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iNext7 Series X7Concept previews coming all-
electric BMW crossover
iNext Up
Tesla’s cash flow issues are blood
in the water to the German sharks
of the luxury market, and with the
Audi E-Tron and Mercedes EQC
crossovers already here, BMW’s
iNext is what’s, well, next. We first
saw the iNext concept last fall,
and as photographs of the first
production prototypes show, the
originally funky styling has been
toned down to reveal a slightly
more conventional-looking all-
wheel-drive crossover. Expected
to arrive in 2021, the iNext (which
is rumored to be called i5 when
it reaches production) will be
powered by BMW’s next-gen
electric powertrain, will boast a
range of nearly 400 miles, and will
essentially serve as the brand’s
technology flagship. As such, the
iNext will also be a pioneer for
BMW on the autonomous stage,
with Level 3 capability being
the current goal for customer
versions. BMW says it will also
put a test fleet of 500 iNext EVs
on global roads in 2021 with
autonomous, fully self-driving
Level 4 and 5 tech aboard and
expects international regulationswill be compliant by that time.
BMW views the iNext as an
essential part of its product
plan, with CEO Harald Krüger
saying, “The iNext project will
provide our building blocks
for the future, from which the
entire company and all of its
brands are set to benefit.”
Despite claiming to have
invented the luxury SUV
segment with the first-
generation X5, BMW has
seemingly been content to leave
the full-size luxe SUV class to
German competitors such as
the Mercedes-Benz GLS and
Audi Q7. But no more. With this
year’s launch of the 2019 BMW
X7, the Munich-based brand
has stepped into the people-
moving fray and is throwing
punches. More of a lifted 7
Series luxo-cocoon than a bigger
sport-tuned X5, the X7 we drove
wasn’t the sharpest ute we’ve
piloted, but that’s to be expected
from any near-three-ton SUV.
Available powertrains are a
335-hp 3.0-liter turbocharged
straight-six and a 456-hp4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8, both
paired to an eight-speed
automatic. If you want more,
wait for the introduction of the
X7 M50i, which bumps the V-8’s
power to 523 hp and can shift
100 percent of that grunt to the
rear wheels. Even the weaker
engine gets the hulking X7 to 60
mph in less than 6 seconds. If
you have a real use for a seven-
person lounge on wheels lined
with leather and wood, the X7 is
worth consideration.improvements include a new
voice recognition setup for the
car’s infotainment system and
Extended Traffic Jam Assistant,
which is happy to chauffeur
the driver at speeds up to 37
mph as long as it determines
said driver’s eyes are looking at
the road ahead. Other changes
to the lineup include the new
745e plug-in hybrid, which
pairs an electric motor with a
3.0-liter turbocharged inline-
six for 389 horsepower andON SALE:
i5: 2021 (est); 7 Series: Now; X7: Now
BASE PRICE:
i5: $80,000 (est); 7 Series: $87,445; X7: $74,895
Take a look at the refreshed
2020 BMW 7 Series alongside
its 2019 forebear, and all
you’re really likely to notice
are the 40 percent larger front
kidney grilles. Pretty they’re
not, but they do hint at the
increased power BMW has
found from its 4.4-liter twin-
turbo V-8 (now up to 523 hp
and 553 lb-ft of torque). Other35 miles of pure EV driving.
But you’re an enthusiast,
you say! In that case, there’s
the 2020 Alpina B7, which
boosts the 4.4-liter V-8 to 600
horsepower and 590 lb-ft.
In this rarefied air, the price
shouldn’t concern you, but
if you must know, it starts
at $142,695 and should be
available to order now. AM