Those looking for a large luxury SUV will have another name to consider next year: the BMW X7. And it appears it will be offered as a plug-in hybrid.
BMW formally announced back in 2014 it would make a large, three-row SUV based around the popular X5 to compete with the likes of the Cadillac Escalade and Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class. But prototypes caught testing recently show the company is preparing something neither Cadillac nor Mercedes offer right now. The X7 should be the next plug-in electric model in BMW's growing family of electrified vehicles.
Like the system offered on the X5 xDrive40e, BMW will likely pair turbocharged four-cylinder engine to an electric motor and an xDrive all-wheel-drive system to provide a limited electric-only range of around 20 miles. After that, the motor and gasoline engine work in conjunction to power the vehicle.
BMW will also sell a gasoline-only X7, likely with either six- and eight-cylinder options, if the current X5 lineup is any indication. It should also be an exceedingly opulent vehicle, with lavish materials offered and generous space for six or seven people. The German company will also introduce an ultra-luxurious four-seat X7 to challenge the iconic Range Rover.
Expect to see this new BMW X7 sometime next year, with sales beginning towards the end of 2018 and prices that should start at least around $65,000.
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