First BMW X7 Teaser Previews Bold Design

The most luxurious SUV BMW has ever built will break cover this month.

Now that the all-new 3 Series has broken cover, BMW can focus on its next major model debut: the X7. The teaser campaign for the automaker’s first ever full-size SUV has officially begun with a shadowy image previewing its gigantic grille. BMW also promises the flagship SUV will be “taking luxury to a higher level,” allowing BMW to go after the likes of the Range Rover and Mercedes-Benz GLS. While the image isn’t very revealing, BMW has already confirmed it will be lifting the wraps off the X7 in the middle of October, so we should see the final production design next week just over a year after the BMW X7 iPerformance Concept was unveiled.

Thanks to leaked patent images, we already have a good idea what BMW’s new luxury SUV will look like. As expected, the design language mirrors other recent BMW models such as the new X5, sporting large kidney grilles and slim headlights.

With room for up to seven occupants, the luxurious interior will also be loaded with BMW’s latest tech. Recent spy shots have shown the X7 will be equipped with BMW’s new swanky digital instrument cluster with Operating System 7.0, lavish two-tone leather upholstery, and an Alcantara headliner.

In terms of engine options, the BMW X7 is expected to be offered in the US with a turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-six engine and a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 when it goes on sale in 2019. Recent rumors have suggested a high-performance X7 M is in the pipeline, and a plug-in hybrid version is also expected to join the line-up after launch.

BMW Vision iNext Previews Future Flagship Electric SUV

The production model will arrive in 2021 as BMW's first Level 3 autonomous vehicle.

After being shown to the press on a Boeing 777, the futuristic BMW Vision iNext concept has made its public debut at the 2018 LA Auto Show, previewing “the future of personal mobility.” Essentially, it previews BMW’s upcoming fully electric flagship SUV that will be loaded with autonomous and connected technology. BMW says the Vision iNEXT “represents a building block for the future of the BMW Group, encompassing technology, design and new ways of thinking that are set to filter through across the company and its brands.”

BMW’s i design language is clearly visible on the Vision iNext with its striking lines and sculpted surfaces. Accentuating the striking design is a Liquid Greyrose Copper paint finish, which gradually changes in shade from warm copper to dark rose. At the front is a modern take on the classic BMW four-eyed front end, with slender headlights, cameras replacing the exterior mirrors, and a windshield that merges seamlessly into a large panoramic roof. Like the iX3 concept, there’s also a gigantic kidney grille containing sensors for the autonomous system. At the back are slim rear lights and a racing-inspired illuminated diffuser that enhances the car’s aerodynamics.

The electric powertrain comes with front- and rear-mounted motors along with a battery tray under the floor. BMW claims the Vision iNext will do the 0-62mph sprint in about four seconds and offer a driving range of 380 miles. The production iNext will also be BMW’s first Level 3 autonomous car.

As a result, the interior is more like a living room than a traditional cabin, with a minimalist design that mixes wood, fabric and metal with. BMW calls this concept ShyTech - the idea is to keep technologies out of sight in the background and make them deployable only when required to give the cabin a more homely feel. The front seats are divided by a table-style console, while the rear bench can fit up to four passengers. The BMW iNEXT production model will roll off the assembly line at BMW’s plant in Dingolfing, Germany, in 2021.