BMW announces 571hp M760e xDrive

Out with the V12 and in with a straight-six PHEV for the latest flagship 7 Series

By Matt Bird / Thursday, 29 September 2022 / Loading comments

Lots of things could be said about BMW in 2022, though it certainly couldn’t be accused of not giving buyers a wide choice when it comes to luxury cars. If the XM is a bit much, the 8 Series Gran Coupe too old and the all-electric i7 not really your thing just yet, the new 7 Series now has a M Performance hybrid at the top of its range: the M760e xDrive.

It takes the place of the fondly remembered M760Li of the previous G11/12 generation (this new car is a G70), with its mighty twin-turbo V12 and ferocious ability to depreciate, among other things. In place of the 6,592cc 12-cylinder now sits a 3.0-litre straight six with ‘M TwinPower Turbo’ technology and 380hp alongside 383lb ft. In conjunction with an electric motor powered by a lithium-ion battery, the M760e xDrive has a maximum system output of 571hp (with its temporary overboost), and 590lb ft. So far, so hybrid, matching the old V12 for torque and only giving away 39hp.

Where the M760e is different, says BMW, is in the hybrid technology. The motor itself delivers 197hp and up to 332lb ft, the power figure matching that of the XM (so it’s probably the same unit). The battery is 18.7kWh, or 50 per cent larger than previous plug-in 7 Series. Where it gets clever is a ‘pre-gearing stage’, technology patented by BMW, which ought to make the big 7 Series more responsive both off the line and for roll-on acceleration. Pre-gearing means the electric drive can generate torque to power the car on its own or help the engine out, albeit in a far lighter package than is usually required for those dual roles. Or at least that’s how we’ve read it.

‘The optimised power delivery achieved with the pre-gearing stage between the electric motor’s rotor and the transmission’s input shaft makes a clear difference both when accelerating off the line and putting in a quick burst of speed’, says BMW. It might all seem of limited validity to a 7 Series that’s 2.2 tonnes in diesel form, but when the M cars go hybrid the investment in lighter, sharper PHEV systems will surely prove beneficial.

As an M Performance BMW, the M760e doesn’t really want for speed. It accelerates from 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds and 50-75mph in 2.7 seconds. Which actually gives away a bit to the V12, not that anyone will notice. The other important numbers are miles ahead of the 22.4mpg and 294g/km previously recorded (and on NEDC, too!). While not official yet, the preliminary WLTP figures for the new M760 suggest 23-29g/km and 217-282mpg. Of course hybrids skew things a little bit, though that’s a pretty drastic improvement. We’re told to expect around 50 miles of battery range.

Although UK prices haven’t been confirmed for the M760e xDrive yet, although it costs €144,000 in Germany. What that might actually be in sterling is anyone’s guess at the moment, but assuming some return to normality a similar number in GBP seems likely - the old V12 was £132,310 at launch. And an awful lot less now; if you’re no fan of the new look and can stomach the running costs (including more depreciation, presumably), this one is half price after just 6,000 miles.