BMW is apparently in the process of introducing a new design direction, and one of the first vehicles set with the task is the upcoming facelifted X7. Unveiled a little over two years ago, the brand’s flagship SUV was spied testing again, this time in the cold and still having both the front and rear end all covered up.
The updated BMW X7 appears to not only
retain that big grille, but it also looks to have become a bit more pronounced.
Still, the most controversial update is the repositioning of the headlamps,
which have moved further down, as we’ve seen on the upcoming 7-Series.
The bonnet and bumper are also brand new,
and the rear end is less ostentatious, as it sports a redesigned bumper with
relocated reflectors and not much else – for now at least. The taillights look
almost identical, but they do have different graphics. Expect minimal chances
in the cockpit, which will perhaps revolve around the infotainment system
software and digital dials, with the new upholstery and trim likely rounding
out the changes.
The powertrain lineup should carry over,
with the M50i topping the range, because BMW’s M Division is still not
interested in launching a full-blown X7 M, though a plug-in hybrid might be on
the cards. In the States, it will probably consist of the same 335 HP 3.0-liter
inline-six xDrive40i and 523 HP 4.4-liter V8 M50i. The 612 HP 4.4-liter V8
Alpina XB7 will also be renewed. Expect a small price bump over the current
iteration, which starts at US$ 74,900 for the X7 xDrive40i, US$ 99,800 for the X7
M50i, and US$ 141,300 for the Alpina XB7.