Flagship seven-seat luxury SUV gains mild hybrid tech and handling upgrades On sale Now Price from £110,525
Lawrence Cheung lawrence.cheung@haymarket.com
THE BMW X7 is proof that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover – or a car by its looks.
As challenging as the X7’s exterior styling may be to some eyes, the appeal of the car is undeniable. That’s because this luxury seven-seat SUV is yet to be beaten with its blend of opulence, space and strong performance.
But what if you want even more pace? Well, that’s where the M60i comes in. It replaces the previous range-topper, the M50i, with an updated version of its 4.4-litre V8 petrol engine, now equipped with a 48V mild hybrid system.
Power from the V8 remains the same, but a 12bhp electric motor lends a helping hand in everyday driving. As a result, the M60i is a smidge kinder to the environment and more fuel efficient than the M50i, although it still consumes a gallon of fuel every 20 miles or so and sits in the highest (37%) company car tax band.
Most of the engine’s muscle is delivered low down in the rev range, making this X7 effortless to bumble around in, accompanied by a gentle V8 rumble. It’s very quick when you want it to be, but it doesn’t particularly reward revving in terms of performance or engine noise.
To set it apart from other X7s, the M60i gets bigger, 22in wheels, and the grille, roof rails and
