BMW Australia has announced pricing and specification information for the brand’s new flagship SUV, the X7, which is due to arrive in showrooms this May for a starting price of $119,900 in xDrive30d guise. Above that, the M50d is pegged at $169,900.
Ahead of its local arrival, have decided to prime the order books for the all-diesel X7 range for Australia as well as put rivals such as the Audi Q7, Mercedes-Benz GLS, and Range Rover on notice. The new SUV is BMW’s first foray into a model to sit above the X5.
Both variants of the G07 X7 powered by, essentially, the same engine: a B57 3.0-litre straight-6. While the 30d uses a single twin-scroll turbocharger to generate 197kW and 620Nm, the 50d leveraged a quad-turbo arrangement for 294kW and 760Nm, enough sheer force to move the high-riding luxury barge to 100km/h in a hot hatch beating 5.4 seconds.
The X7’s exterior is somewhat of a contentious topic with some insisting that the boxy profile and flared nostrils are bold and very BMW. Others might think the exact opposite. Surprisingly, BMW will also be offering an M Sport aerodynamic kit (standard on the M50d) to enhance cosmetics toward the sportier side in addition to a more opulently styled Design Pure Excellence package and adventurous xOffroad equivalent.
For this type of money, as they should, BMW supplies even the entry-level X7 with plenty of kit such as height-adjustable air suspension, a panoramic glass sunroof, and plenty of satin chrome exterior accents. However, while its 20-inch wheels may sound large, they don’t quite fit as snugly within the wheel wells as the 22-inchers found on the M50d.
That aside, standard kit includes soft-closing automatic doors, heated front sports seats, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless smartphone charging, and quad-zone climate control. On the safety front there’s Autonomous Emergency Braking, full LED adaptive headlights, 360-degree camera system, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, and traffic sign recognition which enables speed limit alerts.
Naturally, the X7 xDriveM50d comes equipped with a lot more, including an optional full Merino leather cabin with Alcantara headliner, BMW’s Laserlight headlamps, an additional climate control zone, rear-axle steering, and a Harman/Kardon sound system. Being the sportier variant, it also has a M Sport exhaust system, M Sport brakes, and an M Sport differential.
For more on BMW cars, check out our Showroom.
