[The Automotive Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by Drive

BMW will extend its SUV range with a larger X7, with a flagship luxury model to rival Bentley, Mercedes-Maybach and Rolls-Royce Photo: Fabian Kirchbauer
BMW is expected to create its own rival to the growing league of uber-luxury off-roaders.

While suspiciously non-committal about creating an alternative to the likes of upcoming Bentley Bentayga, Mercedes-Maybach GLS and Rolls-Royce's yet-to-be-named first SUV, BMW's head of interior design, Oliver Heilmer, admitted the German brand is keeping a watching brief on the developments of its key competitors and said the company wouldn't be left behind.

"As a company, we are open-eyed and we are having a close look at our competitors and this is where we are really dealing with it in an intelligent way," Heilmer told Drive during the launch of the all-new sixth-generation 7-Series limousine in New York this week.

"From a design perspective, any new concept is attractive from our point of view and every niche could be something new. We will try to find our own way.

"I cannot talk about our future plans in detail though."

While Heilmer said BMW already has a luxury option with the customisation offered on its popular X5 SUV, it is expected that the German company will take on the new competitors with its upcoming larger X7 that is slated to be revealed in final production specification in 2017 before going on-sale the following year.

The car, which is being developed under the internal codename G07, is expected to use the basic structural elements of the new 7-Series. While the standard version will be a seven-seat family wagon, developed primarily for the United States but sold globally including Australia, it is believed that an ultra-luxurious, four-seat spin-off will be created, matching the ambience offered by the latest limousine.

Like the 7-Series, it will ride on a plush air suspension set-up and will feature a range of six-cylinder turbo diesel and petrol engines, as well as a twin-turbo V8 and a flagship plug-in hybrid.

http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/b...03-gjew4n.html

[YungDro]

thread closed....

[G4BR13L]

I hope that the G07 also comes to Europe.

[BMW269]

X7 has big shoes to fill, being more luxurious than Bentley, more sporty than Porsche, better at off-roading than Toyota and higher status than Range Rover.

[SCOTT26]

The X7 will be positioned like the 7er with an emphasis on the luxury factor so you will be able to have a four seater like you do with the 7er as well as 5 and 7 seats also available. Its a big car with standard wheels start at 19" with additional wheel options will go to 22". It also has the largest Kidney grille yet even bigger than the 7er. The front end takes its inspiration but details are more upfront and sizeable from the Vision Future Luxury. Which in a slimmed down form is the new 6er Gran Coupe.

[advantage20]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

The front end takes its inspiration but details are more upfront and sizeable from the Vision Future Luxury. Which in a slimmed down form is the new 6er Gran Coupe.

So maybe something along these lines for the new 6er?
Since as you said the L-shaped headlights would be oriented downwards on the coupés, as opposed to upwards on the sedans.