1994 was a momentous year for South Africa, besides being the first general election for everyone in South Africa for it also meant South Africa was open for business for black people. The coming years saw more and more black people buying sports coupes and it was much more of a status symbol than anything else. Then somewhere, somehow things took a turn when SUV’s were introduced; people are buying more SUV more than sports coupes. Also, a lot more people moved to the middle class, compared to pre-1994. The SUV trend is not going to end anytime soon but instead what you see is that people require bigger SUV’s for their growing families.
One of the Marvin readers drives the BMW X6 and they just had beautiful twins and just like that the X6 doesn’t make sense anymore. She requires more boot space and comfort for traveling and something bigger for road trips as well because now the nannies need to come along for the trip. When I went to the BMW X7 media launch, I thought to myself that this is the perfect car for her, you could choose between a 6 or 7 seater version of the car. The middle seats have two screens that are connected to the main display at the front. Now, just underneath the aircon vents in the middle seats is a DVD slot for entertainment for both screens, it also has the HDI ports that you can access maybe connect a PlayStation PSP. I personally preferred the individual seats because it made me feel like I’m in a 7 Series. Now if you have twins or two kids the back seat will entertain them fully with the options of having two more seats still vacant.
I’m a tall man and I thought the backseats would be uncomfortable to be in, but they weren’t, each seat has a micro USB port for charging and a cup holder. The backseat would be great on a road trip to Durban or to Bushfire in Swaziland where you just chill and enjoy the drive. The seats have buttons on the sides of the car section so it’s accessible from both sides. The BMW X7 comes with earphones for the entertainment in case you want to zone out while on the drive.
I prefer the 6 seater version of the BMW X7 though because of the individual seats in the middle which gives you the 7 series executive feel about the car. The new BMW X7 represents the next stage in the premium carmaker’s ongoing model offensive in the luxury segment. Its increased presence in the class and the systematic expansion of the BMW X model portfolio are among the key areas the BMW Group has identified – as part of its NUMBER ONE > NEXT strategy – to ensure sustained growth in the world’s car markets in the future.
The new BMW X7 is built at the BMW Plant Spartanburg in the US state of South Carolina. This centre of expertise for BMW X models also handles production of the BMW X3, BMW X4, BMW X5, and BMW X6. The expansive exterior dimensions of the new BMW X7 take luxury to a new level. At 5,151 millimetres in length, 2,000 millimetres wide and 1,805 millimetres tall, and with a wheelbase of 3,105 millimetres, the X7 displays harmonious proportions and establishes itself very clearly as the new head of the BMW X model family. The new BMW X7 is fitted as standard with 21-inch light-alloy wheels. The selection of light-alloy wheels available on the options list includes 22-inch variants.
BMW X7 xDrive30d:
Six-cylinder in-line diesel engine, eight-speed Steptronic transmission.
Acceleration [0 – 100 km/h]: 7.0 seconds,
top speed: 227 km/h).
Fuel consumption combined: 6.8 – 6.5 l/100 km,
Price: R1 562 849
BMW X7 M50d:
Six-cylinder in-line diesel engine, eight-speed Steptronic transmission.
Acceleration [0 – 100 km/h]: 5.4 seconds,
top speed: 250 km/h.
Fuel consumption combined: 7.4 – 7.0 l/100 km,
Price: R1 862 308