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Jun 24, 2023

Everything You Need To Know About The BMW i7 M70 xDrive

BMW's flagship, the i7, receives an M Performance version to become the German

BMW's flagship, the i7, receives an M Performance version to become the German automaker's fastest and most powerful EV.

The BMW i7 received a very sporty update, and now it offers an edition with the surname M, the high-performance line of the German automaker which will arrive in 2023 as a 2024 model. Thus, the all-electric sedan will now be available in this more powerful and more luxurious version of BMW's flagship and make the list of the top 10 luxury electric cars. With this update, the i7 M70 xDrive is officially the most powerful model in BMW's fully electric lineup. It will equip two electric motors, one on the front axle and one on the rear, generating a staggering 650 horses (485 kW). An M-line-specific configuration of the powertrain allows the rear-axle engine of the BMW i7 M70 xDrive to achieve unprecedented power density levels.

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The i7 M70, the third 100-percent electric car from M Performance, has two fifth-generation e-drive motors on each axle, which develop 660 horses (485 kW) and a maximum torque of 811 pound-feet (available with the M Sport Boost function and M Launch Control). All this power is accompanied by an M adaptive air suspension package, electronically controlled dampers, integral active steering, the Executive Drive Pro program, active roll stabilization, and an M sport brake system. With the new i7 M70 BMW aims to continue to boost its EV sales, reaching 6,500 copies in Q3 2023 in the U.S. alone.

This model will be the top of the range for the new 7 Series, with the following characteristics that make it a mighty street sedan: it accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds, which makes it the fastest all-electric BMW model as well, while its top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph. The cabin design maintains the modern luxury feel but with accessories and details such as illuminated M door trims, an M leather steering wheel, an M driver's footrest, and M-specific gauges in the BMW Curved Display.

The BMW Individual interior package offers extra customization options, such as nine upholstery colors or carbon-fiber trim with silver stitching. However, some things are simply exquisite regarding equipment, including the BMW interaction bar in the cockpit and Executive Lounge seats with optimized recline functions at the rear. And while the interior of the i7 M70 is gorgeous, the exterior has been controversial but not to the degree of other electric models from the brand like the BMW iX, which doesn't deserve all the hate it gets.

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Also, the famous BMW Theater has a 31-inch screen, which BMW acknowledges may obstruct your rearview, and the Bowers & Wilkins Surround Sound System. In addition, the optional automatic doors are opened and closed without touching them via the My BMW App and BMW Digital Key Plus on the mobile phone. The Park and Maneuver Assist can also be controlled outside the vehicle via mobile phone via the My BMW app.

The entire multimedia system is operated via the BMW OS 8.5 interface with an improved iDrive selector with "QuickSelect" functions. In addition, this interface has a new home screen with vertical icons and allows direct access to functions without switching to submenus. All digital services and apps included in the new BMW 7 Series are available. In addition, the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant and other voice assistants, video playback in the center display, mobile phone integration, My Modes, and Personal e-SIM can also be used in the new BMW i7 M70 xDrive.

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The drive unit for the rear axle in the BMW i7 M70 xDrive is a six-phase device with a dual inverter. This is the foundation for a significant boost in peak output still usable at high speeds, giving the BMW i7 M70 xDrive the power delivery style of M models. With a power density of 2.41 kW/kg, the motor is 25.5-percent more powerful than the one used to drive the rear axle of the i7 xDrive60 thanks to a patented innovation created by BMW EfficientDynamics, which utilizes six excitation windings in the motor's stator instead of the conventional three.

The rear electric motor in the BMW i7 M70 xDrive produces an incredibly high output despite being unusually light and small. Moreover, it constantly maintains it in the upper echelons of the speed range because of the ensuing "double excitation" compared to traditional units. According to BMW, this system is also superior in power density and efficiency to a drive layout using two motors at the rear axle.

The rear axle's motor can produce a maximum of 489 horsepower (360 kW). In conjunction with the 190 kW/258-horsepower motor at the front axle, the i7 M70 xDrive creates an electric all-wheel-drive configuration that can produce 748 pound-feet (1,015 Nm) of system torque in Sport mode and up to 811 pound-feet (1,100 Nm) when M Launch Control or the M Sport Boost feature is used, providing exceptional pulling power.

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The M70's 101.7 kWh battery pack allows it to achieve a range of 300 to 350 miles (WLTP). Supports alternating current (AC) charging systems of up to 22 kW and direct current (DC) charging stations of up to 195 kW. The range of the BMW i7 M70 xDrive can be maximized with the integrated programs of BMW Maps, which calculate routes based on charging points. Furthermore, the Max Range mode allows you to increase the range between 15% and 25% by selectively limiting the power and maximum speed and reducing comfort functions. The average consumption of the i7 M70 xDrive should be between 23.8 - 20.8 kWh/60 miles in the WLTP cycle, which is quite favorable for a model of this power and size.

The i7 was already the king of luxurious sedans, therefore, this new version with M treatment comes to reiterate this title, and for which the fans of the brand cannot wait for it to be available. Fortunately, the market launch of the i7 M70 xDrive is around the corner and is scheduled for the second half of 2023. This vehicle, along with all other new BMW 7 Series models, will be manufactured at the BMW Group plant in Dingolfing. In addition, the electric motors and high-voltage batteries for all variants of the BMW i7 are also manufactured directly at that plant in Germany. The base model of BMW's newest flagship will cost around €181,800.

Eduardo Zepeda is a car aficionado, gasoline mechanic, and motorhome enthusiast based in central Mexico. He has lived in different parts of Mexico, the United States, and Canada and loves to travel in his house on wheels with his wife and dogs. He's been a writer and content strategist in the automotive, aerospace, and general industrial industries for the last nine years.