprint of 96 km/h (0-96 mph) time of 0.8 seconds.
Boost Out the Back
The rear half of the drivetrain is responsible for the increase in speed and power. The front motor produces the same 255 horsepower (259 PS/193 kW), but the rear motor sees an increase of more than 50 percent, from 308 horsepower (312 PS/233 kW) up to a maximum output of 483 horsepower (490 PS/360 kW).
This rear motor is BMW’s most powerful ever electric motor. BMW claims that thanks to a new design that doubles the number of excitation winds in the motor stator, the i7 will not run out of power at higher speeds.
In Sport Mode, you can get combined torque of up to 748 lbft (1014 Nm). Launch control can deliver up to 811lbft (1100Nm) of torque when the car is started from a standstill. M Sport Boost allows you to unlock maximum torque for short bursts of time. The left shift paddle activates this artificial “over-boost mode” which, along with a neck-snapping speed, also triggers a different sound composed by film music legend Hans Zimmer.
This extra power does not seem to be at the expense of range. The i7 M70 has the same battery (101.7 kW) as the i7xDrive60. BMW’s initial testing indicates that the EPA’s range is in the vicinity of 295 miles (472km), which isn’t too far from the i7 xDrive60’s EPA maximum of 318 miles (509km).
Max Range is a welcome addition for those who are concerned about the i7’s long-range capabilities, or simply don’t have a charger. Max Range sounds a lot the same as the “limp-home” mode in 1990s cars that had slipping auto transmissions. It limits the top speed to just 56 mph and disables all the features you paid for like climate control, heated/cooled seating, and heated steering wheels. You can charge your i7 at 195 kW if you find a charger. BMW claims that a DC quick charger can charge a car from 10% to 80% at maximum in just 34 minutes.
M Bits Offer More Than Just Power
A chassis M-specific is available with an adaptive air suspension system with two axles, electronically controlled dampers, and automatic leveling. The body rigidity can be improved the old-fashioned by adding a panel between the front struts and bulkhead. High-tech features include Active Roll Stabilization and Integral Active Steering.
The brakes are also upgraded, with M-Sport blue calipers housing bigger brakes (4-piston front fixed calipers in front, and single-piston floating calipers out back). The i7 is the first car to offer high-performance tires, but only when you choose the smaller 20″ wheels. You’ll get 21-inch M lightweight alloy wheels if you don’t.
The gaping, polarizing grille is still there. BMW is embracing the controversy by offering a lit option to those who choose the optional M Performance Professional Package. This package includes a black M-style rear spoiler as well as a black accent strip in between the rear light and a rear apron inlay. The standard i7 xDrive comes with M side skirts and M logos on the side panels with embellished borders, M High-gloss Shadowline Trim, as well as black M exterior mirrors that feature the traditional twin-stalk style.
There are also new two-tone paintwork color options, with more than 100 BMW Individual special colors. BMW’s 8.5 operating system, which is based on consumer electronics like phones and has “QuickSelect”, offers shortcuts to make it easier to use.
2024 BMW i7 M70 Price & Release Date
BMW i7 xDrive M70 will arrive in showrooms during the second half of 2023. It will be manufactured at the Dingolfing factory in Germany along with the electric motors, batteries, and i7. BMW will release the MSRP closer to the production date, but the i7 M70 xDrive is almost certain to be the most costly model in the 7-Series line-up for 2024, surpassing its predecessor, the xDrive60, which started at $119,300.