The most powerful and luxurious BMW electric car ever built has a power of 485 kW and a range of 560 km.
He 2024 BMW i7 M70 xDrive has been unveiled ahead of the Shanghai Auto Show, as the company’s most powerful electric model to date, and the fastest version of its new i7 limousine.
Expected to arrive in Australia in the second half of 2023 (although the exact time has yet to be set), the flagship i7 It arrives with a newly developed dual-motor powertrain offering a combined 485kW, some 30kW more than the similar system used by the iX M60 electric SUV launched in 2022.
At the heart of the latest in electricity bmw The M Performance model is a front electric motor with up to 190kW and a newly developed rear electric motor with 360kW.
The latter is claimed to offer a new BMW record for the power-to-weight ratio of an electric motor, at 2.41 kW per kg. Developments adopted in the new electric motor include a patented design of six coils inside the stator.
In total, the two electric motors provide the i7 M70 xDrive with a combined torque output of 1,015Nm, with up to 1,100Nm available for short bursts of full throttle when the new model’s M Launch Control and M Sport Boost functions are activated.
By comparison, the electric transmission used by the standard i7 xDrive 60 on sale now in Australia develops 400kW and 745Nm.
It also compares with the Mercedes-AMG EQS53 4Matic+’s nominal 484kW and 950Nm, though with an optional AMG Dynamic Plus system, the i7 M60 xDrive’s closest rival raises its reserves to 560kW and 1020Nm.
While it has yet to provide a curb weight figure for the flagship i7 model, BMW M says it will hit 100km/h from a standstill in 3.7 seconds and reach a top speed limited to 250km/h.
A 101.7 kWh lithium-ion battery is mounted within the sedan’s ‘CLAR’ platform, the same structure used by the gasoline-powered 7 Series models.
Equipped with its own uniquely programmed power electronics, the battery is claimed to give the i7 M70 xDrive a driving range of between 488 and 560 km on the WLTP Europe test cycle, with a combined energy consumption of between 23, 8 and 20.8 kWh/100 km.
This is achieved in a new ‘Max Range’ drive mode that limits electric powertrain output and top speed, as well as providing more efficient operation of ancillary functions such as air conditioning.
Up to 228kW of electrical energy can be recovered during braking, according to BMW M.
Charging can be done up to 22kW on an AC system and 195kW on a DC configuration; the latter claimed to provide a 170 km extension in range in 10 minutes.
Underneath, the i7 M70 xDrive receives a uniquely tuned air suspension with continuously variable damping control, four-wheel steering, active roll stabilization and active roll comfort. It also features upgraded brakes and uniquely designed 21-inch alloy wheels as standard.
Visually, the electric M performance sedan is distinguished from other i7 models by a uniquely styled grille with illumination and M badging on the front wheel arches.
Farther back, there are “double-arm” door mirror housings and wider sills under the doors. At the rear, the i7 M70 xDrive receives a revised bumper featuring a new valance and diffuser element.
An optional M Performance package adds high-gloss elements to the exterior styling. Buyers can also specify a two-tone paint finish through BMW Individual.
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