BMW X7: Live Photos & Impressions

Ever since BMW announced they’d grace the automotive world with their biggest, most luxurious, best-equipped SUV ever – the X7 – fans all over the world have been clamoring to get real-life photos of this Munich masterpiece. Last week, we got the opportunity to do just that.

Earlier this month BMW sent out invitations, partnering with BMW Seattle to host a special “closed door” event hosted offsite at what could be best described as a regional country club for car lovers – The Shop. Initially the event was supposed to be “no photography/filmography” but later was updated to allow guests to take photos. What follows is a series of photos that were taken by me with…my phone. Sorry for the quality, but we thought you’d enjoy some live photos of the X7 regardless!

The X7 is massive, and depending on what color options you select, it can appear even bigger. This is a good thing in my opinion. When you’re on the market for a large SUV, you’re on the market for a large SUV. If you’re not a fan, there are smaller variants that you can look at, but in this case BMW was in pursuit of the biggest X they’ve ever made, chock-full of luxury amenities, comfort, and safety. A great testament to this is the colossal BMW kidney grille up front.

The event itself hosted at The Shop was low-key and intimate. Music was played to keep the atmosphere lively and hors d’oeuvres were served along with drinks to keep guests fed and entertained. Amidst the crowd, the star of the show, the X7, was easy to spot. Front and center, it attracted crowds around it. LED-lit, photography was a bit difficult, and waiting in line to actually hop into the beast was definitely required. Once in the driver seat however, everything melted away. The music. The crowd chatter. The lights. Everything. I’ve never sat in a more comfortable, soft, plush, leather-clad seat in my life. Not even in the M760i. Every surface I touched felt polished, refined, and meaningful. The gear selector looks like something straight out of a Swarovski showroom. I’m not kidding.

This X7 was configured to seat 6 passengers. Hopping in the rear, I was pleasantly surprised that the comfort and rich seat-experience from the driver was transferred to the rear seats as well. Moreover, the 2 mid-placed seats were outfitted with BMWs enhanced touch-enabled entertainment system. One for each passenger! Playing around with the iDrive touch-enabled system I started changing the interior mood lighting, to which everyone that was sharing the X7 with me reacted positively. And then they asked me to cycle through all the colors. I basically became a mood-light DJ.

We were able to snap a few shots of the engine bay as well. A daring guest even went as far as to lift the engine cover which allowed me to grab a few shots of the powerplant. Now on to the exterior, the headlights stand out as two beaming jewels of light.

The design is unique and fresh to BMWs line-up.

Initial impression – it’s a big, bold, luxurious BMW SUV. In that regard, BMW hit the nail square on the head. The next thing I’m looking forward to is getting some miles on this colossus of luxury!

Stay tuned to BMWBLOG for more info on the X7 plus more. In the meantime, scroll through the photo gallery and see it for yourself!

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Video: 1,000 HP BMW M3 Goes Under 10s in Drag Strip Run

The BMW M3 currently in production is using one of the least appreciated M-developed engines. The S55 mill was never loved by the hardcore enthusiasts like the other mills that came before. Maybe the forced induction was to blame or maybe it was something else but the 3-liter ‘heart’ of the M3 is an outstanding engine that should get more credit. People have been tuning it to incredible levels of power and today we’re taking a look at one that claims to have 1,000 HP under its belt.

The car in the footage below started life as your ordinary, run of the mill Alpine White M3. The owner, however, must’ve had an unscratched itch and decided that the only way to reach it is to make sure his back is completely squeezed up against the driver’s seat. Therefore, he decided the 425 HP of the stock mill weren’t nearly enough and set out to upgrade his M3. In the end, he reached over 1,000 WHP on the dyno, as the video below claims (at the 0:32 mark).

The car also seems to have gained some Hoosier racing slicks which give it a rather interesting stance to begin with. Needless to say that with that much power going to the rear axle, the Hoosier tires can be turned into smoke without batting an eye but that’s not the point. The point is to make it down the drag strip as fast as possible and that’s exactly what happens here. It’s quite peculiar to see an M3 dominate a race track like that, since it’s more fun to drive it on the track, but we’ll take it anyway.

The car manages to post a 9.82-second run which is pretty impressive. The owner claimed that the DCT clutches started heating up to dangerous temperatures otherwise the run would’ve been even better. There’s no word on whether this monster is running stock internals or not but my guess would be that some changes have been done, at least to the gearbox if not inside the cylinders. The new turbo setup is also quite impressive and… large, as it required a cutout in the hood to make sure everything fits. In the end, this is a pretty brutal build and the times it can post are definitely nothing to scoff at.

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First Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUVs Leave Goodwood, Head to Dealerships

The first people to get to enjoy the Rolls-Royce Cullinan are those working at dealerships across the UK. Since Rolls-Royce is an exclusive brand, there aren’t so many dealers selling the double-R brand around the world. Deliveries officially kicked off today with the first eight Cullinan models being sent off from the Goodwood headquarters in the UK. These cars will now head to the nearest dealers, which are found in Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Essex, London and Sunningdale.

