BMW Group Malaysia recently unveiled the BMW Concept X7 iPerformance for the first time in South East Asia. Again, Malaysia is the lucky country for this unveiling. Previously, they displayed the BMW Concept 8 coupe. This time, the X7 iPerformance is a huge SUV which will most likely evolve into the production model called the X7. Obvious isn't it?
The unveiling is part of the latest BMW roadshow featuring its latest cars and luxury, the BMW Concept X7 iPerformance will be showcased exclusively at Bangsar Shopping Centre from now to Sunday, 22nd July 2018 during the BMW X Range Roadshow.
The Concept X7 is a demonstration of the BMW Group’s new take on the luxury segment which encapsulates the brand’s modern understanding of visionary mobility and progressive luxury. According to them, the Concept SUV is not merely a look ahead to the future production model, but is also a case study in modernity, luxury and presence which will set a new benchmark in the luxury segment.
The BMW Concept X7 iPerforrmance essentially combines a generously-sized, six-person interior pared down to the essentials that most are familiar with when it comes to premium products. These are elementary forms, high-class materials and a state-of-the-art infotainment system brimming with connectivity. The ‘iPerformance’ badge denotes BMW's eDrive technology which is combined with a BMW TwinPower Turbo petrol engine to create an exceptionally efficient and dynamic plug-in hybrid powertrain that excels in all driving situations – including running with zero local emissions.
Personally, it looks very squared off in terms of design. The BMW styling cues are all there but is looks like it portrays a show of its massive size and proportions. This design does not shirk from the fact that it is huge. It looks like a celebration of being big. This has the most upright BMW kidney grille that has ever graced any modern BMW ever.
The interior is however something that benefits from all that chunkiness, space seems to be excellent and if this is the new flagship SUV from BMW, there will be those that value it's spaciousness too.
Speaking at the launch, Mr. Harald Hoelzl, Managing Director and CEO of BMW Group Malaysia said, “Luxury has a whole new meaning. At BMW, we understand this as the ability to have time for you, for other people, and for other things. Luxury is the ability to define an experience. This new luxury was first unveiled at the BMW Luxury Excellence Pavilion through the BMW Concept 8 Series early this year. Now, we are proud to once again share this vision of progressive luxury through the BMW Concept X7 iPerformance.”
BMW Group Malaysia also presented us with their performance report for the first half of 2018. With a delivery of over 6,400 vehicles to new BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad owners, it recorded an 11% of growth compared to the same period last year. BMW delivered over 5,300 cars to new BMW owners in the first half of 2018 compared to the first half of last year.
Likewise, the MINI brand grew significantly by 18% with a delivery of over 550 MINIs. BMW Motorrad (motorcycles) also enjoyed a rise of 8% with over 540 units sold. The success in Malaysia echoes that of the BMW Group worldwide which saw a 35th consecutive quarter of sales growth with its best-ever first-half-year sales with a total of 1,242,507 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce vehicles delivered to customers.
Additionally, year-to-date deliveries of electrified BMW and MINI vehicles totalled 60,660, confirming the BMW Group’s position as a leading global provider of premium electrified mobility.
BMW Group Malaysia’s portfolio of Plug-In Hybrid deliveries in Malaysia nowaccounts for more than half of the total vehicle deliveries at 56% with over 3,200 new owners. It is well on its way to shaping mobility of the future here in Malaysia, from the executive segment right up to the luxury segment with the BMW 7 Series. Now with the preview of this Concept X7, the BMW range of 7s will expand in the near future - a 7 series SUV is in the works with a projected launch in 2019.
“The progressive take on luxury is closely linked to the number 7 in the BMW model scheme. The BMW 7 Series luxury saloon has served as a paragon of exclusive driving pleasure for over 40 years now. Game-changing innovations, benchmarking comfort and contemporary design and dynamics mark out its progressive character in the current family of luxury BMWs. Taking it a level higher is the BMW Concept X7 iPerformance which introduces the BMW Sports Activity Vehicle DNA into the luxury segment,” Harald added.
The BMW Concept X7 iPerformance Design Brief:
The BMW Concept X7 iPerformance: A new dimension in spaciousness.
The status of the BMW Concept X7 iPerformance as luxury-class BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle (SAV) is instantly apparent. The BMW SAV design language is infused in the
exterior with understated use of form and incredibly precise lines, adding an air of
finesse and extreme agility to the considerable size and grand proportions of the car.
These project the exclusive experience available inside the car confidently to the outside
world. Clear, vertical proportions with significant ground clearance identify the BMW
Concept X7 iPerformance as a BMW X model without the need to look twice.
A new face in the BMW X Family.
The prominent feature on the front-end is the striking vertical kidney grille, the
unmistakable BMW signature. The grille frame and bars are single-piece and solid in
design. The eye-catching grille and air inlets give form to a strong visual statement, with
gleaming edges and matte surfaces bringing out contrasts that add nuance to the
grandeur of the design language.
