- The 2024 BMW i7 M70 xDrive is a new range topper for the automaker’s electric lineup, with two electric motors cranking out 650 horsepower.
- The launch control setting boosts torque to a peak 811 pound-feet, helping this opulent behemoth leap to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, according to BMW.
- The M70 features black trim on the exterior and can be decked out in flashy two-tone paint.
BMW’s electric lineup has a new top dog. The 2024 i7 M70 xDrive, debuting at the Shanghai auto show, will become BMW’s most powerful EV when it launches in the second half of this year. The luxury sedan’s two electric motors combine for 650 horsepower, superseding the 536-hp i40 M50—which BMW says is the M division’s global best-seller—and 610-hp iX M60. The M-specific 483-hp rear unit will also become BMW’s most powerful electric motor.
The M70’s peak torque output of 811 pound-feet is available only in the launch control setting or when using the M Sport Boost function. BMW claims the M70 can rocket to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds, making it the automaker’s quickest EV. Drivers will have to make do with a still ludicrous 748 pound-feet of torque in Sport mode, and top speed is governed to 155 mph.
The chassis has been tuned by the M division, with the high-performance i7 riding on M-specific adaptive air suspension with electronically controlled dampers. The body has been stiffened, while rear-wheel steering and active roll stabilization should help the large sedan feel relatively nimble. The four-piston fixed-caliper front brakes and single-piston floating-caliper rear brakes are painted blue and adorned with an M logo, or they can be colored black with an optional package. The M70 rides on unique 21-inch wheels, but they can be swapped out for 20-inch wheels shod in performance tires.
Despite the immense performance, BMW still claims that the 101.7-kWh battery will be capable of providing 295 miles of range, not far off the standard i7’s range. A new drive mode called Max Range will eke out every electron by restricting the M70 to 56 mph, limiting power, and deactivating the climate control, heated and ventilated seats, and heated steering wheel. Max Range is turned off by pressing the accelerator to the floor, selecting the M Sport Boost function with the left paddle shifter, or turning the window defroster to its highest setting. The i7 M70 supports DC fast-charging at up to 195 kW, with BMW claiming the battery can zip from 10 to 80 percent in 34 minutes.
The M70 is visually distinguished from lesser i7s by its black trim, side skirts, and a rear diffuser insert. The M Performance Professional package adds a black rear spoiler, a black trim piece between the taillights, and more black trim on the rear bumper. Like other i7s, the M70 can be spec’d with two-tone paint, and the outline of the ginormous kidney grille lights up.
Inside, the i7 M70 receives the latest version of BMW’s operating system, featuring a redesigned home screen with a column of icons on the left edge for quick and easy access to specific functions. The curved display also shows off an M-specific font and graphics. BMW will announce pricing closer to the start of production at the end of 2023. The iX M60 starts around $25,000 higher than the standard iX, so we expect the M70 to open at around $145,000.
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Associate News Editor
Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.
