BMW X7 is in pre-production stage, testing to begin very soon

The unveiling of the BMW Concept X7 iPerformance at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show in September indicated the imminent arrival of a new flagship sports utility vehicle. Now, the German premium carmaker has started the countdown for the launch of the final model – the BMW X7 Sports Activity Vehicle -- after the first pre-production models rolled off the assembly at its plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

According to the carmaker, this signals the countdown for the final 12 months leading to the unveiling of the final production version in the end of 2018. The production of the pre-production models at the BMW Group Spartanburg plant will allow the premium carmaker to both secure and optimize future series production.

BMW Group Spartanburg plant is the current home of BMW’s X models – BMW X3, X4, X5 and X6 – and the addition of the upcoming X7 means that the assembly site would soon be producing five BMW X models. BMW X7 pre-production models are being assembled at the same line as the BMW X5 and X6 production models. The company has already assigned a team that would create the series production process for the final BMW X7.

Once they roll off the assembly line, the pre-production X7 models would then be turned over to BMW’s development department specialists for purposes like homologation, registration as well as diverse tests. BMW plans to have the pre-production X7 models undergo endurance tests as well as test drives under extreme conditions in places like Scandinavia (snowy) and Death Valley (desert). But while still at the Spartanburg site, the pre-production models are wrapped in camouflage -- conspicuous striped patterns that help conceal the final appearance of the BMW X7.

It is expected that the final production version of the BMW X7 would borrow a number of design cues from the Concept X7 iPerformance study, which provided a new glimpse of a new face in the BMW X family. The front end of the Concept X7 iPerformance features an all-new interpretation of classical BMW elements, like the large vertical kidney grille which frame and bars are single-piece and solid in design. Meanwhile, the upper sections of the slim, elongated twin headlights – featuring BMW laser light – are connected to the large kidney grille. The BMW laser light comes with a blue X signature that point to its being a member of the BMW X family.

While photos show the pre-production model wrapped in a camouflage, it fails to conceal the fact the large kidney grille and the narrow headlights of Concept X7 iPerformance have managed to find their way into the pre-production BMW X7, albeit in toned down forms. The lower section of the front end of the camouflaged model, meanwhile, doesn’t seem to adopt the squared chin of the concept. Nonetheless, the X7 is still at its pre-production phase, which means that some visual changes could be expected until the final version is unveiled at the end of 2018.

PRESS RELEASE

The countdown has begun: first BMW X7 pre-production models roll off the assembly line in the USA.

Production of the first pre-production models of the new BMW X7 Sports Activity Vehicle has commenced at the BMW Group Spartanburg plant, USA. So the countdown has started for the final twelve months leading up to the presentation of the production car at the end of 2018. Prior to this, the vehicle will undergo various tests under partially extreme conditions.

Knudt Flor, head of the BMW Group Spartanburg plant: “We are proud to produce the BMW X7 here in Spartanburg, the home of our X models. This is a very special vehicle and our employees are looking forward to yet a further member of the X family. Together with the BMW X7, a total of five BMW X models will be exported from Spartanburg to all four corners of the globe.”

Camouflage wrap conceals final look.
At the plant, the production of pre-series models serves to secure and optimise future series production. Consequently, BMW X7 pre-production models already use the same assembly line as the BMW X5 and BMW X6 production models. An especially trained team realises the series production process for new vehicle models at the plant and qualifies employees for future series production.

The pre-production models built at the BMW Group Spartanburg plant are handed over to development department specialists, who require them for homologation, registration as well as for diverse testing purposes such as endurance tests and test drives under extreme conditions in the desert regions of Death Valley or on the ice and snow covered slopes of Scandinavia.

The pre-production model is fitted with its camouflage wrap while still at the plant. The conspicuous striped patterns are designed to help conceal the new SAV’s final look as far as possible.

Fifth series from the BMW Group Spartanburg plant.
In Spartanburg, the BMW Group produces BMW X models for the USA and the global market.
With record production figures of more than 411,000 units in 2016, Spartanburg is currently the BMW Group’s largest plant worldwide. Around 70 percent of the vehicles produced in Spartanburg are exported to 140 countries throughout the world. According to the US Ministry of Trade, the BMW Group is therefore the largest vehicle exporter in the USA measured in export value. Maximum annual production capacity stands at around 450,000 vehicles.

The BMW Group Spartanburg plant employs more than 9,000 people; a further 1,000 jobs are to be added by the year 2021. Each day, 1,400 BMW X3, X4, X5 and X6 models come off the assembly line at the Spartanburg plant; these will be complemented by a fifth series, the BMW X7, for which the Spartanburg plant is currently preparing.

To date, the BMW Group has invested eight billion US dollars in the production location and has built around 3.9 million vehicles since being taken into operation on 8 September 1994.

*Due to the pre-series vehicle status, technical details like fuel consumption, CO2 emissions, etc. will be communicated later next year.