The idea of introducing a big brother to the BMW X5 was abandoned after the financial crisis in 2008. Keeping with the trend of downsizing, BMW thought it was wiser to spend on projects like smaller cars such as the Active Tourer, plugged product gaps with the 2- and 4-Series carlines, released a new crossover X4, and introduced successors of current vehicles.
Last week BMW announced that it would produce the X5's bigger brother at the Spartanburg plant in South Carolina, USA, without saying when. To be branded 'X7' the all-new crossover would be exclusively manufactured in the USA and exported worldwide.
According to a report published on Automobile Magazine, the BMW X7 would be launched in 2017. Sources tell the French publication that the SUV would measure over 5 m long and have generous space for seven passengers and their luggage. Its main rivals would be the Mercedes GL Class and the Audi Q7.
In the mechanical side, the SUV would draw power from six- and eight-cylinder engines, signalling its priority markets - USA, China and Middle East.
BMW said last week that it was investing one billion dollars (INR 5,988 crore) towards expanding capacity from 300,000 to 450,000 vehicles annually by the end of 2016 in Spartanburg. One part of the expansion is to manufacture the BMW X4 while some of it would be to accommodate the X7.
[Source - Automobile-magazine.fr]
