The BMW X7 Facelift introduces an all-new front face design language.
Over the last couple of years, the rumour mill has been centred around the BMW X8 (or XM as it was called as a concept). It was supposed to debut as the first hybrid-powered BMW M vehicle and it would debut a new design split headlight design for the company’s SUVs. Yesterday, the BMW X7 facelift debuted sporting that split headlight design instead.
Production of the first BMW X7 actually began in late 2017, making this flagship SUV 5 years old and in need of a facelift. The new face is probably the best place to start.
The old X7 was a bit all-over-the-place in terms of design. To me, it looked like an X5 that had gained weight, gotten a bad nose job and had lost its sporty posture. There was just too much going on to appreciate the thing as a whole. Busy headlight internals, horizontal and vertical slats everywhere, a two-tone grille. In terms of identity, the old X7 was mixed. It had to satisfy the luxury expectations of the segment without giving up its sporty heritage. They also threw in a little pseudo-bash plate to keep the offroad element satisfied.
The new model simplifies elements such as the intake slats and the bumper design while adding Cascade Lighting to the kidney grille. It also separates the headlights into two elements – the always visible daytime running lights and the darkened headlights that do not distract from the overall fascia in daylight. The faux bash plate is gone completely too. Overall, it’s an objectively easier face to digest and it doesn’t look like the work of an amateur.
I think some BMW enthusiasts will find things to dislike about this new face, but I for one think they finally got themselves out of a design rut without botching things up like they did on the 4 Series and iX.
Watch the designer of BMW’s first SAV analyse the iX to see what we mean.
Around back, the changes are almost tough to spot. It doesn’t look like anything has been drastically altered, saved perhaps for a slight change in the taillight sculpture, graphic. These new taillights are also dramatically darker than before, in line with the new 3 Series and 5 Series taillight designs.
It’s worth noting that the V8-equipped X7 comes with a much sleeker look in the form of the BMW X7 M60i xDrive. BMW has also put their recent purchase of Alpina to good use by positioning an XB7 as the ultimate variant of their flagship SUV. These versions of the X7 now get Integral Active Steering and Active Roll Stabilisation.
Under the hood, the 3.0L straight six turbo and 4.4L V8 turbo are now both mated to a 48V mild hybrid system. On the smaller motor, this addition and other modifications equate to a boost in output of 47 hp and 70Nm of torque. Maximum output of the X7 xDrive40i (the variant sold in Malaysia) is now 380hp and 540Nm of torque and it now completes the century sprint in 5.8 seconds, half a second faster than on the current model.
The V8 X7 M60i xDrive gets 530hp and 750Nm of torque and a 0-100km/h speed of 4.7 seconds. In the Alpina XB7, this figure is 630hp and 800Nm of torque and 0-100km/h in 4 seconds.
The mild hybrid system in every version of the X7 is incorporated into the new 8-speed transmission and this enables very low-speed electric driving with an acoustic pedestrian protection system. It’s also equipped with launch control, so there’s something for everyone.
Finally, there are changes to the interior worth mentioning. The BMW X7 now gets the latest generation iDrive control, a BMW Curved Display and BMW Operating System 8.
It will launch in August 2022.
