BMW’s biggest SUV to land here next year
BMW has revealed the largest SUV it has ever built – the all new X7, which is likely to be available in New Zealand in the first half of next year.
‘‘It brings everything about a 7 series into a sports activity vehicle,’’ said Paul Sherley, BMW New Zealand spokesman.
Sports utilities – SAVs in BMW-speak – are the hottest product in the New Zealand new vehicle market, accounting for more than 50 per cent of the brand’s annual volume in the country last year.
New Zealand seems set to be among first right-hand drive markets. Sherley said that he could not provide an exact release date but ‘‘it launches globally in March and we will be in line with that timing’’.
The model sources from BMW’s plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, which is already responsible for producing the X3, X4, X5 and X6.
At 5151mm long, 2000mm wide, 1805mm tall and with a 3105mm wheelbase, the X7 features three rows of seats designed for adult occupancy.
Launch powertrains include two versions of BMW’s 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder diesel engine – an xDrive30d with 195kW/620Nm and an M50d quad turbo with 294kW/760Nm, while a 250kW/450Nm six-cylinder xDrive40i and the 4.0-litre twin turbo V8 340kW/650Nm xDrive50i make up the petrol offerings, with an upgraded eight-speed automatic transmission standard on all models.
The X7 lands at a busy time for BMW NZ, Sherley said. Also releasing around this period are the new 3-Series, the 8-Series and the Z4.