Take A Look Inside The BMW X7’s Lavish Interior

BMW’s Range Rover rival will break cover in mid-October.

We’re just a few weeks away from the world debut of the all-new X7, BMW’s largest and most luxurious SUV to date. First previewed by the X7 iPerformance Concept last year last year, the massive three-row SUV is an ambitious attempt to rival the mighty Range Rover.

Ahead of its October debut, our spies have once again snapped the X7 inside and out. While the camouflage on the exterior of this latest prototype hasn’t changed, we get a much better look inside the lavish cabin. As expected, these spy shots confirm the X7 will be a luxurious full-size SUV with room for more than five occupants.

The interior shown in the photos has seating for six, but a seven-seat version is also expected to be available. Despite being a pre-production car, the interior looks production ready with two-tone leather seats, an Alcantara headliner, and a plush wood trim on the dashboard and center console.

The prototype also features a digital instrument cluster with Operating System 7.0 installed, which can also be found in the 8 Series Coupe. The infotainment system still appears to be work-in-progress, however, as the iDrive screen is displaying a 5 Series sedan instead of the X7.

Our spies also managed to photograph the rear center console for passengers sitting in the second row, which features controls for the climate settings, USB ports and a pair of cup holders. We’re surprised to see cheap-looking plastic materials surrounding the cupholders considering this is a flagship SUV, but this could change in the final production model.

Engine options for the BMW X7 are expected to include a turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-six engine and a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 in the US when it goes on sale in 2019.

Check Out Vladimir Putin's New Lavish Limousine

Putin has ditched his Mercedes S600 in favor of a new Russian-made armored limo.

For the fourth consecutive year, Vladimir Putin has been inaugurated as president of Russia. At the ceremony, Putin used the opportunity to unveil his new lavish limousine. He wasn’t happy being chauffeured around in an imported German limo, so he ordered the manufacturing of a new Russian-made vehicle - and this is the result. Replacing his old modified Mercedes S600 is a black presidential limousine codenamed ‘Kortezh,’ which translates to cortege – meaning entourage or procession.

It looks a lot like a Bentley Mulsanne, particularly at the back, while the front headlights resemble the last-generation Chrysler 300. Technical details about the Kortezh are scarce, but the limo is allegedly powered by a turbocharged V12 developed by Porsche with 850 horsepower being sent through a Russian-designed nine-speed slushbox.

Naturally, it’s also heavily armored. The swanky presidential limo was crafted by Russia’s Central Scientific Research Automobile and Automotive Engines Institute in cooperation with Sollers JSC, a Russian holding company with stakes in domestic car companies. Putin allegedly worked closely on the limo's development, and even test drove some of the prototypes. Officials say it’s the first in a planned fleet of 14 new vehicles that will use the limo’s new “Unifited Modular Platform” including a sedan, minivan and SUV. Production of these variants would total 5,000 units, with the majority going to Russian government offices and security services.

A few may also be made available to rich Russian consumers, however. President Trump also has a new limousine on the way. Known as the Beast 2.0, the new presidential limo is expected to arrive this summer. Prototypes of the Cadillac-built state car have already been spotted, and it’s expected to look significantly different than the previous model built on a General Motors' heavy-duty truck frame, which will allow copious amounts of armor and bullet-proof glass to be fitted.

China’s Audi A6L Is Even Longer Than The Lavish A8

Unlike in America, large luxury sedans are still incredibly popular in China.

While the 2018 LA Auto Show is still a couple of weeks away, the Guangzhou Auto Show is underway right now in China. Audi has used this as the venue to reveal the all-new A6L for the Chinese market. Unlike in the US, large luxury sedans are still incredibly popular in China, so it’s an important model for Audi.

Compared to the regular A6 sedan, the all-new A6L’s wheelbase has increased by 3.93 inches to 119 inches.

As a result, the length of the car has increased to 198.8 inches. To put that into perspective, the A6L is even longer than the regular A8 flagship sedan, which isn’t sold in China. Likewise, the standard wheelbase A6 available in the US and Europe isn’t being sold in China.

Unsurprisingly, the A6L’s styling looks the same as its smaller sibling, though the rear doors have been extended to accommodate the stretched wheelbase so there should be no shortage of legroom for rear passengers in the spacious cabin.

Initially, the Audi A6L will go on sale in China with a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine developing 187 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque in the entry-level guise and 221 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque in mid-range spec. The range-topper packs a 3.0-liter TFSI V6 engine with mild hybrid tech that delivers 335 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque.

All engines are mated as standard to a seven-speed S-tronic dual-clutch transmission and the V6 also gets quattro all-wheel drive as standard. Eventually, a hybrid model will also join the A6L range. In China, the Audi A6L will compete with long-wheelbase versions of the BMW 5 Series and the Mercedes E-Class Sedan when it goes on sale in 2019.