[brad850csi]

This particular car is a PHEV, you can see the plug in hole on the front fender and the gas tank hole on the other side at the rear.

My theory looking at the roof line here is that BMW only make 3 row X7 versions, so this is a 2 row X7 with slightly different body styling and PHEV options at that sort of price point - but with a bit of an increase just like X3 -> X4 and X5 -> X6.

The mule looks like what the X1 is to the X2, but the X7 and X8 version. So same overall chassis with different styling for an overall sportier experience (plus of course PHEV and 2 row)

[SoCali E36]

I'm so confused as to what this thing is. Is it a larger X5 but a smaller X7? It doesn't looking like an X6 styled car.

[ZaGooser]

Originally Posted by NOVA99

And not to mention the US became the largest EXPORTER of oil and gas beginning in 2018. Fracking technologies and our engineering prowess have eliminated our great nation's independence on foreign oil or gas forever should our govt officials step up. OPEC is not needed and we can control our market. V12's and Diesels for everyone here. Battery materials for these Electric Salvations are mined by huge diesel machines, the raw materials are finite and rare themself, and manufactured in massive factories burning fossil fuels to make them. The hypocrisy is unbridled. Electric cars are not and will not save the world. The costs to ruin precious Mother Earth mining the material and building the cars far overshadows any positive spin the Libs can put on it. 700HP and 12MPG all day for me. Merica.

I think everyone mistook what I said. I don't think electric cars are the future, as they're arguably worse for the environment. I hate self-righteous Tesla and Prius drivers who scream at anyone with a pickup truck. I want a long-nosed 9-MPG 900 Horsepower V12 coupe revving over 10k. I was saying a certain political party really wants to restrict which vehicles (and some other things we Americans love) we own, and if gas prices do shoot up for a multitude of reasons, people just won't want to drive big gas-guzzling cars. Someone did bring up the point about working from home, and it is a fair argument. However, I don't think Karen would want to drive her 5 kids to rec soccer practice in her BMW X69420M with 10mpg and an 800hp V12 if gas prices shoot up to $6/gal and anything with consumption below 25MPG gets taxed to hell.

For the material use argument, I was just saying it's better if brands focused less on building massive vehicles, as production costs for a large vehicle are higher. I'm not too sure on how much, nor am I sure it's even a justifiable argument, but it's just something worth consideration.

Anyways, I'd do anything for BMW to build a curvy 2 seater grand tourer with a big V12 sitting under an elongated hood. Too bad the market for such a vehicle just doesn't exist anymore.

[brad850csi]

Originally Posted by ZaGooser

I think everyone mistook what I said. I don't think electric cars are the future, as they're arguably worse for the environment. I hate self-righteous Tesla and Prius drivers who scream at anyone with a pickup truck. I want a long-nosed 9-MPG 900 Horsepower V12 coupe revving over 10k. I was saying a certain political party really wants to restrict which vehicles (and some other things we Americans love) we own, and if gas prices do shoot up for a multitude of reasons, people just won't want to drive big gas-guzzling cars. Someone did bring up the point about working from home, and it is a fair argument. However, I don't think Karen would want to drive her 5 kids to rec soccer practice in her BMW X69420M with 10mpg and an 800hp V12 if gas prices shoot up to $6/gal and anything with consumption below 25MPG gets taxed to hell.

For the material use argument, I was just saying it's better if brands focused less on building massive vehicles, as production costs for a large vehicle are higher. I'm not too sure on how much, nor am I sure it's even a justifiable argument, but it's just something worth consideration.

Anyways, I'd do anything for BMW to build a curvy 2 seater grand tourer with a big V12 sitting under an elongated hood. Too bad the market for such a vehicle just doesn't exist anymore.

Petrol is US$6 per gallon here and I'd be the first in line for the 8 series with an N74 V12 and a 6MT. It'd fit in sweet next to the E31 and F13

[paliknight]

Is this a coupe version of the X7 or an even higher trim?

[Bmmrr]

just don't buy it in red, it'll look like a bus

[J-RO]

Originally Posted by velvet_F82

Since BimmerPo$t keeps banning me from every forum I post in, I will reserve my judgement until the product is out. I'm sure BMW M will do a great job and the car will grow on me!

Just always say nice things.

[J-RO]

Originally Posted by Racer20

I don't think the dynamics of the next oil crash will be the same as the last one. OPEC knows we're on the brink of an electric car and green energy revolution and if gas prices reach $4/gal again that trend will only accelerate. Plus there are many options for mobility today that didn't exist back in 2005-2008 and the trend toward remote work is going to lessen the need for cars in general.

