2024 BMW i7 M70 xDrive Review: Electrifying Luxury
Electric vehicles are taking over the automotive world, offering eco-friendly transportation without sacrificing performance. Luxury brands have been quick to embrace this shift, developing high-end electric models that deliver the opulence and refinement their customers expect. Among them is BMW, a brand synonymous with driving excitement and premium quality. With the all-new 2024 i7, BMW has taken its flagship 7 Series sedan and given it a potent electric powertrain in the form of the hot M70 xDrive trim.
But just how good is BMW’s ultimate electric luxury sedan? The short answer is: astonishingly good, though the looks may prove too bold for some tastes.
This in-depth review will cover the 2024 BMW i7 M70 xDrive’s blistering performance, sharp driving dynamics, lavishly-appointed cabin, cutting-edge tech features, controversial exterior design, how it stacks up against key rivals like the Mercedes EQS and Lucid Air, pricing and overall value proposition. We’ll analyze every aspect to help you decide if this new electric BMW flagship deserves a spot at the top of your luxury EV sedan shopping list.
Electrifying Performance
The heart of the 2024 BMW i7 M70 xDrive is its dual electric motor setup. The front axle is powered by a 255 hp motor while the rear gets a burlier 483 hp unit – BMW’s most powerful production electric motor to date. Together, they produce a prodigious 650 hp and 811 lb-ft of torque when the “Boost” mode is activated, unleashing the full potential.
The results are simply staggering for a vehicle of this size and weight. BMW quotes a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds but independent testing has clocked the i7 M70 xDrive hitting 60 in just 3.2 seconds. That’s ludicrous speed for a sedan that tips the scales at over 6,000 lbs. The acceleration is so violent that it can induce motion sickness if you aren’t careful with the throttle applications!
Away from the dragstrip, the dual motor torque vectoring and instant power delivery make the i7 feel deceptively agile when hustling down a twisting road. There’s an effortless surge of acceleration out of corners that belies the big BMW’s considerable bulk.
Refined Driving Dynamics
The i7 M70 lives up to its M Performance billing by offering much sharper, more composed handling than you’d expect from a flagship luxury sedan. Key to this is the adoption of rear-axle steering which can turn the rear wheels up to 3.5 degrees to improve low-speed maneuverability and high-speed stability.
BMW has also fitted an active roll stabilization system that uses electric motors to counteract body lean in corners. Combined with the M-tuned adaptive air suspension that can stiffen up in Sport mode, the i7 M70 exhibits remarkably flat cornering for such a large, heavy vehicle. It simply shrinks around you when being driven in a spirited manner.
Yet the BMW engineers managed to imbue the i7 M70 with an impressive ride quality befitting its luxury status. In Comfort mode, the air suspension soaks up road imperfections with buttery smoothness, isolating passengers from any harshness. It’s a brilliant balance of handling poise and ride compliance that most big performance sedans struggle to achieve.
Lavish Interior Amenities
Outside of its electrifying performance capabilities, the main draw of the 2024 i7 has to be its lavishly-appointed cabin that redefines luxury in the automotive space. From the moment you open the doors, you’re ensconced in an opulent cocoon of premium materials and first-class amenities.
The cabin blends the finest leathers, real wood trim, glass surfaces, and metal accents into a truly opulent environment. The attention to detail is exquisite, with a level of craftsmanship and material quality that feels befitting of a six-figure flagship sedan. Even the dazzling display of the curved glass instrumentation and control screens exudes a sense of ultimate luxury.
But it’s the amenities for rear seat passengers that are the true showstoppers in the i7. The optional Executive Lounge Seating package adds power-reclining outboard rear seats with multi-contour massage functions and a removable footrest for ultimate comfort. Then there’s the stunning 31-inch 8K folding rear theater screen that deploys from the ceiling, paired with an awesome 35-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound system. It’s the ultimate luxury entertainment experience.
The only downside is that the i7’s immense size doesn’t fully translate into palatial amounts of rear seat space compared to more traditionally-shaped luxury sedans. Legroom is adequate rather than expansive when the rear seats are upright.
Cutting-Edge Tech
As you’d expect from a flagship BMW, the 2024 i7 M70 xDrive is replete with cutting-edge technology on the infotainment and driver assistance fronts. The curved glass display that integrates the 12.3-inch instrumentation screen and 14.9-inch central touchscreen looks ultra-modern and runs the latest iDrive 8 operating system with 5G connectivity and over-the-air update capability.
Voice commands are highly accurate and responsive thanks to BMW’s partnership with Amazon’s Alexa system. Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto are standard as well. An augmented reality video feed for the navigation system is another cool party trick.
On the driver assistance front, the i7 offers a full suite of active safety features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control and more. BMW’s Extended Traffic Jam Assistant enables hands-free driving on divided highways at low speeds. The optional Parking Assistant Professional upgrade even allows the i7 to self-park both parallel and perpendicular without anyone on board using just the key fob.
Polarizing Exterior Design
While the 2024 i7’s performance, luxury appointments and technological capabilities are undoubtedly impressive, its exterior styling is sure to court plenty of controversy. Love it or hate it, there’s no denying the BMW i7’s daring sheetmetal makes a bold statement that will turn heads everywhere it goes.
