BMW i7 M70 xDrive: 5 Reasons Why BMW’s Most Powerful EV Excites Us

The  Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 has a new playmate – BMW has introduced the new i7 M70 xDrive as the range-topping variant of the i7 flagship electric sedan. It’s the fastest, most powerful EV in the carmaker’s lineup, and yet retains its luxury sedan DNA with the same premium rear-seat experience as the standard i7 sedan. 

Here are five reasons why BMW’s fastest EV is so exciting: 

BMW i7 gets a sports sedan makeover 

The sportiest i7 EV makes an attempt to look the part with its blacked-out kidney grille and redesigned bumper that features black trim elements and wider side air vents. The two-tone paintwork is available in a wide array of options provided by the BMW Individual programme.

At the rear, the dual-tone paint scheme follows over to the boot lid and the rear bumper gets M-specific inserts that lend some more sportiness. In addition, the sedan has aero-optimised 21-inch M lightweight alloy wheels, M-specific exterior mirrors and M badges on the bootlid, front fenders and kidney grille.

Overall, the BMW i7 M70 has a sportier aesthetic than the standard i7, but doesn’t look as shouty as, say, the BMW M4. It still seems staid and luxurious – a sleeper by definition. 

It’s the quickest-ever BMW EV 

The e-motor at the i7 M70 EV’s rear axle is BMW’s most powerful electric motor right now. It makes 489PS all by itself and works with the 258PS front e-motor to produce a combined output of up to 660PS and 1100Nm in M Launch Control mode (577PS and 1015Nm in normal mode). That’s enough to get the sedan from nought to 100kmph in 3.7 seconds, nearly as quickly as the 100PS-more-powerful Mercedes-AMG EQS. The i7’s top speed is electronically limited to 250kmph as a compromise between range and Autobahn performance.  

Tech-laden to the gills 

Inside, the i70 M70 is a luxury sedan first, and it gets all the creature comforts and amenities from the well-loaded i7 such as a rear BMW Theatre Screen, a Bowers and Wilkins surround sound system, automatic, app-operated doors (optional), smartphone-based car key, BMW Curved Display (for infotainment and driver’s instrumentation) and the latest iDrive 8.5 operating system.

Other interior additions are: 

• M-specfic steering wheel, driver’s footrest 

• M illuminated door sills

• M-specific infotainment content 

• Merino leather trim in black or grey

• M carbon fibre interior trim with silver threads 

BMW Individual provides nine interior colour options for the i7 M70.

Still a long-range EV 

Despite the i7 M70 being an EV, BMW is lauding its long-distance capabilities, and not without reason. The EV is powered by a massive 101.7kWh battery pack that provides a driving range of up to 488-560km (WLTP). Moreover, it has a Max Range mode that can “extend” its range by restricting the top speed and turning off electronic systems such as the steering wheel and seat heaters and ventilated seats (the AC is set to a lower setting in this mode). 

The EV is capable of juicing up at a peak charging rate of 195kW, at which rate it can recover 170km of range in ten minutes of charging. 

• 5 Things To Know About New Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680 Electric SUV Unveiled At Auto Shanghai 2023

• BMW 7 Series and i7 Launched In India With Prices Starting From Rs 1.7 Crore

Likely on the cards for India  

The BMW i7 M70 will be launched overseas in the second half of 2023. With the i7 already on sale in India, the sportier M70 variant should also be on the cards for our country, likely arriving sometime in 2024. However, since it’s likely to be a completely built-up (CBU) import, the EV will be quite expensive, commanding a sizable premium over the i7 that retails at Rs 1.95 crore (ex-showroom).

Apart from the Mercedes-AMG EQS sedan, its most direct rival, the BMW i7 M60, will be an alternative to EVs such as the Porsche Taycan, Audi RS e-tron GT and Tesla Model S Plaid.