According to reports, BMW is on the verge of announcing the long-rumoured X7 seven-seat SUV. The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed sources within BMW, says that a major announcement is due tomorrow (March 28) regarding the Spartanburg plant in South Carolina, which currently produces the X3, X4, X5 and X6 models.
A multi-million dollar investment that will increase annual production to 400,000 vehicles is expected with X7 production likely to be included in the increase. BMW has been rumoured to be considering a full-size seven-seat SUV for some time to plug a hole in its line-up, particularly for the American market where such vehicles are common place. The current X5 is offered with a third row of seats, but they are child-only spaces; the X7 is said to more adult friendly in all seats.
Should the X7 be confirmed it will be significantly longer and wider than the X5 (hardly a small vehicle itself) but could call on BMW's expertise with carbon fibre to keep weight down. Engine options will most likely include BMW's existing turbocharged straight-six and V8 petrol engines, as well as turbocharged six-cylinder diesels.
Anything else?
If the BMW X7 does get the green-light it may well form the base for a Rolls-Royce SUV that will do battle with the recently teased Bentley model, itself underpinned by the Audi Q7.