2018 has been the year of the SUV for BMW with practically every X model having been updated, replaced or in the case of the X7, introduced for the first time. With countless spy shots and latterly BMW’s own press images to keep us guessing, we finally got to see the final product revealed online in October. The BMW stand at the L.A. Auto Show gave us another opportunity to have a closer look at the largest production vehicle BMW has ever produced.
The front kidney grilles are still as imposing as ever but there is no doubting that this is the range-topper. There are similarities to the all-new X5 in certain areas but the interior, in particular, is a mixture of top-drawer materials and soft-touch plastics found in any expensive luxury sedan.
The X7 comes fitted with three rows as standard. The second can be configured as either two luxurious captain’s chairs or three smaller seats if you need the additional seating space. For the US market, we will be getting two engine options: the xDrive40i utilizes the company’s familiar inline-six turbocharged 3.0-liter with 335 hp.
In this heavy body, performance is somewhat more subdued than in the smaller X models but there is always the xDrive50i for those desiring a bit more oomph. Its 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 with 456 hp launches the X7 to 60 mph in 5.2-seconds (0.6-sec quicker than the xDrive40i) and is more than a match for most other full-sized SUVs currently on offer.
Handling too will be far sharper than what you would expect in such a massive vehicle thanks to a complex air-suspension system with an adaptive option that reads the road ahead via built-in cameras and adjusts the settings to ensure a smooth ride.
Introducing a vehicle such as this may have BMW purists shaking their heads but there is no denying that it is a technically advanced machine that is sure to appeal to those wanting the ultimate in space and luxury. Prices start at $73,900 for the xDrive40i and deliveries to customers should begin early in 2019.
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