BMW’s flagship SUV X7 spied for the first time

The X7 will be the largest SUV to roll out from the Bavarian automaker’s stable. With no predecessor and related past model, the upcoming X7 will be a whole new model and will sit above the X5 as the flagship Bimmer SUV. The pictures you’re noticing in this article are of the first public sighting of the X7’s test mule with the production-spec body, from the time the vehicle was spied in Germany recently.

The X7 will be 7 Series of SUVs and will rival vehicles such as the Range Rover and Mercedes-Benz GLS, along with others. It is expected that BMW will reveal it at some auto show in 2017, probably in the second half. Global sales are expected to commence in 2018 and its Indian introduction should follow shortly, since two of its main competitors are on sale in the country already.

Though the automaker has heavily camouflaged the test mule, it still looks unmistakably a BMW SUV. Like the rest of its competitors, the X7 appears boxy and features typical BMW design elements such as the kidney grille and wrap-around head and tail lamps.

Speaking of its platform, it is believed that the X7 will feature BMW’s new modular platform that made its debut with the latest sixth-generation 7 Series. The platform utilises aluminium, highly rigid steel, and magnesium in its construction and, along with the use of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP), the new 7 Series is a staggering 130 kg lighter than its predecessor. A lot of its cabin elements has been constructed using this CFRP and BMW calls it ‘Carbon Core’. So, the upcoming X7 will be a relatively lightweight SUV in its segment. Also, the SUV will share its powertrains with the sedan.

Source: CarDeho.com