BMW loves testing vehicles on the Nürburgring in Germany, so it’s never a surprise but always a delight when the CarBuzz spy team captures a prototype testing on the circuit. The latest vehicle turning laps is BMW’s biggest, an X7 going much quicker than anything that big has a right to. This X7 makes it abundantly clear that it has a gas engine under the hood, and it’s not an EV.
BMW X7 spy photoCarBuzz/Valnet
We’re not saying that BMW won’t make an electric X7. An EV based on its flagship three-row luxury SUV is all but a certainty. Just that this isn’t it.
BMW X7 spy photoCarBuzz/Valnet
The four gigantic tailpipes poking out of the rear bumper make it as clear as the X7’s available crystal iDrive controller. If we didn’t know better, we’d think it was a diversion or an overcompensation. In reality, it’s probably related to emissions testing.
BMW X7 spy photoCarBuzz/Valnet
There’s no way BMW will let tailpipes like those into production, but it is a sign of what’s under the hood. The BMW will once again offer a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 in M60 or possibly M70 form. We’ve also seen reports that there will be an Alpina that could wear M100, reflecting even more power.
BMW X7 spy photoCarBuzz/Valnet
This prototype gives us a better look at the shape of the new X7, not the details. The front and rear lights, for example, are both clearly prototype parts and not the real thing.
BMW X7 spy photoCarBuzz/Valnet
Expect taillights similar to the longthin strips of the iX5. For the headlights, this one will probably be quite close to the current model. The prototype has the grille from the old X7, with the top blocked and the middle section open, and no Neue Klasse details in sight. The latest 7 Series sedan also keeps the same face, so it’s not a surprise.
BMW X7 spy photoCarBuzz/Valnet
Still, expect new accent lights high in the corners, new lower lamps, and a new grille and bumper for the car.
BMW X7 spy photoCarBuzz/Valnet
Other visible changes include new door handles. They’re not flush-fit handles that pop out of the bodywork, but they are much smaller and more aerodynamic than the current X7. They could include power-open door mechanisms behind the scenes.
BMW X7 spy photoCarBuzz/Valnet
The side skirts also wear a new look. Along with the tall and narrow greenhouse, these elements make it clearer that this is a new vehicle, not a simple reskin of the existing one.
BMW X7 spy photoCarBuzz/Valnet
According to the CarBuzz spies, the X7 could also end up with more of the luxury extras of the 7 Series. Features including the 31.3-inch cinema screen in the rear and even two-tone paint.
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
The X7 is BMW’s flagship SUV, even if it can’t touch the sedan in luxury or driving experience. It’s a point of pride for the company, and it’s also facing stiff new competition for the first time from Audi in the form of the Q9. So BMW will need to elevate this model to keep ahead. From what we’ve seen, it looks like BMW will pull it off.
The new model should be revealed next year, which is when we’ll find out for sure if it’s up to the challenge of Audi’s Q9 and the Mercedes-Benz GLS.
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