In September, BMW will finally unveil the highly-touted X7 SUV. The ultra-luxurious and large SUV has been teased for years now and it’s finally ready for public viewing. Due out early next month, the X7 will go to the Frankfurt Auto Show in a concept guise and according to our sources, with a fuel cell drivetrain.
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In 2015, BMW unveiled their vision of a future fuel cell-powered BMW. At their secret facility in Miramas, France, BMW let us test drive a 5 Series Gran Turismo equipped with the new technology. At the time, the chief developer of BMW, Klaus Fröhlich said that a hydrogen fuel cell platform only makes sense in vehicles above the 5 Series.
The reasons for this are simple: a car with a fuel cell offers the possibility to cover extremely long distances, a requirement that doesn’t apply to most city drivers who can with an emission-free electric drive. Thanks to fast advancement of batteries, more and more electric cars will have a range of 400 kilometers or more, even without a fuel cell, which is more than sufficient for the customers in the compact class.
BMW now seems ready to apply the technology to their biggest car-to-date. Packing three full rows, the BMW X7 will also be the brand’s first true seven-seater. It will also have comparable luxury to the Range Rover and will even have trim levels that challenge the ‘Rover’s Autobiography line. So not only will it be the largest vehicle ever made by BMW but it should also be the most luxurious.
Aside from the fuel cell tech, BMW is likely to offer the X7 with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, alongside conventional engines. Sources have previously speculated that it will feature a selection of six and eight-cylinder engines, such as the 3.0-liter diesel in 30d, 40d and 50d guises and the twin-turbo 4.4-liter petrol V8 from the X6 xDrive50i.
Woot woot! FCEV > Bev 🖕🏼tesblah
A drivetrain they can’t sell anywhere but a few extremely rare markets means nothing. It’ll most likely only be seen in the concept only.
And they already had the Hydrogen 7 more than ten years ago…. If this is a follow up, it’ better be good.
FCEV requires 3 times as much energy as BEV…. Hydrogen is made by using electricity and in the car transformed back to electricity. Extremely inefficient.
Change takes time, their 1st EV prototype was over 40 years ago. Still haven’t seen a Model 3 on the road.
Can’t be short sighted. Agree, changes takes time & money. Serious R&D. The more ppl get behind it the more dollars they have to perfect it. That’s why I’ve always said FCEV>BEV longterm.
All they need is the US market to keep this boat floating. Big SUV with the roundel badge. This will cell. Hydrogen is far from being efficient but Toyota BMW can keep refining it. Better than all out battery tech like your i3 & testa. Sh*t means a ton.
Oh great a fool cell, so BMW is still fooling around with Toyota, and despite their entry into Formula E they’re not serious.
About what? I thought their entire model range was going to EV and/or plug-in?
I’ve followed BMW’s electric efforts, and so far there really isn’t anything concrete. Anything pure electric after the i3 has been a rumor or press release. I don’t think they’re serious because one minute they talk electric cars, the next it’s hydrogen, and then most of their exciting new cars are gas as usual. Audi and Jaguar seem like they’ll be the first to show Tesla what real competition looks like. Meanwhile BMWi “born electric” as stalled out. I’m disappointed, my i3 is my 9th BMW, and I really like how my i3 drives, it’s fun. The mixed signals they’re sending out are a big let down especially after taking an early lead over Audi and Mercedes.
They still have that lead! The entire industry only sold (a record) 2 million EVs last year, BMW sold more of their own brand. They are electrifying their entire range, they will be the biggest manufacturer of EVs and hybrids, also gas, diesel, fuel cell? They are, after all, Bavarian MOTOR Works.
Perfect. Can’t be a fool and go all out BEV. #ThankGod
A hideous front fascia to challenge the likes of Lexus and Audi.
It’s just an artist render! :)
This looks nothing like the production car or the Concept X7 we’ll see next month. It’s just another pretty useless rendering.
Hopefully the V12 as well.
Hydrogen isn’t efficient just yet. I believe it might be a good solution in the future, but right now there’s oil needed to keep the hydrogen at very low temperatures. So until they find another way to cool it down enough, it’s no good. Electric cars for now aren’t a good solution anyway since the production of batteries is very bad for the environment and the only good way to refill it is with solar panels, but a lot of people (including the government) don’t have that.
Hybrid-FCEV/BEV even better with hybrid Diesel. #PetrolPower #SuckItEcoBritches