BMW Concept X7 iPerformance Debuts In South East Asia

Electrified vehicles have been good business for BMW across the world. Year-to-date deliveries for electrified BMW and MINI models have reached a staggering 60,660 units, which only serves as encouragement for electrified vehicles in the future. Locally, BMW Malaysia has seen 3,200 owners take up delivery of electrified models.

Looking to the future, we have the Concept X7 iPerformance. Being its debut in South East Asia, it’s an important display for BMW Malaysia.  It’s a model that’s important for the BMW model range as they lack a dedicated electrified 7-seater SUV; the BMW X5 comes in a 5 + 2 format, but the third row is omitted for iPerformance models. As is the trend with modern concept vehicles, the Concept X7 iPerformance is a lot closer to production than one would expect, especially given that Audi has already launched their Q8 model just last month.

Some design elements here are clearly not going to make it all the way to the production floor, but are nonetheless key elements in a design study. The X7 iPerformance has the largest kidney grille to date, it seems, with contrasting gloss and matte surfaces. The headlights are outfitted with, as you would expect, BMW’s laser light technology.

The overall form of the car is very much like a traditional two-box SUV (or SAV, as BMW insists it be called). Being proportionally longer, it has a sleeker appearance than other models in the X family, but is very much a tall and wide car as well. From the outside, it looks very much like a fully production ready car, with nothing too outright radical or unfeasible for construction and assembly.

But more important than the design is the interior space and technology. The X7 iPerformance is meant to be the flagship of the X model range, and as such it needs to be the biggest, most advanced model available. A panoramic roof, the largest of its kind, provides an airy cabin ambience, while six seats are provided with proper, ample legroom. A combination of smoky white leather and dark, olive-bronze leather with gold pigments are the material of choice for the seats.

The centrepiece of the interior is a large, 12.3-inch instrument cluster that blends near seamlessly with the central touchscreen information display. Backlit crystal glass in a dark Silver Night shade adorns the gear lever, iDrive controller, and buttons on the steering wheel. It’s a very modern take and it makes clear the functionality and purpose of the X7 iPerformance.

The rear passengers are offered access to the entertainment systems as well, with touch screens in the back of the front seats. It’s a great tool for both children and professionals alike; the former finding entertainment, while the latter finding value in practicality for work. Each display is connected allowing users to slide information or content to each other.

As for when you can expect to see the X7 iPerformance go to production, you would have to wait until sometime next year. For the time being, the Concept X7 iPerformance will be showcased in Bangsar Shopping Centre, from Wednesday the 18^th of July to Sunday the 22^nd of July 2018, during the X Range roadshow.