The most powerful all-electric vehicle in BMW’s line-up has been revealed in the form of the 2024 BMW i7 M70 xDrive. The German OEM’s latest model features two electric motors capable of outputting 659ps and a chassis tuned by the M Division. The top-of-the-range model can deliver 0-96km/h in 3.5 seconds making it the fastest purely electric BMW model to date.
Scheduled for market launch in the second half of 2023, the i7 M70 xDrive will be built at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing where both the electric motors and the high-voltage batteries for all BMW i7 variants are manufactured on-site.
The vehicle benefits from an M-specific configuration of the drive system technology which enables the rear axle motor to achieve new levels of power density. The drive unit has a six-phase design with a dual inverter, forming the basis for a significant increase in output that remains consistent as speed increases. With a power density of 2.41kW/kg, the vehicle’s motor represents an increase of 25.5% over the rear axle motor of the BMW i7 xDrive60. This increase was made possible with six excitation windings in the motor’s stator instead of the previously used three. This double excitation enables the electric motor to generate an extremely high output.
The rear axle motor delivers a peak output of 490ps. Working in combination with the 259ps front axle motor, the all-wheel-drive system produces a torque output of 748 lb-ft in Sport mode, and up to 811lb-ft when M Launch Control or the M Sport Boost function is used. The BMW i7 M70 xDrive is electronically limited to a top speed of 249km/h.
Alongside its power and torque figures, the BMW i7 M70 xDrive also benefits from long-distance capability, aided by the efficiency of the highly integrated drive units and measures introduced to reduce power consumption. These include adaptive recuperation of braking energy and the heat pump technology used in the integrated heating and cooling system for the cabin and powertrain.
To optimize efficiency further, the vehicle is fitted with a high-voltage battery with a high energy density. Installed in the underbody of the BMW i7 M70 xDrive is a battery with 101.7kWh of usable energy, delivering an estimated range of up to 475km. The vehicle can be AC charged at up to 11kW, while DC power can be taken on board at a rate of up to 195kW.
