The polarising entrance design of the BMW iX is historical past. The brand new face has finished wonders for Bavaria’s electrical SUV—a much-needed enchancment. With the facelift, BMW has launched a brand new flagship mannequin: the brutal iX M70.
Dressed totally in black, it’s not simply any bizarre paint—BMW calls this Darth Vader-like shade “Frozen Deep Gray”. It appears beautiful—in the event you like making an announcement, as a result of subtlety is just not this automobile’s forte. A menacing glare from the sharp LED strips, coupled with air intakes giant sufficient to make vacuum cleaner engineers jealous, give it an aggressive stance. This highly effective look is not only for present. The iX M70 delivers 485 kW (659 PS) and an outrageous 1,100 Nm of torque—fortuitously distributed to all 4 wheels. Ground the throttle, and your facial options are immediately rearranged.
All this energy, efficiency, and exclusivity come at a worth—in fact. Sitting above the already potent iX 60 (400 kW / 544 PS), the M70 occupies its personal league. The most important benefit? Not like all different iX fashions, that are annoyingly restricted to 200 km/h, the M70’s high velocity is 250 km/h—if you really want that on the Autobahn. The 200 km/h restrict on the lesser iX fashions feels unnecessarily restrictive, however the M70’s elevated cap makes extra sense. Regardless of its brutal acceleration (0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds), the M70 nonetheless carries a hefty 2.6-tonne weight. The 109 kWh battery stays unchanged from pre-facelift fashions, which is shocking.
Charging efficiency additionally lags behind the competitors—with a 400-volt structure, it maxes out at 195 kW, whereas rivals now attain 250–320 kW or extra. This leaves the BMW platform outdated. No less than AC charging has improved—the M70 now helps 22 kW wallbox charging. BMW claims a WLTP vary of 520–600 km, however real-world figures rely on driving fashion.
If the charging velocity is underwhelming, the driving expertise is something however. The 4.97-metre-long iX M70 has an outstandingly balanced chassis. The steering feels completely different from BMW’s conventional high-performance SUVs. Powerhouses just like the X5 M, X6 M, and XM are sharper and extra direct, however not essentially higher. The electrical platform’s low centre of gravity provides it superior steadiness, which issues way over acceleration occasions. The adaptive air suspension, digital dampers, and five-link rear axle work collectively flawlessly, protecting the automobile remarkably steady regardless of its weight.
A missed alternative: even after this mid-cycle refresh, the BMW iX M70 nonetheless lacks Stage 3 autonomous driving, which is reserved for the BMW 7 Collection/i7. On this highly effective, high-priced EV, that’s a disappointment. The inside stays largely unchanged, and a few components now really feel outdated. The marginally angled infotainment display could possibly be bigger, and the head-up show falls in need of rivals’ choices. Nevertheless, luxurious and area are nonetheless main promoting factors. Rear passengers take pleasure in loads of legroom, and the boot presents 500 litres, expandable to 1,750 litres with the seats folded.
The BMW iX M70 is a high-performance electrical SUV that delivers brutal acceleration, dynamic dealing with, and a daring presence. Nevertheless, charging velocity and driver help tech could possibly be higher. For these looking for a robust, premium EV SUV, it’s a compelling selection—however the competitors is catching up quick.