Admittedly, the cars have already been driven by a few lucky people who got to enjoy them at the worldwide media debut in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, us included. It was there that the Cullinan showed us all what it was capable of, covering everything thrown in its way, effortlessly, making the slogan it is being marketed under become reality. Effortless Everywhere is what they say about it and the eight Cullinans departing from West Sussex today will have to prove that to interested customers as well.

“Response to our new Rolls-Royce Cullinan from the world’s leading opinion formers and global media has been unequivocally positive and I am delighted that, from today, prospective clients will have the opportunity to experience this remarkable motor car via their local Rolls Royce showroom,” said Julian Jenkins, Regional Director, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, as the cars were getting ready to depart.

The new Cullinan starts at $325,000 so it isn’t the most expensive model on the market. As they said even before the SUV came out, the Phantom remains the pinnacle of Rolls-Royce and will remain so in the future. Even fully optioned, the Cullinan doesn’t go over $500,000 unless you go for some Bespoke items which will most likely take things up some more. Deliveries are kicking off in the first quarter of 2019 and until then you can visit one of Rolls-Royce’s showrooms to check one out.

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MINI Countryman Blackheath Edition Launched in Australia

MINI is spicing things up in the Countryman range with another limited-edition model. Unfortunately, the MINI Countryman Blackheath Edition will be available only in Australia and will be sold to just 60 interested customers. The car sold in the Land Down Under will be featuring a few black add-ons, specifically tailored for it. Being inspired by the Blackheath area in South-East London, the new limited-edition Countryman will have a starting price of AUD59,990.

That sounds like a lot but at today’s exchange rate it comes down to $42,000 USD. Furthermore, premium cars are a bit more expensive in Australia than we’re used to. The extra bucks do bring you more than just a nameplate. Standard equipment includes some usually optional equipment packages. From the Climate and Multimedia Pro packages (panoramic sunroof, privacy glass, heated front seats, an 8.8-inch navigation system, 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, head-up display) to the Mini Find Mate Bluetooth tag system.

The Blackheath Edition Countryman is built off the Cooper S model and while it does feature the aggressive styling of the S on the outside, it also brings a few changes to the table such as the Midnight Black metallic paint and finishes for the roof and mirror caps done in the same color, 18-inch ‘Pin Spoke’ alloys finished in black, high-gloss black roof and side moldings, brushed black aluminum bonnet stripes, black trim for the headlight and tail-light surrounds, along with black door handles and front grille trim.

Inside the cabin you’ll find Carbon Black Leather Cross Punch upholstery, Piano Black trims, Anthracite headliner and some other bits that are also done in an overall dark theme as the car wants to stay true to its name. Other optional features can also be added on the cars if you want to spend even more.

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Down the Canal Grande in Venice in the new BMW 8 Series Coupe

Earlier this month, to celebrate the few remaining weeks before deliveries kick off, BMW published a video showcasing the new 8 Series Coupe driving around Venice on what seems to be a floating road. Today, BMW releases new photos of the Venice experience offering more details behind the photoshoot.

The new 8 Series Coupe in Barcelona Blue is seen driving through the historical centre of Venice. Driving past magnificent palazzi and underneath the Rialto bridge, the new BMW 8 Series makes its way along the Canal Grande – a route never before covered by an automobile.

The film, which is directed by Daniel Wolfe and will be shown in versions lasting 15, 30 and 45 seconds, is about a young Venetian man who as a child discovers his love of automobiles in general and BMW in particular. A model BMW M1 becomes his favorite toy, and a boat-builder friend introduces him to the fascination of engine technology. But in a city in which boats are the sole means of transport, his yearning for sheer driving pleasure remains unassuaged, which is why he leaves Venice as a teenager, not to return until many years later. And now at last his childhood dream comes true – in the new BMW 8 Series Coupe and driving on pontoons that pave the way to a unique automobile trip through the canal network of his home city.

The scenario is symbolic of efforts to make the apparently impossible come true and turn long-nurtured dreams into reality. “Our models for the luxury performance segment are geared towards the lifestyle of a target group that dares to try out new things and go beyond the limits of feasibility,” ways Uwe Dreher, Director Brand Communication BMW, BMWi and BMW M. “We offer these individuals a mobility experience that corresponds to their idea of exclusivity and progressive luxury.”

In order to enable the shoot to take place, the Venice authorities – for the first time in the city’s history – issued the BMW Group with a permit to set up a pontoon structure that would allow an automobile to drive past the world-famous backdrop of the city’s historical centre.

The scenes were partially shot using camera drones; the commercials will be broadcast worldwide on selected TV channels and also online.

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