BMW i7 M70 xDrive limo is German brand's most powerful electric car yet
Two-tone paint job optional, polemic front end comes as standard
BMW has revealed a new flagship electric limousine that takes on the mantle of the most powerful electric car yet produced by the German car maker.
With 651bhp and 811lb ft of torque, the BMW i7 M70 xDrive is also second most powerful car in the current BMW line-up, behind the XM plug-in hybrid SUV.
The i7 M70 xDrive is four-wheel drive courtesy of a twin electric motor set-up, involving a 254bhp motor up front and a 450bhp motor at the rear, sourced from the i7 xDrive60 but redesigned with new internals to boost power output.
The updated electric motor has been designed to deliver potent acceleration at all speeds, while the full 651bhp is only available when the i7’s M Sport Boost or M Launch Control systems are activated.
Using the full beans, the i7 M70 can sprint from 0-62mph in 3.7 seconds, while the car’s top speed is electronically limited to 155mph.
Range of up to 348 miles
Energy for the motors is supplied by a huge under-floor battery with a usable capacity of 101.7kWh. That gives the i7 M70 an official range of up to 348 miles on a full charge, with energy consumption rated from 2.6 to 3.0 miles per kWh, though as with all electric cars those figures will vary considerably depending on the ambient temperature, road type, driving style and other conditions.
If you need to charge in a hurry, though, owners will be able to do so at an ultra-rapid charger at up to 195kW, which means in optimal conditions as much as 106 miles of range can be added in 10 minutes.
A new feature that appears on the M70, but will also be added to the rest of the i7 range, is a Max Range function. This limits the i7’s top speed to 56mph and shuts down the climate control and seat heating to help boost range by 15-25 per cent.
As well as more power, the M70 has been enhanced by BMW’s M division to deliver a sharper drive. There’s adaptive air suspension fitted as standard, while a stiffer chassis and M-specific settings boost this electric limo’s performance in corners.
There are 21in alloy wheels fitted with grippier sport tyres as standard, blue painted M Sport brake callipers and larger discs than the entry-level i7, while active roll control and active steering should help improve cornering ability further.
M-specific visual upgrades
Visual upgrades for the i7 M70 include an M Sport body kit and plenty of gloss black details, while the headlights feature a unique look, too. Options include crystal headlights and illuminated kidney grilles, though the front end remains divisive, visually.
Buyers can add the M Performance package to make the i7 look sportier again, while there are also two-tone paint finishes from which to choose.
Inside, there’s M badging throughout, while the vast curved display features M-specific sub menus. BMW has also introduced iDrive 8.5 software with this model, which offers improved responses and shortcuts to important functions that are placed on a single screen, rather than through sub-menus.
On sale date and price
The new i7 M70 xDrive will go on sale in the second half of 2023 and prices will be announced closer to its launch, but expect a premium over the current top-spec i7, which starts from around £137,000.
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- After reading about BMW’s new i7 M70, you might be interested to see our review of the BMW M3 Touring
- Refreshed BMW X7 revealed with updated styling, revamped interior and mild-hybrid assistance
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