How Big Is TOO BIG? - BMW's Massive X7 To Debut In Frankfurt

The better question is what has taken so long? An X7 is such a no-brainer vehicle. BMW should have done it a decade ago.

You stole the words right of out of my mouth. How has BMW not offered a large 7-seat SUV for this long? That is a market segment BMW left unfilled and it allowed Mercedes and Range Rover to run rampant.

It doesn't help BMW that Audi's new Q8 is due in 2018.

The global trend has been towards more SUV sales and fewer sedan sales. BMW's SUV sales growth has not kept pace with what Mercedes-Benz and Audi have managed. If BMW wants any chance to catch Mercedes-Benz in global sales it will need to better execute on its SUVs.

This X7 would be a good start and the changes could filter down the SUV range. However, if it's another missed opportunity BMW will not only be late but also won't have high sales in this segment.

A fundamental rethinking of the entire SUV lineup would go a long way at improving BMW's global sales.

WTF does the Q8 have to do with the discussion?

Considering the Q8 will be Audi's flagship SUV and go on sale in 2018, much like the X7 will be BMW's flagship SUV and go on sale at the end of this year, I'd say the Q8 is relevant to the discussion of the X7.

Gnut, you like Audi more than I do? Not possible. The Audi brand has problems?!? That's complete and utter blasphemy.

Audi will succeed MB and BMW soon when the very affordable A1 and Q2 launches in many countries, especially the larger markets such as the US and other countries. The Audi brand is unstoppable with its class defining interior/exterior design and premium in-car technology. When the top of the line autonomous driving tech comes out, Audi will redefine the luxury segment, I'm absolutely sure of it. Once that happens, MB will go down the drain.

"Mercedes as one MAJOR signature look: success"?
You sound like a delusional MB fanboy like the rest of them here. Put down that stupid Mercedes brochure this instance. MB marketing is just feeding you garbage.

@MD Mainly higher fuel prices

@GermanNut Nice to see you're back, I know you only comment on BMW or Audi articles so we only see you periodically. Just curios why the a range of global bestsellers would need any rethinking? As far as I know the only segment where a X-vehicle isn't the best seller in its class globally is the X3 and that car is 7 years old and still second globally. So what would BMW have to rethink?

Also, the Q8 is a X6 competitor - just a heads-up, it's a very niche market, so even if the Q8 sells well it won't make much of a difference.

Curious to know if you'll have the same comments if Audi ever launches a Q9, there were some recent comments from Audi execs that they're considering it. I suppose that is Audi's strategy, waiting patiently for the other 2 to launch a new car before they can ask VW permission to compete as well.

Why hide the car under so much camouflage? In a typical BMW fashion, this car is going to look like every other BMW's on the road - uninspiring and old. Its interior will sing the same sad song with cheap plastic and decade old design.

Mercedes's GLS is even a worse offender. MB SUV designs are completely cookie cutter with no signature designs to differentiate among themselves. That's why MB is the laughing stock of the auto industry.

Wait till the new, aggressively styled Q8 comes out. Both BMW and MB will have a huge crisis then!

Mercedes-Benz is the best-selling luxury brand in the world with global sales growth that is twice as fast as its nearest competitor and a seemingly bulletproof stronghold on the highest-end of the market. If that's a laughing stock, what is your definition of success?

Look I like Audi even more than you do but the brand is experiencing massive problems in China. I don't believes the sales troubles will last, but as long as it does, Audi has no chance at catching BMW and Mercedes-Benz globally.

"Laughing stock". As in "Mercedes is making it look so easy right now it's laughable", right? Your unyieldingly biased statements have no place on a site like this. Even Nuttieboy knows better than to make stupid comments like yours. At this point, everyone is trying to catch Mercedes. Clearly, they've got the formula down in almost every market segment and show no signs of waning anytime soon. And to your points about a "signature look". Well, Mercedes currently has one MAJOR signature look: success.

mic drop....

Dpalmo and cidflekken have such similar attitudes to their beloved brands :)

@GermanNut not just China but dieselgate too. Also, I think they really need to up the stakes in terms of exterior styling, I saw the new Audi ad that partially shows the new A8 and it looks like they'll continue down the same road. A4 and Q7 have been very underwhelming, maybe they need a new global head of design?

Audi already has a new global head of design. His name is Marc Lichte. Here is a quote from the Audi A8 teaser ad:

"The teaser clip, published Monday, is short but shows off the 2018 A8's remote parking capability. It only appears to require a single press of the key fob, which seems way too easy compared to current semiautonomous parking systems. Tesla's Summon and BMW's remote-parking systems both require more human attention to ensure the car does the right thing."

If the autonomous-driving capability (like the parking) is so easy and effortless compared to what other companies have on the market (Tesla) you can be sure buyers will take notice.

https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/watch-the-2018-audi-a8-park-itself-with-ease/

Marc Lichte has actually been in the job since 2014 so not exactly new but let's see what they do with the new A8, will obviously follow the same direction as the A4 etc. but maybe they can do something more interesting the SUV coupes, the concepts certainly look promising, inside and out.

This thing looks like a major dud. Almost like it's going in the direction of the Q7 vs. the GLS.

GLS was a major dud for me, nice car but looks exactly like the previous generation (I know people say that a lot about cars from all 3 German brands but in this case the resemblance is extreme).

Also, I've been in the current GLS, again, nice car but the interior is a major let down. As the "S-class" of the MB SUV line-up it's interior is not nearly as luxurious as a S-class or a Range Rover, my worst is the cheap, scratchy black plastic on the centre console with the old buttons for telephone usage. Major let down for a car costing that much, the V-class van sold in other markets has a better interior but maybe they'll fix that with a refresh in a couple of years. Refresh, of a refresh, of a refresh, of a refresh etc.

As I was reading this story, my nephew stopped by with his massive Chevy Suburban or Tahoe (whatever they call it now). That thing looks like a small vessel on wheels. So it makes sense MB comes out with their own version. (I usually see mom driving the big "ship" when picking up the kids). If it brings in $$ I guess someone will buy them.

Opps BMW going that way. MB has their big one

I'll wait for the BMW X9, or maybe the BMW X11 big seat BUS.

I have a 2013 X5 and the buying decision comes down to the X7 or MB GLS. The Audi Q7 is beautiful inside and out, but I dislike the side profile. It looks like a large station wagon. The X7 size and profile zeroed in on the GLS.

If anything, the X7 has the potential to replace the 7 Series as BMW's big car. I could easily see the X7 selling a multiple of the 7 Series' volume.

What I'm most curious about is whether there will be a V12 option? With fuel prices where they are in the US right now and China being the other main market it would be interesting to see a xdriveM60i or a GLS600, surely there would be customers for this, however small the numbers may be