The BMW i7 thumped into the electric super sedan world earlier this year. It’s a slab-sided luxo-barge that’s as long as a GMC Tahoe, features a full theater in back, and Swarovski crystal headlights for $150,000. But, for some even that’s not enough. For those folks, BMW is answering the call with a newer, faster, version of a 2024 BMW i7 called the i7 M70 xDrive.

Why is the new car’s name so long?

First, let’s decode some BMW speak here. In the BMW world, the x in xDrive means all-wheel drive. In this case, that means the new car has two motors, one on each axle. The M means that it’s a performance car, with added M goodies like launch control and, of course, more power.

Years ago BMW named their cars according to engine size, and you knew the 540i had an injected 4.0-liter V8 engine. Today, the numbers mean that the electric car has the approximate power of a gas engine of that displacement. So, the 70 would have the power of a monster 7.0-liter engine, approximately. And, it does.

The i7 M70 xDrive could take on Lucid or the EQS

In the expensive electric super sedan world, we all expect these cars to come to the party with heated, massaging, telepathic seats and touchscreens that can tell the future. The big differences come in range, power, and handling prowess. While the 2023 i7 xDrive 60 has ample power, it doesn’t quite compete with cars in this range. Nobody would ever say 536 horsepower isn’t sufficient. However, you can order a Tesla or a Lucid with more than 1,000 horsepower. Also, the xDrive 60 only has a range of about 300 miles, while you can get a Lucid with 520 miles of range.

The 2024 M70 should make a total of 738 horsepower from its two motors, allowing it to hit 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, according to BMW. While it has a larger battery pack, that extra power does degrade range. The i7 M70 xDrive70’s range should come it at 295 miles, per BMW. However, BMW will add its new MAX RANGE mode, which limits top speed to 56 mph and does all it can to conserve power.

The M means the i7 will handle better

The magicians at BMW’s M division spun up their magic wands and added all sorts of trickery to make this 6,000-pound car handle. The M crew tuned the all-wheel drive, steering, dampers and stability systems to add a dose of sport, including an adaptive two-axle air suspension system. That, with new M-specific springs, BMW says, optimize the damper response.

Stiffness also helps a car this big feel more planted, so the company added a bulkhead and new spring strut towers to reduce roll. And, since this is a big, heavy, car, BMW also added better brakes.

The i7 styling gets an M upgrade, too

For the 2024 BMW i7 M70 xDrive, the car continues to carry the flag for BMW’s top of the line luxury sedan. That means it has every option you can imagine inside. The M version, however, will get M logos all over, M side skirts,  hig-gloss trim, black mirrors, and other performance touches like a diffuser and of course an illuminated grille.