Up front is the most striking element – an absolutely gargantuan kidney grille that’s been stretched to seemingly occupy every square inch of real estate. The split headlight design flanking the grille is equally aggressive. It all comes together in a rather ungainly visage that BMW’s designers describe as “proprietary” but many will find just plain ugly.
The muscular side profile with its bulging fender flares looks quite sleek and elegant. But around back is another odd design choice with the tall, slab-like trunk lid and heavy-handed surfacing giving the i7 an ungainly rump. At certain angles, it has the look of an aftermarket body kit rather than factory-standard styling.
The 21-inch wheels do help fill out the flared wheel arches to give the i7 an appropriately imposing stance. But that quirky front and rear styling will likely prove to be a make-or-break factor for many prospective buyers. While this author appreciates the bold design risks BMW took, the end result simply looks too overwrought and inelegant for a flagship sedan of this caliber.
How Does It Compare to Rivals?
So how does the 2024 BMW i7 M70 xDrive stack up against its primary electric luxury sedan competitors? Its closest rival is the Mercedes-Benz EQS, which deploys a dual motor setup producing 649 hp and 700 lb-ft in the AMG EQS 53 trim. While not quite as potent as the hotted-up BMW, the Merc does boast a longer 350-mile driving range.
However, most reviews suggest the i7 M70 is the more engaging and rewarding vehicle from the driver’s seat. The BMW exhibits better body control and sharper reflexes behind the wheel despite the Merc’s slightly lower curb weight. Both offer a similarly lavish luxury experience and high levels of build quality inside, so the preference may come down to brand cachet.
Compared to the Lucid Air, which starts in the low $80k range, the i7 M70 is not quite as stellar of a value proposition. The Lucid boasts up to 1,111 hp in range-topping Air Sapphire guise, swifter acceleration than the BMW, and a competitive 516-mile driving range. It too offers a lavish interior environment, though without some of the experiential wow factors like the i7’s party-piece rear theater system.
However, the BMW enjoys some advantages of its own. Its brand cachet and extensive dealership network give it an edge for customers who prioritize the premium ownership experience. The i7 is also a larger vehicle overall which may appeal to those wanting more interior room.
Pricing and Value
Speaking of pricing, the 2024 BMW i7 M70 xDrive doesn’t come cheap. It starts at a heady $169,495 for the base model. Adding common options like the Theater Screen package and premium paint can easily push the sticker price into the mid-to-upper $190,000 range.
That’s a massive sum even by flagship luxury sedan standards. The Lucid Air range starts in the low $80k bracket, while the Mercedes EQS kicks off around $105k. The top AMG EQS 53 does creep closer to BMW territory at around $150k, but still undercuts the i7 M70 by a fair margin.
So is the i7 M70 worth the premium over its key rivals? For true BMW fans who want the ultimate expression of electric power and luxury from the brand, the flagship likely justifies the six-figure price tag. After all, it delivers staggering performance along with a level of cabin opulence and technological sophistication that few other vehicles can match.
For more value-conscious buyers, the Lucid Air is the smarter choice if pure straight-line heroics and driving range are priorities. Those simply looking for a high-tech luxury EV may also find the Mercedes-Benz EQS a more palatable proposition given its lower pricing structure.
Should You Buy the 2024 BMW i7 M70 xDrive?
The 2024 BMW i7 M70 xDrive represents the pinnacle of BMW’s electric vehicle development efforts to date. This flagship performance luxury sedan combines scintillating acceleration and surprisingly agile handling with a lavishly-appointed cabin brimming with cutting-edge technologies and premium amenities.
From its blistering straight-line pace to the uncompromising refinement and build quality, the i7 M70 personifies the ultimate driving machine ethos that BMW has long touted. Yet it infuses this level of performance with a new level of eco-friendly zero emissions motoring thanks to its potent dual electric motor powertrain.
If you can look past the controversial exterior styling and stomach the premium pricing, the 2024 BMW i7 M70 xDrive represents the new zenith in electric luxury sedan excellence. It’s a bold blueprint for the future of BMW that combines electrification with the brand’s core driving principles in a properly luxurious package.
Final Checkpoint
The 2024 BMW i7 M70 xDrive is a remarkable achievement, showcasing BMW’s ability to push boundaries in the realm of electric luxury performance vehicles. While its polarizing design may not appeal to everyone, there’s no denying the impressive engineering prowess and attention to detail that went into creating this flagship sedan.
With its blistering acceleration, agile handling, opulent interior, and cutting-edge technology, the i7 M70 xDrive sets a new benchmark for what a high-end electric sedan can offer. It delivers an uncompromising driving experience while embracing the future of sustainable mobility, blending BMW’s core values with a forward-thinking approach.
Undoubtedly, the i7 M70 xDrive comes with a hefty price tag, but for those seeking the pinnacle of electric luxury and performance, it represents a truly exceptional package. BMW has boldly charted a course for its future with this remarkable sedan, and it will be fascinating to see how the brand continues to evolve and innovate in the electric vehicle space.
