BMW is readying a new flagship SUV that will sit above the X5. Called the X7, this new offering is currently under development, as seen in these spy shots of a prototype being tested on the Nurburgring race track in Germany.
The X7 will be based on the same CLAR architecture which made its debut in the latest-gen 7 Series. For the former, the platform will be heavily strengthened to handle the added bulk. Some of the suspension bits will be sourced from the X5 while both rear-wheel drive and xDrive AWD systems are going to be offered.
Inside, the X7 will offer the most luxurious cabin ever seen in a BMW. The quality levels are expected to surpass that of the new 7 Series.
Under the hood, the X7 will get six- and eight-cylinder units as well as a plug-in hybrid derivative. On top of the range there will be a V12-equipped model featuring an upgraded version of the 6-litre unit which currently makes 544bhp and 750Nm of torque.
The X7 will be assembled at BMW’s Spartanburg factory in South Carolina, US where they plan on investing $1 billion until late 2016 to boost capacity. The X7 is expected to be built at an annual production rate of 45,000 cars.