DRIVEN: That's Not JUST A Toothy Smile Waiting For You, It's The All-new BMW X7 Prototype

For what feels like eons, we've been waiting for BMW to produce an X7 sport-utility vehicle. While the market has been very kind to the likes of three-row, luxury SUVs, BMW's only distributed the X1, X3, X4, X5 and X6.

Three rows, be damned!

Finally, after much rumor and wait the blue and white has come around. Already seen in concept form, we've been quite eager to see a fully productized model. Will it keep it's toothy smile? How much bigger will it get over the X5?

Well, we're getting some answers with this prototype drive of the all-new X7. First things first, it will be available with both a six- and eight-cylinder motor. Paired up with that will be an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel xDrive will be standard.

Also appearing will be a fully digitized instrument panel running BMW OS 7.0.

So, what does this mean for three-row BMW fans? See the conclusion, below.

...Considering some buyers have been crowing for a proper three-row BMW SUV for years, the X7 might feel late to some. But I think its timing is spot on -- with BMW's latest and greatest tech, in addition to its new design language, the X7 is set up to bring the fight to cushy competitors like the Mercedes-Benz GLS and the Range Rover, yet it doesn't stray from BMW's requirement that its cars still be fun to drive. To me, it's worth the wait.

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MDarringer - 5/6/2018 4:59:48 PM

+1 Boost

This cannot get into dealers fast enough. It should have been there 5 years ago. This will destroy the 7 Series for sales and become BMW's pinnacle "sedan".

CarCrazedinCali - 5/6/2018 5:06:15 PM

+3 Boost

It's taking shape quite nicely in the pics! Should be a real winner?

MDarringer - 5/6/2018 5:12:14 PM

+2 Boost

I absolutely agree.

I'd also argue that BMW should slightly enlarge the 5 Series sedan and replace the current 5 and 7 sedans with that product at a lowered price.

The way to stay in the sedan race will be to offer fewer of them but with tremendous value at a great price. Mercedes has won the segment with the S Class.

mre30 - 5/7/2018 4:19:40 PM

0 Boost

BMW should sell a stretched 5-series as a 6-series (not the current "coupe" lineup currently on offer but a "tweener" that's bigger than the 5 and smaller than the 7.

Now that the 8-Series is here, the old 6-series lineup is redundant (plus it kinda sucked anyway). The 6 should be the new 7 and then 7 should go away.

cidflekken - 5/8/2018 12:11:37 AM

+1 Boost

If the rumors are true and the 6-cylinder is to be priced in the mid-$80's to start, then this may be a bit difficult to swallow. The GLS450 starts $15K lower and the Q7, though tighter interior dimensions and a smaller starter engine, starts $30K lower.