Your definitive guide on the new BMW i7 M70 xDrive Electric Car Lease

The new BMW i7 M70 xDrive Electric Car Lease-Your definitive guide

April is very much a busy month when it comes to new EV announcements - we found out VW were launching an ID.7 saloon  , the  Smart Hashtag 1  was released for sale and Tesla confirmed a NEW model 3 RWD Long Range with an extended range of up to 374 miles (WLTP).

But not to be outdone, the BMW Group announced an additional model to their repertoire … the i7 M70, a luxury saloon but with exceptional performance and range. Referred to on their website as “the most powerful all-electric BMW”, the German automotive group are aiming to make this unique model the spearhead in their electric 7 series range.

And the move to have more robust ranges is not in itself that surprising. The distance an EV can travel on a full charge is a key metric and requirement for many personal and business leasing customers who are making the zero-emission transition.

The obvious concern for many customers is that an EV will have insufficient range and they will be obligated to spend time charging their vehicle or it will run out of charge and leave them stranded etc etc In actual fact, the reported breakdowns for insufficient charge remains nominal; certainly not more than the volume of combustion drivers running out of fuel!

And with many EV drivers charging at home via a dedicated home charger, the necessity to charge away from the domicile is limited to those without chargers or who are high-mileage company car drivers.

When you are comparing the “Best Electric Car Ranges” - which you can do on our  bespoke page  - you will see that there are a healthy number of combined real-world ranges which offer 250 miles+ on a full charge. But when comparing the range on a suitability assessment, it’s crucial that you consider both the driving style and the weather.

Many manufacturers and dealerships will advertise with just one WLTP range for their vehicles, which is based on controlled and factory conditions. In truth, this isn’t always suitable and relevant for all drivers; particularly for those on a motorway in cold weather.

This is why we have seen anti-EV conjecture and propaganda, with media purporting electric tech is not fit for purpose. Indeed, this is not true or accurate; the problem is simply that drivers are not adequately educated before the point of sale and therefore feel mis-sold. Where e-car are very different is that our website displays a more rounded data set and analysis of what your EV will achieve. Taking a standard BMW i7 400 kW 60 M sport 105.7 kWh delivers the following range below:

How to calculate range on an electric car

To emphasise this, every e-car lease customer will also receive a unique EVC™ which is an electric vehicle certificate to showcase everything you NEED to know about your impending purchase or lease. As part of this, the range will quickly show you, or the fleet manager, the impact of weather on the range together with a link to a more detailed analysis. We stress that high-mileage drivers looking at a new car should always use this to avoid any concerns or disappointments. For more information please see the example below.

At £175,000 and upwards this new i7 is definitely not for the faint hearted. And this is likely to be a comparison for EV drivers looking to lease a Tesla Model S Plaid, the Porsche Taycan Turbo S, Lotus Eletre, Mercedes EQS AMG or Audi e-tron GT RS. For any customers with a healthy budget, there are now a surprising amount of prestige and luxury BEVs to enjoy. Choosing between one now might actually be wholly impossible.

But BMW are aiming to bring their option to the forefront of the list with some great features and comfort. The car will include a MAX RANGE option which enables the driver to increase the range by 15% to 25% at the cost of driver power and other comfort features - the vehicle will be speed limited to prevent this from adjusting.

In addition, the all-wheel drive system will be underpinned by dampers and driving stability  - electronically controlled dampers, automatic self-levelling and air suspension are included. The M70 also includes Integral Active Steering and Executive Drive Pro chassis together with M Sport brakes and 21” alloys.

And the specification doesn’t disappoint, with M exterior mirrors, Executive Lounge, BMT Theatre Screen, Bowers & Wilkins Surround System, automated driving and parking, Parking Assistant and Manoeuvre Assistant. The Digital Key allows opening and closing of the doors automatically plus other comfort and contactless functions.

By integrating to the collision protection, this allows an automatic braking where obstacles are detected. Externally the car will benefit from the distinctive aura signals, twin circular headlights and kidney grille. Also include the crystal headlights and Iconic Glow effect. Like the car attached, this allows individual two-tone paintwork so you can have Liquid Copper metallic paint on the lower section coupled with Sapphire metallic for the upper section.

There are a host of other great options like BMW Curbed Display, Intelligent Personal Assistant, Augmented View and complete smartphone integration. Safe to say you will have everything included to make this a comfortable drive.

When will the M70 EV be available?

The BMW team have suggested that customers can order this from Summer (maybe September) 2023 with the first UK deliveries expected to be taking place by December 2023.

But, at £175,000, is this luxury option really a good EV?

This will be a dual-motor option and will have a usable 101.7 kWh lithium-ion battery which will offer 0 – 62 times of 3.7 seconds, 155 mph top speeds and 485 kW (or 6500hp). And the drivetrain will be AWD. Expect a combined winter range of 255 miles with warmer weather allowing for 345 miles on a full charge. On charging, the 22 kW AC max will allow 5 hour and 30 min 0 – 100% charging times with the 200 kW DC maximum allowing 28 minute 10 – 80% times. This car has a vehicle fuel equivalent of 121 mpg and a cargo volume of 500L.

When you are ready to lease the new BMW i7 M70 on personal, business or salary sacrifice arrangement, just head to our BMW i7 EV deals section at and engage with our expert team.