The 2019 BMW X7 Is Huge

If you thought the Audi Q7 was a big bruiser, Munich has one-upped Ingolstadt with the 2019 BMW X7.

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The new X7, fitting in as it does above the brand-new X5, is an absolute monster of a car. Or is it? Let’s break it down in a table.

	2019 BMW X7	2019 BMW X5	2018 Audi Q7	2018 Mercedes Benz G-Class
Length (mm)	5151mm	4922mm	5052mm	4873mm
Width (mm)	2000mm	2004mm	1968mm	2013mm
Height (mm)	1805mm	1745mm	1741mm	1966mm

Key to the X7’s presence is that giant grille. It looks like it should be straining krill from the ocean on its way to Antarctica. Autobahn runs will mean you’ll be picking livestock from that giant set of teeth. Given that we thought the X5’s grille was big, this is taking the mick a bit…

Anyway. That’s how it looks. Looks are subjective, but BMW’s designers haven’t tried to hide its bulk, but instead celebrating it.

In fact, it’s so big that 20-inch wheels are standard, with optional 21 and 22-inch sets.

LED headlights will be standard across the range and you can get Laserlights with their 600m (2000ft) high beam.

BMW X7 Drivetrains

BMW is opening the bidding with a range of petrols and diesels.

The X7 50i won’t be available in Europe (that will annoy a few people) packs the 4.4-litre twin turbo for 340kW (462PS) and 650 Nm. That should mean a sprint to 100km/h (62mph) in under 5.4 seconds.

The X7 40i is another petrol, this time BMW’s 3.0-litre turbo straight-six, spinning up 250 kW (350PS) and 450Nm. Sounds like a bit, but it has to push 2300-plus kilos. Did I mention the X7 is no lightweight flyer? Having said that, 0-100km/h (0-62mph) arrives in 6.1 seconds.

The first of the diesels is X7 M50d. That comes with BMW’s 3.0-litre inline six with four (yep, four) turbos. That unit winds up for 294kW (400PS) and 760Nm. That’s some way short of obvious rival SQ7’s 900Nm from it’s triple-turbo V8 diesel. It’ll still move, though, hitting 100km/h (62mph) in the same 5.4 seconds as the 50i.

And finally the 30d’s 3.0-litre turbo diesel six comes with 195kW and a stonking 620Nm. While coming close to 2400kg, it still manages the run to 100km/h in seven seconds dead.

All four engines pair with the usual eight-speed ZF automatic, transferring the power to all four wheels.

	Type	Power: kW (PS)	Torque: Nm	0-100km/h (0-62mph)
X7 50i	4.4-litre twin-turbo petrol V8	340kW (462PS)	650Nm	5.4s
X7 40i	3.0-litre turbo in-line petrol 6	250 kW (350PS)	450Nm	6.1s
X7 M50d	3.0-litre quad-turbo in-line diesel 6	294kW (400PS)	760Nm	5.4s
X7 30d	3.0-litre turbo in-line diesel 6	195kW (265PS)	620Nm	7.0

Chassis

The fundamental package is the same across the range. Suspension is by double wishbones up front (ooh, fancy) and a five-link arrangement at the rear. Some have air suspension (that’ll account for some of the tubbiness) while the rest have adaptive damping. You can also get active roll control, which will come in handy if you’re like chucking the car around.

The wishbones are aluminium while the rear end is lightweight steel.

For the moment they all roll on 20s with at least a set of 275/50 tyres wrapped around them. You can option the M-Sport diff on the 50i and 40i and it’s standard on the M50d.

Curiously the brakes are the same on all four (incoming M Performance brakes are a given), with single-piston calipers all around.

Interior and Technology

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The new BMW interior styling direction is looking pretty good here on the X7. Obviously, this monster can take seven people but there’s also a six-seater option where the middle row has two super-comfortable seats. BMW reckons the third row is made of two full-size seats.

BMW’s new Live Cockpit is on board – it’s a 12.3-inch digital dashboard, finally properly taking on Audi’s Virtual Cockpit. BMW’s version of Siri – activated by saying, “Hey, BMW!” (ugh) will be available from March. iDrive OS 7 is also on the 10-inch central screen.

The “basic” package comes with four-zone climate control, a huge sunroof and “and ambient lighting including the Welcome Light Carpet and Dynamic Interior Light.”

Various options include five-zone climate control, “Sky Lounge”, huge Bowers and Wilkins sound system and an M Sport Package for inside and out.

When and Where?

The X7 will roll out of BMW’s Spartanburg, Carolina plant and will roll out from March 2019. 

I’m not gonna lie, I’m really looking forward to driving the M50d. That’s a lot of car moving really quickly…