The new BMW i7 M70 has been unveiled at the Shanghai motor show, with the new luxury electric saloon becoming the German brand’s most powerful all-electric car to date.
BMW launched the i7 as its flagship saloon last year, becoming the firm’s sixth electric car in its model line-up, following the i3, i3S, i4, iX3, and iX.
The i7 M70 was engineered by BMW’s M division and is the third all-electric, dual-motor performance car to come out of the Munich brand’s sports arm.
Subscribe to the FREE Move Electric newsletter
Now set to spearhead the 7 series range, the hot new i7 M70 will arrive with 485kW (85kW more than the standard model) and 748lb ft torque. Push the sport mode button and torque is boosted to 811lb ft, making the M70 good for 0-62mph sprint in just 3.7sec.
Underpinned by a dedicated M-specific chassis, but features the same 101.7kWh battery as the entry-level i7, although range has been sacrificed for speed here, with the M70 able to travel between 303 and 348 miles between charges.
That’s slightly less than that of the Mercedes-AMG EQS53 saloon, which offers a range of between 326 and 360 miles – although its battery is slightly bigger at 107.8kWh.
The M70 can be charged at speeds of up to 195kW, meaning 106 miles of range can be added in just 10 minutes, according to BMW.
A new ‘Max Range’ function makes its debut in the M70, which BMW says restricts the power and top speed of the car to boost range by 15 to 25 per cent. Max range mode limits the car to 56mph and deactivates the climate control, seat heating, seat ventilation and steering wheel heating to maximise range.
New BMW i Vision Dee is a high-tech glimpse of a next-gen 3 Series EV
BMW M has tweaked the suspension and handling dynamics of the i7 M70 alongside the hike in power. As standard the hot new saloon M-specific two-axle air suspension and electronically controllable dampers. BMW M has also increased the rigidity and stiffness of the i7’s body for the M70 to improve handling, with systems such as Active Roll Comfort to support the car through corners. The M70 also gets M Sport brakes and 21in alloy wheels.
In keeping with the performance division’s styling, the i7 M70 gets BMW M motifs dotted around the exterior of the car. The huge kidney grille from the standard i7 is carried over, which gets the same light signature as the entry-level car.
BMW will also offer the M70 with a choice of two-tone paint options, with the eight standard and more than 100 BMW individual colours to choose from.
Pricing for the i7 M70 has not been revealed, but as the range-topping variant we expect it to arrive with a price tag of around £160,000. It will go on sale in the UK in the second half of 2023.
READ MORE
Subscribe to the Move Electric newsletter
e-CARS
What is a heat pump and how do they benefit electric cars?
Bold new Volkswagen ID 2all previews sub-£22,000 electric car
e-BIKES
Ten electric bikes we're excited for in 2023
Nine ways to keep your e-bike safe
E-bike theft: how common is it and what can you do to protect your e-bike?
Haibike AllMtn CF 6 e-bike review
e-MOTORBIKES
10 electric motorbike start-ups you should watch out for
Energica e-motorbike to take on all-comers in US racing series
Ducati: How the Italian motorbike brand is gearing up for the electric era
e-SCOOTERS
Planned laws to legalise private e-scooters face delay
Leading e-scooter firms team up on best-practice guide for cities
Ambiguity over e-scooter legality causing ‘confusion’, says police chief
e-WORLD
Solar panels: 8 ways the sun can power your electric life
First ride: Lunaz Upcycled Electric Vehicle bin lorry