[karan561]

BMW has announced plans to invest $1 billion into their Spartanburg, South Carolina plant where the X7 will be built.

“With the BMW X7, we are developing another, larger X model, which we will produce at our U.S. plant for our world markets”

^ said Mr. Reithofer, BMW CEO

X7 will battle the Mercedes GL Class, will have 3 rows of seating to seat upto 7 people.

Little else is known about the X7 but it is expected to ride on the same platform that underpins the next-generation 5- and 7-Series

Expected to launch by 2017.

Source

[vineethvazhayil]

Originally Posted by karan561

Attachment 1224507

BMW has announced plans to invest $1 billion into their Spartanburg, South Carolina plant where the X7 will be built.

^ said Mr. Reithofer, BMW CEO

X7 will battle the Mercedes GL Class, will have 3 rows of seating to seat upto 7 people.

Little else is known about the X7 but it is expected to ride on the same platform that underpins the next-generation 5- and 7-Series

Expected to launch by 2017.

Source

That might mean that no one will opt for the X5 with the third row option - might as well get the X7 instead. Or BMW will drop the third row option totally - Which puts the X3 and X5 in direct conflict.

[deetjohn]

Autocar render illustrates what the new X7 may look like.



Hope it is not like that. That D pillar looks very weird.

Range-topping X7 set to go into production in 2016, BMW has revealed

[karan561]

Originally Posted by vineethvazhayil

That might mean that no one will opt for the X5 with the third row option - might as well get the X7 instead. Or BMW will drop the third row option totally - Which puts the X3 and X5 in direct conflict.

True, but still this is going to be relatively more expensive than the X5 so people wanting 7 seats in X5 will still opt for it IMO.

In the meanwhile time for another render



^ Image Source

[vineethvazhayil]

Originally Posted by karan561

True, but still this is going to be relatively more expensive than the X5 so people wanting 7 seats in X5 will still opt for it IMO.

Yup - could be true - like the M Class vs the GL class in the Mercedes range. However they really are priced close to each other - not a huge variation in the prices, I thought?

I checked actually -the base price of the M class is about 15k USD less in the US than the GL. I would think eventually BMW will price the X7 to start at 65- 70K USD with the 3.0 300 bhp motor. Diesel will be pricier and there will be a v8 - I assume.

[VIPER_SRT]

Originally Posted by vineethvazhayil

Yup - could be true - like the M Class vs the GL class in the Mercedes range. However they really are priced close to each other - not a huge variation in the prices, I thought?

I checked actually -the base price of the M class is about 15k USD less in the US than the GL. I would think eventually BMW will price the X7 to start at 65- 70K USD with the 3.0 300 bhp motor. Diesel will be pricier and there will be a v8 - I assume.

65-70K Base price for a 3L engine would be expensive. GL450 with a 4.7L V8 starts from 63K and when decently loaded gets to high 70's. V8 is a must for full size 7 seater in US not just for 7 people but for towing capacity which is a big market.

This rendering of X7 seems more in line with Q7 which has been a good success but I can't sit in third row seat, its for petites and kids. I shied away from Q7 for this reason. GL, QX80, Escalade, LX570 are full size 7 seaters with good towing capacity. If BMW is trying to compete with GL and others in this category then they better get V8's, V6 diesels, real adult 3rd row seats with good headroom and 7000+ towing capacity.

I had the third row seat in my X5 ( a $1750 option) which I never used. Kids never liked it; not sure if they felt the claustrophobic effect in spite of me hooking up iPads on headrests OR kids are spoiled here.

[karan561]

First Spy shots of the X7 @ Germany;





Source

[karan561]

^ There is a certain confusion regarding the above spyshot. The latest report claims that this isnt the X7 but a X5 eDrive prototype which is mistaken for the X7.

Well lets just wait & watch.

Source

[karan561]

Render Update;



^ Image Source

[karan561]

Latest illustration by Autobild;



The X7 Although we expect not before 2018 we are excited from now. On the basis of the X5, the X7 is really long and Creates the space for a third row of seats. The roof running back from coupe-like.

A real competitor to the GL

[ratangera]

Originally Posted by karan561

Latest illustration by [b][u]|
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A real competitor to the GL

Anything on dimensions ? Looks nothing less than mammoth in the pictures and a beautiful at that

[Fullrevs]

Quite keen to know about its off-roading capability. The Audi Q7 and Mercedes GL are pretty good in that area and I am yet to see how well BMW cope with that considering the X5 and X6 arent that good when they turn away from the road to the slushy stuff.