MANY PEOPLE PROBABLY IMAGINE THAT TO GET A LARGER SAV, BMW SIMPLY TAKES A BMW X5 OR X6 AND MAKES IT A BIT BIGGER. WHY DOESN'T THIS APPROACH WORK?

From the very beginning, we knew that we wanted to develop a completely self-contained car for this luxury segment – and I think we have succeeded very well. It makes me think of something that was written about the car. In the year before the launch we had an unusually early pre-drive for journalists. The car had no direct predecessor and we wanted to introduce the concept. The headline in a car magazine that has a reputation for being very critical was: “With the X7, BMW has degraded the X5 to a compact SUV.”

Details like the standard third row of seats with room for two people make a big difference. The seats are proper, comfortable, captain-style seats, with armrests, cup holders and USB ports.The car doesn’t feature any components from other models, with the exception of the exterior mirrors and windscreen, which come from the BMW X5, and the wheel bolts which come from Rolls-Royce.
 

WHAT DID YOU FEEL WHEN YOU SAT IN THE BMW X7 FOR THE FIRST TIME?

We had invested a lot of time in simulations and conceptualization. When I finally stood in front of the hardware for the very first time, I have to admit that I had goosebumps. Being able to actually turn on the ignition of the BMW X7, seeing that everything worked was incredible. At the beginning of 2017, I drove the X7 on the test site in Munich, then in South Africa, and both times it was a fascinating experience. Before that, the car had consisted of paperwork, plans and PowerPoint. Now, it was reality and I could see that the car’s DNA was a perfect match.
 

HOW COULD YOU TELL?

Although the car may look quite bulky to some, the finely-tuned suspension makes it very agile and supremely comfortable on long distances. It’s definitely a case of “I drive the car”, rather than the car driving me. It has exactly the degree of sportiness that a BMW should have. The additional features, such as rear wheel steering and roll stabilization, make a big contribution, meaning that the car feels 30 centimeters shorter and significantly more agile than you would expect from its size.
 

SO WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE TO BE DRIVEN IN THE BMW X7?

I have sat for thousands of kilometers in the second row, and I must say that I have never enjoyed such a comfortable ride, some of which was on truly rough roads. Even the third row is comfortable over long distances.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THE REAR-WHEEL STEERING WORKS?

At low speeds, it steers the rear wheels in the opposite direction to increase maneuverability and agility. At higher speeds, it steers the wheels in the same direction as the front wheels, improving driving stability.
 

WHAT WERE THE BIGGEST DESIGN CHALLENGES?

To achieve the agility customers expect from a BMW with a vehicle of this size. The second challenge was the interior, especially the seat operation. We have only electric seats. In this segment, customers are not accustomed to having to fold the seats manually. The seats in the second and third rows fold at the push of a button, and that means there are many movements that need to be considered.
 

SO WHAT DO CUSTOMERS USE THIS LUXURIOUS AMOUNT OF SPACE FOR?

Our main markets are the USA, China, Russia and the Middle East. Of course, there are cultural differences, but in general comfort on long journeys is one of the key requirements everywhere. Thanks to the three rows of seats, for instance, grandparents can also ride in the car, with the children in the third row and the grandparents in the middle one. Or, as is usual in the USA, the vehicle can be used as a people mover to take the children and their friends to school or sports events. And, with the luxurious individual seats in the second row, this car is also ideal for being driven in.

ARE THERE DIFFERENCES IN THE EQUIPMENT FOR THE INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES?

Most special features are available worldwide. That being said, there are also different regional preferences. The glass shifter with the illuminated X is, for example, particularly popular in China. In the USA, customers like the five-zone air conditioning, as the rear seats are very often used for school runs or car-pooling.

THE BMW X7 IS A PRETTY BULKY CAR FOR DRIVING IN THE CITY, ISN'T IT?

In terms of geometry, it is no longer than a BMW 7 Series, and it isn’t wider, either. It doesn’t occupy an unduly large part of the street. There’s a parking assistant and a reversing assistant to help with parking. The car remembers the last 50 meters and can drive back autonomously. The only thing that makes the car look big is its volume, as it is significantly higher than a limousine. It gives the car a powerful look, and anyone sitting in it instantly has the sensation of space.
 

IS THE BMW X7 AN OFF-ROAD CAR?

As a rule, the car is not driven off-road, which doesn’t mean that you can’t take it there, as we have seen in test drives. However, its normal environment is long distances, highways, and country roads. But, for example, if you’re driving up into the mountains, the BMW X7 will take you along the final few kilometers of dirt tracks to your chalet.
 

WHAT KIND OF CAR DO YOU DRIVE?

A BMW X7, so I experience the car everyday. At home, my two daughters usually squabble about who’s allowed to drive it. Of course, the third row of seats is ideal when I drive them and their friends, because then we have six seats. In the past, we’ve had to take two cars; now, we no longer need to hunt for two parking spaces – and we can chat during the trip.
 

Learn more about the BMW X7 here.