BMW is no stranger to making one-offs that shouldn’t exist. Experiments like the E30 M3 pick-up show a sense of adventure in the engineering team that the operations managers are clearly suppressing.
Well, it appears that little bit of crazy leaked out into the real world again. This time in the form of an X7 Pick-up.
BMW decided to show it off at this year’s BMW Motorrad Days too. This Xy pick-up is a conversion that was done by vocational trainees with the Concept Vehicle Construction and Model Technology division of the company.
They’ve build it off the X7 xDrive40i mode (find out what that means here) and they’re using it to load up a BMW F 850 GS motorcycle.
Here’s what the company had to say about this conversion:
PRESS RELEASE
High-class materials and state-of-the-art production methods meet craftsmanship
Behind the passenger cabin providing five persons with a luxury ambience, the BMW X7 Pick-up offers a generous loading area. The length of the loading space varies from 140 cm (closed) to 200 cm (open). Thanks to the intelligent use of CFRP on roof components, rear doors and the rear lid, it was possible to further reduce weight by 200 kg vs. the production model, despite a 10 cm longer body. In interplay with the high-quality, handcrafted teakwood cladding of the loading area upgrade and the parapet elements, handgrips and trim strips made from SLS 3D pressure parts, it becomes clear just how much innovative strength, competence and technical precision the trainees already display. The combination of honey-coloured teakwood and the BMW Individual colour Tanzanite Blue metallic – an exclusive navy blue finish that develops extra depth when exposed to sunlight – was inspired by yachting sports and creates a sophisticated look.
From a concept to a vehicle in show car quality in just ten months
In just ten months, the twelve trainees from the occupational sectors body and vehicle mechanics (m/f/x), vehicle mechatronics (m/f/x) and technical model construction (m/f/x) turned a concept into a fully functional, road-legal automobile in show car quality. In keeping with the BMW brand’s sustainability strategy, a vehicle returned from testing formed the cost-efficient basis of the concept, which the trainees consequently saved from being scrapped. The trainees were free to decide on conception and implementation, but had to forgo the additional expert assistance normally provided in concept car construction. The coherent final result gives the trainees even more reason to be proud of their practical training project. Their dream: to go for a spin in the BMW X7 Pick-up after its premiere or even take it for a trip to the mountains.
The BMW X7 Pick-up and the BMW F 850 GS – unbeatable as a duo
On the loading area of the converted vehicle stands a BMW F 850 GS, which is ideally suited to the BMW Motorrad Days. With a combination of touring and long-distance capability, sporty dynamics and supreme off-road qualities, the BMW F 850 GS perfectly complements the qualities of the BMW X7 Pick-up. However, in everyday life, the BMW X7 pick-up and the BMW F 850 GS are faithful companions: thanks to their excellent driving characteristics both on paved and unpaved roads, the journey is the destination.
The BMW X7 Pick-up is a one-off from BMW Group Vocational Training at the Munich location. Series implementation is not planned. Special projects such as this serve during training to convey and deploy the required capabilities in practice. Clear training contents with an occupational interest in each profession exist in such projects. The BMW Group currently trains almost 5,000 persons in nine countries worldwide.
