{"id":3803,"date":"2026-10-23T06:01:12","date_gmt":"2026-10-23T06:01:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/xesi.net\/?p=3803"},"modified":"2026-10-23T06:01:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-23T06:01:12","slug":"next-gen-bmw-x7-spied-testing-at-the-nurburgring-in-both-electric-ix7-and-v8-powered-m60-configurations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/xesi.net\/?p=3803","title":{"rendered":"Next-Gen BMW X7 Spied Testing at the N\u00fcrburgring in Both Electric iX7 and V8-Powered M60 Configurations"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite breaking ground early in the modern luxury crossover segment with the debut of the first-generation X5 in 1999\u2014followed by the pioneering X3 in 2003\u2014BMW took a surprisingly measured approach to entering the full-size, three-row luxury SUV market. The original BMW X7 did not officially go on commercial sale until early 2019, quickly establishing a prominent footprint in a fiercely competitive class. Now, as the current generation matures, the German automaker is wasting no time ensuring its flagship hauler remains fresh. Recent spy shots captured at the grueling N\u00fcrburgring circuit reveal that a comprehensive second-generation X7 is well on its way, breaking cover in both traditional V8-powered M60 form and as a fully electric iX7.<\/p>\n

BMW has experienced notable market success with its recent rollout of electric vehicles, particularly as the brand transitions its design philosophy to ensure that its upcoming Neue Klasse-era electric offerings share cohesive styling cues and nomenclature with their internal-combustion counterparts. This unified design strategy is immediately apparent on the upcoming X7. Both the battery-electric iX7 and the combustion-engine M60 variants share a near-identical visual foundation, differentiated primarily by distinct grille mesh inserts and the presence or absence of traditional exhaust outlets. <\/p>\n

The timing of this next-generation release aligns strategically within the competitive landscape of the luxury automotive sector. Mercedes-Benz recently introduced a second successive facelift for its aging GLS, while Audi is actively preparing to launch the Q9, representing Ingolstadt’s first genuine push into the large, dedicated three-row SUV market. Notably, neither of BMW’s primary German rivals currently offers a dedicated battery-electric counterpart in this specific size class, giving the upcoming iX7 a potential first-mover advantage upon its commercial debut.<\/p>\n

\"Next-Gen<\/figure>\n

Split Lights, and Maybe a Split Tailgate<\/h2>\n

Captured during high-speed testing sessions around the N\u00fcrburgring, the camouflage-clad prototypes highlight several key exterior design changes for the upcoming flagship SUV. Up front, BMW is maintaining its split-headlight motif, though the execution appears more refined and integrated than on the current production X7, drawing closer stylistic inspiration from the recent 7 Series facelift. On the performance-focused M60 variant, the daytime running lights feature a distinctive yellow tint, a signature touch previously observed on other upcoming performance-oriented models like the M350 and the iX4 M60.<\/p>\n

Between the upper lighting elements sit two tall kidney grilles. The electric iX7 adopts horizontal vanes within its closed grille structure alongside a slimmer front bumper intake, whereas the V8-powered M60 showcases a more aggressive lower fascia featuring a significantly larger cooling intake to feed its internal-combustion powerplant. <\/p>\n

At the rear, the prototypes reveal wide taillight assemblies characterized by a pair of prominent horizontal graphic lines, with minor pattern variations distinguishing the EV from its gas-powered stablemate. True to its traditional performance credentials, the M60 proudly displays a pair of prominent round exhaust tips integrated into each corner of the rear bumper, while the iX7 features a completely smooth rear fascia devoid of any exhaust cutouts. <\/p>\n

\"Next-Gen<\/figure>\n

One lingering design question involves the rear cargo access. It remains difficult to determine from the heavy camouflage whether the second-generation X7 will retain the outgoing model’s signature split tailgate. While BMW opted to eliminate the split tailgate on the recently redesigned X5 because market research indicated buyers placed less emphasis on the feature, a large flagship vehicle of this stature may benefit differently from the added versatility and ease of loading that a split-gate configuration provides.<\/p>\n

The Luxury of Choice<\/h2>\n

In profile, the next-generation X7 maintains a bold, blocky body shape and greenhouse structure that pay homage to the first-generation model. However, it incorporates distinct design updates, including prominent, muscular wheel arches shaped similarly to those seen on the iX3 and X5, as well as flush, wing-tip style door handles borrowed directly from the X5. While Audi experimented with similar flush door handles during development of the upcoming Q7 and Q9, the brand ultimately reverted to conventional pull handles late in the development cycle due to prevailing preferences among North American consumers. Given this market feedback, industry observers note it would not be entirely surprising if BMW eventually transitions back to traditional door handles later in the X7’s production lifecycle.<\/p>\n

When it comes to the under-the-skin hardware, the powertrain strategy for the next-generation X7 is expected to draw heavily from the established architecture shared across the X5 and 7 Series families. Buyers seeking a conventional internal-combustion model can anticipate a mild-hybrid turbocharged inline-six engine serving as the base offering, while the high-performance M60 variant will lean on a potent twin-turbocharged V8 engine. Interestingly, unlike comparable performance trims found within the X5 and 7 Series lineups, reports suggest the X7 M60 will bypass a plug-in-hybrid system altogether. <\/p>\n

\"Next-Gen<\/figure>\n

On the zero-emission side of the showroom, the fully electric iX7 is expected to launch with multiple variant configurations, predominantly utilizing a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive layout designed to deliver an estimated EPA driving range well surpassing the 400-mile mark. An upcoming M Performance variant of the iX7 is also anticipated, though enthusiasts longing for a full-fat X7 M or iX7 M may need to wait longer, with an updated Alpina XB7 expected to fill the ultra-luxury performance niche once again.<\/p>\n

Given the advanced state of development and the minimal camouflage remaining on select prototype panels, industry expectations point toward an official global reveal of the second-generation X7 within the coming months, with both the electric iX7 and internal-combustion X7 variants slated to arrive on the market concurrently.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Despite breaking ground early in the modern luxury crossover segment with the debut of the first-generation X5 in 1999\u2014followed by the pioneering X3 in 2003\u2014BMW took a surprisingly measured approach to entering the full-size, three-row luxury SUV market. The original BMW X7 did not officially go on commercial sale until early 2019, quickly establishing a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3802,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[834],"tags":[835,836,5996,205,113,2297,5995,5994,5712,837],"class_list":["post-3803","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-automotive-news","tag-automotive","tag-cars","tag-configurations","tag-electric","tag-next","tag-powered","tag-rburgring","tag-spied","tag-testing","tag-vehicles"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/xesi.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3803","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/xesi.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/xesi.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xesi.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xesi.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3803"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/xesi.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3803\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xesi.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3802"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/xesi.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3803"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xesi.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3803"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xesi.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3803"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}