The BMW X7 has been in the offing for a while now and the automaker too has teased the upcoming offering time and again. However, the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show will finally showcase the BMW Concept X7, the prototype leading up to the German carmaker's first full-sized luxury SUV. BMW dropped images and details of the Concept X7 recently and it looks all set to dethrone the X6 as the company's new flagship SUV, while posing as a promising rival to the likes of the Mercedes-Benz GLS, Range Rover series, Audi Q7, Volvo XC90 among others. As BMW likes to call its SUV range, the X7 too will be "Sports Activity Vehicle".
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(That is by far the biggest kidney grille to ever grace a BMW)
First images of the reveal the BMW X7 as nothing short of a mammoth on wheels. The boxy proportions add to the bold styling with an abundance of urban touch for the upmarket appeal. The BMW Concept X7 reminds one of Manfred - the mammoth - from the Ice Age movie series, only tamed for the urban jungle. The concept comes with flared wheel arches, larger glasshouse area and a rather considerable ground clearance, aided by the 23-inch alloy wheels finished in chrome. Cutting through the brown paint finish are the brushed aluminium inserts that remind you of the luxurious tone the model will adopt on production.
(The design language is sharp and proportions are massive on the X7 Concept)
The front also gets an upright design with the bold, almost tooth-like kidney grille that sits rather tall, with the sleek-looking LED headlamps located at either end with distinctive X elements. At the rear, the profile retains an upmarket look with the wraparound taillights that extend across the tailgate. Most of these deetails are expected to make it to the production version, albeit in a much toned down avatar. The three-piece glass roof on the concept too is likely to make way for a panoramic sunroof on the production spec version. The Concept X7 iPerformance looks muscular and bold, without a rugged tone to its design.
(The BMW Concept X7 iPerformance looks upmarket and bold, with an elegant appeal)
Inside, the BMW Concept X7 will be most luxurious SUV to ever come from the manufacturer. The concept showcases a 6-seater cabin and represents several elements from BMW's future interior design. The features are futuristic too with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system that provides access to most systems. The front and second row seats have been mounted on pedestals, which aid in the benefit of improved toe space for the rear seat passengers. In addition, a host of features have been carried over from the new generation BMW 7 Series including gesture control, LED lighting in the cabin and much more. The passengers also get individual infotainment screens adding a personal touch of luxury. Needless to say, the screens will come with internet connectivity and will stream everything from music to movies and more.
(The cabin looks futuristic and clutter-free on the BMW Concept X7)
Considering the BMW Concept X7 iPerformance is still sometime away from production, the automaker is yet to reveal details on what will be the mechanicals supporting the SUV. That said, expect to see a plethora of existing and new petrol and diesel engine options making it under the hood with turbocharged power. Given the 'iPerformance' moniker, expect to see a plug-in hybrid version as well while there will be a 'M', absolutely manic model sometime in the future, with a V8 engine.
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(Passengers will get individual screens with internet connectivity and gesture controls)
The new BMW Concept X7 also introduces a new logo of sorts for the brand's luxury line of offerings. The iconic BMW logo is finished in black and white instead of the standard blue and white with "Bayerische Motoren Werke" (BMW) spelled out. The new logo specific to the brand's flagship offerings will extend to the upcoming 8 Series, 7 Series as well as the i8.
The BMW X7 will make it to production sometime next year and will be produced from the company's Spartanburg plant in South Carolina, US. While BMW is yet to confirm, the model is expected to arrive in India as well as the company's most luxurious offering. Reports also suggest that there will be an ultra-luxurious version of the X7 that will convert the cabin into a four-seater instead of six, coupled with oodles of luxury.
(The three-piece glass roof looks interesting on the BMW Concept X7)
The BMW Concept X7 iPerformance will make its public debut on September 12 at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show alongside the new 8 Series, Z4 Concept, i3s and a mystery BMW i concept that is set to preview the Tesla rivaling i5 mid-size sedan. Keep watching this space for all the updates from the Frankfurt Motor Show.
