The BMW X7 iPerformance concept was one of the
misfires at the Frankfurt Motor Show but Peisert Design was curious to see if
the crossover's controversial styling would work on the 7-Series.
While we originally called the X7's grille "gaudy
enough to make an Escalade blush," grafting it onto a 7-Series makes the
situation somewhat better. It's still massively oversized and flanked by
comically large air vents but that's still an improvement on the original
concept.
Perhaps the only place where the X7's design works
on the 7-Series is on the sides. The design appears somewhat evolutionary and
the flush-mounted door handles aren't that much of a distraction. That being
said, we prefer the look of the standard model.
Out back, the design isn't half bad either as it
appears to be a futuristic take on the 7-Series' rear end. The slender
taillights are a bit of a departure and the air vents are out of place but
there's little doubt a few fans would prefer this over the so-called Bangle butt.
Larger and more luxurious than the X5, the X7
iPerformance concept previews a production model which will be launched late
next year. The crossover is slated to ride on the CLAR platform and feature an
assortment of six- and eight-cylinder engines. There have even been rumors
about a range-topping variant with four seats and a V12 engine.