Earlier this week, BMW CEO Harald Krueger held the company’s annual meet with the press to outline BMW’s strategy for the future. Among topics like digitilization, self-driving cars and electro-mobility, the BMW boss also talked – briefly – about the upcoming BMW X7.
Using a teaser image which showcased a covered X7 embedded within the X-family, the BMW boss has reinforced the company’s plans to bring to market their largest SUV to date.
Since Land Rover was integrated into the BMW Group, the German manufacturer dreamed of a model that competes with the Range Rover, the quintessential all-terrain sold in almost every market in the world. SUVs have become the preferred model for many clients in all segments and over time, the size requirements have increased as well. In China, the Range Rover is a huge seller, in the U.S., Mercedes GL is a money maker for the Germans, while the Audi Q7 helps Ingolstadt increase their sales numbers every year. The latest one to the market was the Bentley SUV. The market is ready for big, premium SUVs and BMW will follow suit in 2018 with the launch of the X7, their first true seven-seater SUV.
BMW X7 is known as G07 and its launch is scheduled for 2018 with an average annual production of 45,000 units. The base version will cost around 130,000 euros.
The BMW X7 will feature the suspension and running gear of the new X5 and X6, although the flagship X could also sell a version with rear-wheel drive as well as intelligent xDrive. The range of engines will vary from TwinPower Turbo six-cylinder and V8 gasoline and diesel, to a plug-in hybrid version. The top model will be a V12, which will mean being the first production model of the X range with an engine of this type.
Inside, the BMW X7 will be the most luxurious model of the brand, even more than a 7 Series, the same level as the reference model and main rival: the Range Rover, and with room for seven passengers and a large volume boot.
BMW’s Spartanburg plant was tasked with the production of the X7.