The upper sections of the slim, elongated twin headlights with BMW laser light link to the
large kidney grille. A blue X signature in BMW laser light provides a confident pointer to
the BMW Concept X7 iPerformance’s membership of the BMW SAV family. A prominent
bar extends across the full width of the front apron in its lower section, before rising
vertically to frame the outer air intakes at their upper edge.
The characteristic ground clearance of any BMW X vehicle and the high-set lines of the
flanks also project an athletic silhouette, accentuated by the long shoulder line that
establishes the flowy physicality of the car. The shoulder line further separates the car’s
body into the light and airy glasshouse (which offers a preview of the large interior) and
the muscular metal forms. The circular wheel arches – a first in the BMW X series –
bring out the sophisticated aesthetics of the flanks. The surfaces gain in volume and
strength as they head towards the rear end, further underscoring the subtle dynamism
of the car when viewed from the side.
A conspicuous chrome strip on the door sills provides an emphasis to the car’s long,
stretched shoulder line and sophisticated surfaces below. As with the trim element at the
front end, the chrome strip in the car’s flanks frames the Air Breathers in a vertical
accent, before continuing in a straight line to the rear end.
The exclusive exterior colour shade Manhattan metallic immerses the car’s surfaces and
forms in a dark olive-bronze that highlights the confident styling of the flanks with
sophisticated flair.
A view of the rear perfectly captures the spatial immensity of the car. Its vertical aero
lips as well as subtle, body-coloured under guard form a striking frame for the rear. The
silhouette is punctuated with slim rear lights with its sharp three-dimensional L shape,
and a classy connecting chrome bar, which bring a technical, high-quality aspect to the
rear. Between the wheel arches, the rear apron with practical tailgate opening provides
a strong platform for the rear structure. The BMW Concept X7 iPerformance’s plug-in
hybrid identity is also alluded to by the absence of tailpipe embellishers. Additionally, the
rear apron with practical tailgate opening shores up the rear structure with a solid
aesthetic.
Generous space and luxurious comfort in the interior.
The sheer spaciousness of the interior of the BMW Concept X7 iPerformance spells
superlative comfort with highly exclusive, sophisticated ambience. Additionally, the large
panoramic roof provides a remarkable amount of room above the occupants’ heads.
The six amply proportioned seats are arranged in three rows, and four of them have an
exclusive individual design. The second row allows smooth access to the third row, and
the slender seat base provides generous legroom for the passengers behind. The glass
panoramic roof turns the cabin into a light and airy space, with the attachment between
the panoramic roof and body extending comfortably to the rear of the second row of
seats in the form of a Y structure. This means the passengers in the centre row
experience the same sensation of freedom and lightness as those in the front.
The dark, Olive-Bronze leather – with discreet gold pigmentation – covering the seat
bolsters carries the air of exclusivity through to the finer details. The Smoke White
leather adorning the remainder of the seats provides an intriguing contrast. The shell-
like backs of the individual seats are likewise trimmed in leather and serve to enhance
the high-class, contemporary ambience.
The dark shoulder line running underneath the windows traces a continuous horizon
throughout the cabin that brings fresh calmness to the bright interior. The selective use
of open-pore ash in a dark-stained, matte finish sets the seal on the natural material
experience. Matte and polished aluminium elements have likewise been carefully
incorporated to further accentuate elegance. The luxurious sense of spaciousness
enjoyed from all seats is subtly reinforced by strands of laser light on the roof and the
dynamic ambient and contour lighting.
Personalised infotainment through the seamless integration of the owner’s digital
world into the car.
The new BMW design language, featuring amply-sized surfaces and clear edges, gives
the instrument panel a “reduced to the essentials”, modern aesthetic. The 12.3-inch
instrument cluster screen and central touchscreen information display are sited at close
quarters to one another, for a continuous and sophisticated display. A new operating
concept allows interactive use of the two displays. Below them, in the centre stack and
centre console, the grouping of functions within the clean and tautly chiselled surfaces
underscores the minimalist approach. Partially backlit crystal glass in the dark Silver
Night shade lends sophisticated flourishes to control elements like the selector lever,
iDrive Controller and multifunction buttons on the steering wheel.
State-of-the-art infotainment is intuitively accessible to second-row passengers at their
fingertips through the rear-seat touch screens as well. Digital connectivity as a premium
form of progressive luxury is fully realised by BMW Connected, which makes seamless
infotainment integration possible between the front row and second row. For example,
passengers here have access to highly personalised, digital services such as their
choice of infotainment or office content, with which they can make their journey more
comfortable, more entertaining or more productive.
Content can even be shared with others on board. For instance, they can send a track
to the car’s music system by touch gesture, forward an interesting article to the next-
door display for the person sitting beside them to read, or transfer an address from their
email directly to the car’s navigation system. Interactive LED choreography via the doors
and instrument panel traces the communication flow between the rear screens and the
display at the front of the cabin.
Altogether, the BMW Concept X7 iPerformance demonstrates how it’s perfectly possible
to combine large sports activity vehicle with an electrified drivetrain, completed with
digital connectivity. The forthcoming BMW X7 forms part of the largest model offensive
in the premium automaker’s history and is slated for launch in 2019.
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