Bmw X7

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That's one proud prow.

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Our best look yet at the flagship SUV's interior.

The long-awaited, much-discussed BMW X7 finally enters the home stretch. Barely four months away from the start of production, BMW brought six early X7 prototypes to the Spartanburg, South Carolina, plant that will build the new crossover, and invited a small group to sample the driving dynamics. Munich's other full-sized SUV hopes to prove itself the lively, luxurious, and laudable answer to the question, "What took so long?"

Last fall, we finally saw a preview of the three-row BMW X7 SUV. The Concept X7 iPerformance was, like so many other recent BMW concepts, a pretty good indicator of what the final version will look like. The production model is set to debut this year at the Los Angeles Auto Show, but until then we'll have to make do with spy shots, including some new images of the X7's interior.

At the beginning of 2017 we heard reports that BMW planners were considering an X8 SUV boasting almighty luxury, and if approved, it could be ready for 2020 reveal. BMW didn't greenlight the X8 last year, but BMW Blog reports that the Munich carmaker will decide on production this year. Depending on the kind of X8 BMW decides to build, the upper end of amenities and options could mingle in price with entry-level SUVs in the Bentley Bentayga and Rolls-Royce Cullinan sphere.

Autocar reports that the production BMW X7 will launch at the 2018 LA Auto Show with a naturally aspirated engine.

Our spy photographer caught the 2019 BMW X7 in winter testing near the Arctic Circle

How do you like that big grille?

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BMW's most critical vehicle in years is nearly ready.

If this looks a whole lot like a longer X5, it's because that is exactly what this is. The BMW X7 three-row crossover was spied near Munich.

This is basically BMW's unicorn, the oft-rumored three-row that's been frequently discussed but never seen.

There's a new trend emerging in the luxury marketplace, turning seven-seat crossovers into first-class limousines with fewer (but more luxurious) seats. And BMW could be the next to enter the fray with a version of the forthcoming flagship X7.

BMW will produce an autonomous EV called the iNext early next decade, and it will grow its green vehicle lineup, too, including finally adding the i8 Roadster.

Automotive News reports that more than a third of BMW's US sales were crossovers in 2015, and crossovers will be 40 percent of BMW's US sales in 2016.

BMW is working hard to keep up with the high demand for its crossovers. The expansion at the Spartanburg plant should help things by giving a big boost to annual capacity.