Car India – August 2019

(ff) #1

BMW X7 | First Drive


The first-ever BMW X7 has been a long


time coming. It’s more than the X5 meeting


the 7 Series and it’s built on a platform that


stretches from Munich to Goodwood. With


seven seats and well-thought-out cabin,


have BMW left no stone unturned? We find


out just how good it really is


earningiscontinuous.
it neverstops.every day is learning
experienceandeverythingcanbe,
if onechoosestoseeeverymoment
asa teacher.letnotpastmistakes
berepeated.if theyare,letnew
lessonsbelearned.let pure nerve
andoutstandingcourage be joined not just by focus and
perseverance but also by unwavering commitment and,
mostimportantly,direction.Whenthesecometogether,
it feelsnotlikemagic,notcomplicated,bututterly
simple;likesomethingthatwaswaitingtohappen.and
thenrealizationhits.it wasmeanttobe.
Withdemandsofconsumersgrowingduetomarket
evolution,yetconsumerdemandfallingduetofuture
uncertainties,therehasn’tbeena toughertimefor
anythingtoproveitself.thebMWX7,then,is an
all-newofferingina spacethatthebrandneverexistedin
before.thisisn’ta half-heartedattemptora sceptical
shotinthedark.it is oneofthosethingsthatknowsit
deservesto be there andtake thefightstraightto the
crown.it’sthe 7 series,butunlikeanythingeverdone
before.Whenlamborghinididtheurus,thingswere
saidbymany,thiswriterincluded.afterbeingbehind
thewheelandhavingeverydoubtobliteratedandevery
questionemphaticallyanswered,admissionofits
capability,nay,superiorityis assured.thisis similar,
yetdifferent.i’vehadmyreservationsabouttheX7,
butiexpectedit tobewhatit is.Didit shine,meet
expectationsordisappoint?Well,that’sexactlywhat
thisis about.
theX7is longer,wider,taller,andmoreluxurious
thananybMWsuVbeforeit.it sitsclearlyabovethe
X5andpetstheX6asitssportylittlesibling.at 5.15
metreslong,exactlytwometreswideandbuiltona
3.1-metrewheelbase,therearefewbehemothsthatcan
battlewiththenewX7.thetargets?youguessedit:the
newMercedesgls, newaudiQ7,VolvoXc90,range
rover,lexuslX,and,dareisay,eventhebentley
bentayga.Whereit’sdifferentis initspracticalapproach
toofferinghigh-endluxurywithmoresensibleengines.
notthata 6.6-litreX7M60iisn’ta possibility,butthe
sweet3.0-litreturbo-dieselsignaturebMWstraight-six
is noslouch.and,atrs 98.90lakh,it’sgreatvalue,too.
What?Provemewrong.
theDesignPureexcellencesignaturetrimit’soffered
inbringsexceptionalstandardequipment.thathuge
frontgrillesetsit apartandlendsit a commandingroad
presence.thereare21-inchwheelswith285/45rubber,
five-stageair-suspension,adaptivedamping,andfour
drivemodesthatalteritsnaturealltooevidentlyand
appreciably.inside,offthetopofmyhead,youhavea

L


Story: Jim Gorde Photography: Sanjay Raikar


The X7 is longer, wider,


taller and more luxurious


than any BMW SUV


before it


http://www.carindia.in August 2019 car india 71

Free download pdf