BMW X7 Patent Images Leaked; Will Rival Mercedes-Benz GLS

The flagship BMW SUV is likely to make its debut by the end of this year

BMW has been developing its new flagship SUV, the X7, for a while now. And we have already seen the SUV in its prototype and pre-production avatar going through testing. Now, patent images of the X7 have surfaced, revealing the SUV’s production model completely. The X7 will be a 7-seater SUV and will sit above the X5 SUV in BMW’s portfolio. It will rival the Mercedes-Benz GLS.

• BMW’s Flagship SUV X7 Spied For The First Time

The production-spec X7 doesn’t see much change compared to its prototype and the pre-production model. Its front fascia features a large BMW kidney grill which is flanked by sleek LED headlamps. The headlamps units seem to have taken some inspiration from those on the BMW 8 Series; however, they are more horizontally aligned in the SUV. The X7 also gets a huge front bumper which adds to the butch styling of the flagship BMW SUV.

• BMW Teases Flagship X7 SUV As Pre-Production Kicks Off

At the back, the X7 reminds one of the 7 Series sedan with its golf club-like LED tail lamps that are connected by a chrome applique. Other notable elements in the rear profile include a large and upright rear windshield and a large bumper which houses a skid plate and exhaust tips on either side.

The side profile of the GLS rival looks clean and gets large windows for the first and second row seats and a big quarter glass for the third row. It also features an ice hockey stick-like chrome element running across the lower half of its entire length, much like the flagship 7 Series sedan.

A leaked patent image also depicts the top view of the SUV. And going by the image, the X7 will have a panoramic sunroof along with a fixed glass roof for third-row passengers.

Although the interiors of the SUV have not been revealed in the patent images, we have a fair idea of how the SUV’s cabin will look like thanks to some spy shots.

Going the by the spy shots, the X7’s cabin looks covered in high-quality materials. The cabin layout remains similar to other modern BMW cars, with a large infotainment screen sitting at the top of the central console and an all-digital instrument cluster. Other elements visible in the previous spy shots include a wireless mobile charging pad in front of the cup holders and a multi-functional leather-wrapped steering wheel. Although not visible in the spy image, the X7 is expected to feature Swarovski crystals in the gear knob, raising the premium quotient of the cabin.

• 2019 BMW 8 Series Unveiled; Rivals Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe

Under the hood, the X7 is expected to share its powertrain options with the 7 Series sedan. So the diesel-powered 7-Series could be powered by a 3.0-litre engine which produces 265PS/620Nm with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The 7 Series petrol, on the other hand, is available with a 3.0-litre (326PS/450Nm) engine. Its M version, on the other hand, gets a 6.6-litre V12 unit that makes 610PS/800Nm.

Since the X7 was showcased as a plug-in hybrid in its concept version, we expect the upcoming X7 to pack a hybrid powertrain option as well, which it might borrow from the 740e xDrive iPerformance. The setup packs a 2.0-litre, inline 4-cylinder turbo petrol engine coupled to an electric motor with a total system output of 322PS.

• India-bound Fourth-Gen BMW X5 Unveiled

The X7 is expected to make its debut by the end of this year at the 2018 Los Angeles Motor Show. It is also the same time around which the SUV’s series production is likely to get underway. Although BMW has not said anything about launching the X7 in India, we expect it to be launched here in 2019 or early 2020. Its primary rival, the Mercedes-Benz GLS, is priced upwards of Rs 86.90 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) in India.

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