New 650 HP BMW i7 M70 xDrive Is The Closest To An M7 We’ll Ever Get

Despite the obvious enthusiast case for a BMW M7, the Bavarian bean counters have never quite seen a good enough argument to give their flagship luxury sedan the all-out performance treatment from M GmbH. But with a 0–60 mph (0–96 km/h) time of 3.5 seconds, 650 hp (660 PS / 485 kW), and 811 lb-ft (1100 Nm) of peak torque, on paper, the all-new i7 M70 xDrive boasts numbers that sound a lot like they belong on a “real” M car.

Despite weighing 5,929 lbs (2,689 kg), the i7 M70 xDrive is BMW’s quickest and most powerful model in its all-electric range. In fact, it’s not only the quickest 7-Series on offer, bettering the M760e xDrive’s 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) sprint by 0.8 seconds, but its also more rapid than the newly-launched BMW XM Label Red too, BMW’s first standalone M model in 40 years.

Boost Out Back

New 650 HP BMW i7 M70 xDrive Is The Closest To An M7 We’ll Ever Get

The boost in power and speed is attributed to the rear half of the electric drivetrain. The front motor puts out the same 255 hp (259 PS / 193 kW) as the i7 xDrive60, but the rear sees a gain of over 50 percent — from 308 hp (312 PS / 233 kW) to a peak output of 483 hp (490 PS / 360 kW).

Not only does this rear motor contribute to the heady performance figures, but it’s also dubbed as BMW’s most powerful electric motor to date. Thanks to a new design that doubles the excitation windings in the motor’s stator, BMW says that the i7 M70 won’t run out of puff at higher speeds, with the unit able to keep delivering power consistently — perfect for those mid-acceleration bursts.

In Sport Mode, you’ll get a combined torque output of 748 lb-ft (1014 Nm). But up to 811 lb-ft (1100 Nm) is available when sending the car from a standing start with launch control. Alternatively, you can unlock max-torque for short bursts on the fly by way of the M Sport Boost function. This artificial “over-boost” mode is triggered by the left shift paddle and, in addition to neck-snapping acceleration, cues a different piped sound from the artificial symphony composed by movie music legend Hans Zimmer.

Electric Range Stays (Largely) The Same

Perhaps impressively, all this extra power doesn’t appear to come at the cost of range. The i7 M70 uses the same 101.7 kW battery as the i7 xDrive60. But BMW’s preliminary testing suggests that the EPA range will be in the region of 295 miles (472 km), which isn’t far off the i7 xDrive60’s EPA max of 318 miles (509 km).

For those who still worry about the i7’s long-range chops, or are simply caught short of a charger, will welcome the new “Max Range” mode. Sounding a lot like the limp-home mode that would activate in ’90s cars with slipping auto boxes, Max Range limits top speed to 56 mph (90 km/h) and deactivates all the niceties that you’ve paid for, including the climate control, heated/cooled seats, and heated steering wheel — all in pursuit of eking out those miles.

Find a charger, and you’ll be able to juice up at the same rate as the i7 xDrive60, up to 195 kW. With a DC fast charger, BMW says you can go from 10 percent to 80 percent at max charge in 34 minutes.

M Bits Go Deeper Than Just Power

To match the uprated powertrain is an M-specific chassis, with adaptive two-axle air suspension with electronically controlled dampers and automatic self-leveling. Body rigidity is strengthened the old-fashioned way by adding an extra panel between the bulkhead and front strut towers, while high-tech elements include the Integral Active Steering and Active Roll Stabilization.

Brakes are uprated, too, with blue M-Sport calipers housing larger brakes (four-piston fixed front calipers up front and single-piston floating out back). It’s the first time high-performance tires are an option on the i7, but only if you “downgrade” to the smaller 20-inch wheel option. Otherwise, you’ll be offered 21-inch M light-alloy wheels.

In terms of visual additions — well, the gaping and polarizing grille remains. And BMW leans into the storm by offering an illuminated option for those who select the optional M Performance Professional package. The package also brings with it a black M rear spoiler, a black accent strip between the rear lights, and an inlay — also in black — for the rear apron. If you feel you’ve shelled out enough already, the standard i7 M70 xDrive will come with M side skirts, M logos with embellished borders on the front side panels, M High-gloss Shadowline trim, and black M exterior mirrors with the traditional twin-stalk design adding sporting flourishes.

Other notable additions include updated two-tone paintwork options with over 100 BMW Individual special paintwork colors. There’s also BMW’s new 8.5 operating system that takes inspiration from consumer electronics (read phones) to improve its menu structure and offers “QuickSelect” shortcuts for ease of use.

Prices To Be Announced Closer To Production

The BMW i7 M70 xDrive will make its way to showrooms in the second half of 2023 and will be produced at the Dingolfing plant in Germany, alongside where the electric motors and batteries for the i7 are made. BMW says that an MSRP will be released closer to production, but it’s almost guaranteed to be the most expensive model in the 2024 7-Series range, surpassing the previous high-flyer, the xDrive60’s starting price of $119,300.