The Largest BMW Ever

The X7 measures 5,165mm long, 2,000mm wide, and 1,835mm tall, making it the largest BMW ever. Its 3,105mm wheelbase contributes to a spacious interior that can accommodate up to seven occupants.

The exterior design emphasizes horizontal lines. In fact, its width is slightly less than the X5's 2,005mm. This difference, according to BMW, reflects the X7's focus on elegance compared to the X5's more muscular stance. Consequently, the X7 features fewer sharp contours and incorporates chrome accents for a simple yet refined design.

BMW's iconic kidney grille takes on a more vertical shape, unlike the horizontal orientation seen on recent BMW sports models, enhancing its robust SUV presence. The headlights, seamlessly integrated with the grille, adopt a flat, modern design that appears horizontal to the ground.

A Luxurious Interior with a Sense of Craftsmanship

The expansive cabin offers a luxurious space where second and third-row passengers can travel in comfort for extended periods. The six-seater configuration features two individual comfort seats in the second row, creating an exceptionally spacious and opulent environment.

The seats come standard with BMW Individual Merino leather, crafted from select hides. The use of highly transparent crystal for the selector lever and Start/Stop button further enhances the sense of luxury and craftsmanship throughout the interior.

Dierk Victor van Unen, Product Manager at BMW Brand Management Division, explained that the electric panoramic glass sunroof creates "an incredibly open interior, further enhancing comfort and spaciousness, making the view itself a part of the journey." He added, "At night, the ambient lighting allows for personalized mood settings. With the optional Sky Lounge panoramic glass sunroof, it feels like gazing at a starry sky."

Two Powertrain Options: Diesel and M-Tuned Gasoline

Two powertrain options are available. The six-cylinder diesel engine delivers a maximum torque of 620 Nm at 2,000-2,500 rpm, providing substantial torque from low revs. Combined with the four-wheel adaptive air suspension, which automatically adjusts ride height within a 40mm range based on sensor data from each wheel, and the Executive Drive Pro system that uses a stereo camera to analyze road conditions ahead and optimize suspension, damping, and roll control, it achieves a "flying carpet"-like smooth ride.

The other option is the M50i, powered by an M-tuned engine, scheduled for introduction in the fall. This model features a V8 twin-turbo gasoline engine producing 530 ps at 5,500-6,000 rpm, enabling a 0-100 km/h acceleration in 4.7 seconds. Equipped with an M Sport exhaust system, it offers enhanced sporty driving performance. Visually, the Cerium Grey kidney grille, mirror caps, and air breathers accentuate its sporty character with elegance and power.

Additionally, it incorporates BMW's latest driver assistance systems, including a traffic jam assistant with hands-off function for support in highway congestion, and a Reversing Assistant that memorizes the last 50 meters of trajectory at speeds below 35 km/h, allowing for automatic reverse driving. These advanced driver assistance systems, featuring high-performance three-lens cameras, processors, and radar for improved accuracy and precision, are standard on all production grades.

The BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, first introduced in the 3 Series, is also equipped. This feature utilizes AI technology to enable vehicle operation and information access through voice commands alone, representing BMW's latest innovation.

Larger Kidney Grille Emphasizes Presence

Regarding the other model announced, the BMW flagship 7 Series, Yasunari Mitate, Product Manager at BMW Brand Management Division, stated, "In addition to driving dynamics, comfort, and innovation, this BMW 7 Series, 'The 7,' evolves into a more authentic and high-quality prestige sedan." He outlined the key aspects of this update.

The first striking feature is the enlarged kidney grille, approximately 40% larger than the current model. By raising the front edge of the hood by about 50mm and giving it more depth, it creates an overwhelming presence on the road. The rear design also emphasizes width, with an LED garnish lamp connecting the traditional L-shaped combination lamps, projecting an undeniable prestige to vehicles behind.

The leather seats feature exceptionally rare hides with minimal surface treatment, preserving the rich texture of the leather. In this new model, unique quilting stitches have been added, including to the center console, elevating the entire cabin's sense of quality.

12-Cylinder Model Continues, PHEV Also Available

While there are various powertrain options, two main ones can be highlighted. The new 745e model introduces a plug-in hybrid system combined with an inline six-cylinder engine. Regarding the plug-in hybrid, Mitate explained, "The key is how precisely the engine and motor, with their different torque characteristics, are coordinated to provide a comfortable ride. BMW was an early provider of plug-in hybrids in this segment, pioneering the premium plug-in market in Japan. Our unique structure, integrating the motor within the automatic transmission and combining it with BMW's traditional silky-smooth inline-six, ensures perfect synergy." He concluded, "This results in a driving experience unlike any other luxury sedan, akin to elegantly driving a larger displacement vehicle."

The other is the top-of-the-line M760Li xDrive, equipped with a V12 engine. "We are confident that in terms of ride, sound, and overwhelming power, it offers the finest driving performance among luxury car engines worldwide today," he stated, emphasizing its high level of refinement. This engine boasts a maximum output of 609 ps at 5,500 rpm and a maximum torque of 850 Nm at 1,550-5,000 rpm.

Advanced Situation Analysis via Camera

Like the X7, the 7 Series is equipped with the hands-off traffic jam assistant and the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant.

Mitate elaborated on the hands-off traffic jam assistant: "Current mainstream driver assistance technologies primarily use a single camera or stereo cameras to view distances of just under 100 meters. In contrast, the latest BMW's three-lens camera system features a short-range camera for a wider view up to 20 meters, a mid-range camera that recognizes distances up to 120 meters – longer than competitors – and a long-range camera for distance measurement up to 300 meters. This allows for precise identification of curves ahead on the road, enabling more accurate driving assistance."

Analyzing these three high-precision images requires a very high level of technology. Therefore, the latest BMWs are also equipped with "a cutting-edge image processing processor capable of analyzing 2.5 trillion images per second, among the most advanced in the world," he stated.

Mitate concluded, "BMW has consistently innovated in this segment with world-leading technology, engine performance that surpasses any other brand, and superior drivability. With this new 7 Series, we are confident that we have established a new benchmark for luxury sedans."