After giving us a glimpse of all three body styles of the 8 Series, the Instituto Nacional da Propriedade Industrial in Brazil comes back into focus with the design patent for the X7. The largest, most luxurious BMW SUV ever is right around the corner, with pilot production ongoing at the Spartanburg plant in the United States ahead of the newcomer’s world debut towards the end of the year for the 2019 MY.
Just about the same thing as the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the INPI is the place where BMW has to go through to protect its intellectual property. The patent we’re covering today refers exclusively to the exterior design of the X7, with the interior available to admire in countless sets of spy photographs.
Codenamed G07 and closely related to the CLAR vehicle architecture-based 7 Series, the X7 is a full-size SUV with seating for seven people and all the latest technology one could dream of in such a vehicle from such an esteemed segment. The ZF 8HP eight-speed automatic is the only transmission option on offer, most likely because the six- and eight-cylinder powertrain options are too high on torque for a dual-clutch gearbox to handle, let alone the M DCT used by BMW for the M2.
Taking inspiration from the Concept X7 iPerformance, the production version of the X7 features a full-width chrome bar connecting the sleek taillights. Up front, the oversized kidney grille will be shared with the 7 Series LCI. Setting apart the X7 from the X5 and X6, BMW came up with a gear lever option that adds Swarovski crystals to the menu.
With a wheelbase measuring 3.01 meters (118.5 inches) and a length of around 5.01 meters (197.2 inches), the X7 should be adequately roomy for family duty. For those who would rather take luxury up a notch, the seven-seat configuration can be changed to a six-seat layout, featuring two captain’s chairs in the second row.
In addition to turbo gasoline and diesel options, the X7 is sure to be offered with a plug-in hybrid drivetrain at some point during the model’s production life. An X7 M with the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 is certain as well, packing more than 600 horsepower.
On that note, expect the 2019 BMW X7 to go official in the flesh no later than the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show.
Codenamed G07 and closely related to the CLAR vehicle architecture-based 7 Series, the X7 is a full-size SUV with seating for seven people and all the latest technology one could dream of in such a vehicle from such an esteemed segment. The ZF 8HP eight-speed automatic is the only transmission option on offer, most likely because the six- and eight-cylinder powertrain options are too high on torque for a dual-clutch gearbox to handle, let alone the M DCT used by BMW for the M2.
Taking inspiration from the Concept X7 iPerformance, the production version of the X7 features a full-width chrome bar connecting the sleek taillights. Up front, the oversized kidney grille will be shared with the 7 Series LCI. Setting apart the X7 from the X5 and X6, BMW came up with a gear lever option that adds Swarovski crystals to the menu.
With a wheelbase measuring 3.01 meters (118.5 inches) and a length of around 5.01 meters (197.2 inches), the X7 should be adequately roomy for family duty. For those who would rather take luxury up a notch, the seven-seat configuration can be changed to a six-seat layout, featuring two captain’s chairs in the second row.
In addition to turbo gasoline and diesel options, the X7 is sure to be offered with a plug-in hybrid drivetrain at some point during the model’s production life. An X7 M with the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 is certain as well, packing more than 600 horsepower.
On that note, expect the 2019 BMW X7 to go official in the flesh no later than the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show.