Photo: BMW
BMW first confirmed the X7 two years ago, when it said the new seven-seat SUV would be made in Spartanburg, USA.
The company did not mention this model too much in previous years, as it focused on launching and promoting other products. However, the X7’s launch date is closing in, and BMW executives have started talking about this car again.
Naturally, the development department was still working on the X7 the entire time, and the car is probably finished by now, but there has not been a concept presentation to preview the X7 until now.
We used a picture of the current X5 xDrive40e to illustrate this story, as the German company has not shown any recent sketches of the car, not to mention a concept car. The spyshots of X7 prototypes are not conclusive either, as the car is hidden under various other BMW bodies to conceal its design.
In an interview with Automotive News, BMW brand sales chief Ian Robertson stated that the new X7 will be sold in two versions. One of them will be the already announced seven-seat X7, while the second variant will be an ultra-luxury four-seat model.
The latter will cost over $100,000, and will have a “distinct look,” the sales boss of BMW explained. However, the ultra-luxury X7 will not surpass the $200,000 mark, and it will only represent one percent of X7 sales for the lifetime of the model.
While BMW’s flagship sedan, the 7 Series, shares its platform with a Rolls-Royce model, the upcoming X7 will not do the same with the next Rolls-Rolls SUV. The latter will be built on an aluminum space-frame, while BMW will go for a monocoque solution.
The ultra-luxury X7 is just a small part of BMW’s plans when it comes to “Grand Klasse” models. These vehicles will be BMW’s equivalent to the Maybach range of their arch-enemy, Mercedes-Benz. The latter is also working on a luxury SUV based on the GL, so the two German companies will battle it out on all available segments.
The only segment in which BMW shares no interest with Mercedes-Benz is the pick-up truck category, in which the latter has already confirmed a new product, while BMW stated it is not planning such a vehicle.
Let us remind you that BMW used to say that they would not make front-wheel drive cars or diesel M cars, so there is still a small possibility that they might call their partners at Toyota to share the Hilux platform and provide an answer to the next Mercedes-Benz pick-up truck. This assumption is only valid if the luxury pick-up truck segment that Mercedes-Benz dreams of proves to be a lucrative niche.
Naturally, the development department was still working on the X7 the entire time, and the car is probably finished by now, but there has not been a concept presentation to preview the X7 until now.
We used a picture of the current X5 xDrive40e to illustrate this story, as the German company has not shown any recent sketches of the car, not to mention a concept car. The spyshots of X7 prototypes are not conclusive either, as the car is hidden under various other BMW bodies to conceal its design.
In an interview with Automotive News, BMW brand sales chief Ian Robertson stated that the new X7 will be sold in two versions. One of them will be the already announced seven-seat X7, while the second variant will be an ultra-luxury four-seat model.
The latter will cost over $100,000, and will have a “distinct look,” the sales boss of BMW explained. However, the ultra-luxury X7 will not surpass the $200,000 mark, and it will only represent one percent of X7 sales for the lifetime of the model.
While BMW’s flagship sedan, the 7 Series, shares its platform with a Rolls-Royce model, the upcoming X7 will not do the same with the next Rolls-Rolls SUV. The latter will be built on an aluminum space-frame, while BMW will go for a monocoque solution.
The ultra-luxury X7 is just a small part of BMW’s plans when it comes to “Grand Klasse” models. These vehicles will be BMW’s equivalent to the Maybach range of their arch-enemy, Mercedes-Benz. The latter is also working on a luxury SUV based on the GL, so the two German companies will battle it out on all available segments.
The only segment in which BMW shares no interest with Mercedes-Benz is the pick-up truck category, in which the latter has already confirmed a new product, while BMW stated it is not planning such a vehicle.
Let us remind you that BMW used to say that they would not make front-wheel drive cars or diesel M cars, so there is still a small possibility that they might call their partners at Toyota to share the Hilux platform and provide an answer to the next Mercedes-Benz pick-up truck. This assumption is only valid if the luxury pick-up truck segment that Mercedes-Benz dreams of proves to be a lucrative niche.
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