Off the Road
No, the BMW X7 is not a hardcore off-road car and it was never meant to be, but it can deal with a fair bit of the rough stuff. Our test location had a hillock which was beckoning to be tamed and the X7 obliged.
BMW offer a five-stage selection for the X7’s ride height thanks to the active air suspension. Where it hunkers down in Sport, it can also go up a couple of bars — another 40 mm over standard — to its maximum ride height of 261 mm. This makes not just for peace of mind — even over inexplicably large speed-humps ― but also when the going gets a lot rougher than anyone would expect. At its peak ride height, even with a wheelbase measuring over 3.1 metres long, it offers a fairly decent approach angle of 25 degrees and a departure angle of 22.2 degrees. The breakover angle, as expected, is not the best but, at 19.8 degrees, doesn’t get bothered when tackling crests or such. It can even ford through half a metre of water — perhaps more if that active grille stays shut, but that’s just a wacky theory, don’t quote me on this.
As we thundered up the dirt road, parting gravel mounds and dismissing ruts and crevices, the BMW X7 barely showed a hint of roll, with the in-cabin peace barely disrupted either. The turning circle, even at 13 metres, seems quite compact when negotiating tight bends, but the X7 is equipped to make short work of that, too. It holds its line even in dirt and stays true to its trajectory but, given enough of a prod, can even slide its tail out. Just so you know, there’s an M50d as well, with its two+two turbos, 400 hp and 760 Nm — all from a worked-up 3.0 six, mind you. But, it’s not on sale here as, in all probability, it won’t work too well until we have our fill of cleaner BS6 diesel fuel. The xDrive30d is wondrous none the less. It works well everywhere and can deal with a multitude of surfaces.
All said and done, it rules the road and holds its own off it. In terms of presence, ride quality, space, comfort, technology on the move, dynamic performance, braking performance and everything in between, it’s hard to believe how right Bayerische Motoren Werke have got the X7. Apparently, it’s been sold out. Well, with a price tag of Rs 98.90 lakh (ex-showroom), including a long ― and I mean very long ― list of standard equipment, it’s no surprise at all.
Need to Know – BMW X7 xDrive30d
Price: Rs 98.90 lakh (ex-showroom)
Engine: 2,993-cc, in-line six, turbo-diesel
Max Power: 265 hp @ 4,000 rpm
Max Torque: 620 Nm @ 2,000-2,500 rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic, all-wheel drive
Suspension: Double wishbone front, five-link rear
Weight: 2,370 kg
Acceleration 0-100 km/h: 6.99 seconds
Top Speed: 227 km/h
Fuel Economy: 9.0 km/l city, 14.0 km/l highway
Update: After the road test was done, the BMW X7 xDrive30d was since made available in two variants: Design Pure Experience at Rs 92.50 lakh and the fully-loaded Signature specification at Rs 1.02 crore, both ex-showroom. Further models post June 2020 will be offered with the all-new 48-volt mild-hybrid 30d engine that makes 286 hp and 650 Nm and is electrically boosted by an 8-kW (11-hp) integrated starter-generator.
Also read: BMW 48-volt Mild-hybrid Update for 37 Models
Pingback: BMW X7 M50d Now Flexes its Quads in India - Car India