BMW debuts first-ever X7 with 3 rows, Intelligent Personal Assistant

It was only weeks ago when BMW unveils the 3 Series sedan at the Paris Motor Show, but it seems like the Bavarian brand is on a roll by debuting another model for 2019. This time, BMW pulls the curtains off the X7 – the first of its kind and the brand’s biggest model that would be lined up with BMW’s so-called Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV).

In size, the X7 sits on top of the X5 in the SAV size list, while staying bigger than the Sports Activity Coupe’s (SAC) X6. With its size advantage, the 2019 X7 features three rows and is filled with the most advanced tech features found in BMW vehicles.

Design-wise, BMW doesn’t hold back and matches the car’s dimensions with an equally huge kidney grille. The slim adaptive LED headlights expand from the grille to the sides for more presence on the road, while a chrome trim is found by the front bumpers to highlight the Bavarian SUV’s sculpted fascia.

In profile, the X7 features dynamic character lines to highlight the car’s go-anywhere appeal, 221mm worth of ground clearance, and 22-inch alloys. Worth mentioning is the longer rear doors than the front and the high roof, which are essential to the immense rear cabin space, as well as to employ easy ingress/egress of the third-row occupants. The rear-end features slim LED taillights that are integrated to the chrome bar that segments the back of the X7 – a design cue that is initially found in the 7 Series sedan and mirrors the split tailgate system of the 2019 X5.

Inside, the BMW X7 boasts roominess with its large window and electronically-controlled three-panel sunroof that extends up to the last row. The dashboard is of course driver-centric but what would excite your senses are the accents and materials used for a posh and luxurious feel.

The X7 comes standard with seven seats, but buyers have the option to upgrade the second row into captain seats, which not only provides comfort but also immediate access to the last row through the gap in between the slidable seats.

As expected from a luxury brand, the X7 features high-tech features but caught our attention is its Parking Assistant Plus that provides an all-around view of the SAV, along with the Extended Traffic Jam Assist for battling heavy traffic flow via semi-autonomous technology. The Premium package also comes with remote engine start and gesture control.

Another over-achiever tech feature of the X7 is the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, which acts as your digital co-pilot to heighten your driving experience. Aside from providing assistance and expert walkthrough on the X7’s features, the Intelligent Personal Assistant also learns your routines and habits, applying them to your daily drive.

Powering the 2019 X7 is either a twin-turbo 4.4L V8 that produces 456 hp and 649 Nm of torque, or a single twin-scroll turbocharged, straight-six 3.0L power plant that churns out 335 hp and 447 Nm of torque. Both gasoline mills are linked to a new version of BMW’s eight-speed Steptronic transmission, with wider ratio spread and new control electronics for improved power delivery and efficiency.

All X7 variants are equipped with BMW’s xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system that’s able to split drive-torque between the front and rear wheels. A standard two-axle air suspension system with automatic self-leveling also comes standard with the 2019 X7.

Pre-orders for the BMW X7 is now available online for the European market, but vehicle deliveries will start by March 2019. At this rate, it may take a year or two before the Philippine market gets its share of the first-ever X7 but who knows, we may see it sooner than later. Fingers crossed.