OPEC is not as big a factor as back then since the US is now more energy independent.

[LSM]

Originally Posted by J-RO

Just always say nice things.

opinions not allowed unless they conform with our opinion

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by ZaGooser

I'm a culprit of this, too. I drive an SUV.

You get a pass since its the Macan, which I'm fully convinced is more fun to drive than the 3-series, C-class, or A4/S4. It picks up where the E90 left off.

[Germanauto]

If it were Porsche we could at least be like "oh well, at least it'll pay the bills for impressive sports cars." But this is BMW we are talking about. Is all that cash from their SAVs is really going into producing the best driver's cars on the road? Did it keep the curb weight in check on the new M3/4?

[DCG]

Big box on wheels, save some gas for the rest of us. Bigger is not always better. BMW you're going in the wrong direction.

If you want a proper luxury SUV get a Range Rover.

[naywa01]

Originally Posted by Ibiza

It's marked as a electric test vehicle. Exhaust is covered up.

Just to mention the markings says “Hybrid test vehicle”, so it’s a gas/petrol hybrid not a BEV (otherwise it would say ‘Electric test vehicle’).

This would tally with the article mentioning the entry level will be a ‘M45e’, guessing this will be pretty much the same drivetrain in the recently released 545e.

[advantage20]

[GERMAN M3]

My question is, or would be WHY??? What's the purpose of this vehicle when BMW already has an oversized Vehicle in the X7?
Is the X7 not big enough?? Seems to be overkill in my opinion. Just another land yacht roaming the streets. :

[GERMAN M3]

Originally Posted by paliknight

Is this a coupe version of the X7 or an even higher trim?

Good question Paliknight. I myself am curious as well.
I just see no sense in it whatsoever.

[SCOTT26]

Originally Posted by GERMAN M3

Good question Paliknight. I myself am curious as well.
I just see no sense in it whatsoever.

It's not an X7 Coupe. XM is the first modern BMW M Project designed and engineered from the ground up by BMW M. It will have its own unique hybrids to aid performance and its own unique appearance.
Think of XM as the opposite of iX.
Two bookends for the BMW sub-brands.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

It's not an X7 Coupe. XM is the first modern BMW M Project designed and engineered from the ground up by BMW M. It will have its own unique hybrids to aid performance and its own unique appearance.
Think of XM as the opposite of iX.
Two bookends for the BMW sub-brands.

So we now have three SUVs - the X7, XM, and iX - each exclusively employing one type of drive system:

X7 - petrol/diesel only
XM - plug-in hybrid only
iX - battery electric only

The only thing we are missing is a bespoken, dedicated hydrogen fuel cell vehicle in this class.

I think this is ironic given BMW's stated strategy to flex powertrains within a single model as market demands. Here, they've gone and divided them into three separate models despite the fact that they are all built on the same platform. Sure, this is the very top of the market where margins are greatest, but it's still a bit of a curious move. Others might skip the superfluous hybrid-only model and instead put the funds toward dedicated EV platforms that take advantage of the uniquely compact packaging of an electric drivetrain. How long before the high end electric luxury SUV buyer starts to notice BMW isn't doing that? BMW seems to be betting it won't happen in appreciable numbers until these products have run their course. I suppose we'll see.

[Roch M4]

BMW and Audi are always having a battle with the numbering of their SUV...Audi pretending always that it has a bigger car
BMW X5 release, Audi release Q7
BMW X3 release, Audi release Q5
BMW X1 release, Audi release Q3
BMW X7 release, Audi release Q8
BMW X8 release, Audi will release Q9?
But Audi did never release a competitor for the X6, X4 and X2...so maybe the Q9 will never exist anyway

[SCOTT26]

Originally Posted by Roch M4

But Audi did never release a competitor for the X6, X4 and X2...so maybe the Q9 will never exist anyway

Q3 and Q5 have Sportback and in Europe we have a Q2

[Roch M4]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

Q3 and Q5 have Sportback and in Europe we have a Q2

The Q2 numbering is smaller than a Q3, so it's not following the Audi logic while X2 is not smaller than a X1, just a lowered rear profil...

[en1gma]

In the fifth picture: what's the saloon the other side of the X7??? There's another one behind, also.

New 7? 5? A Rolls Royce (with that window line)???...