The new BMW X7 is a total in-your-face luxury beast that qualifies as the biggest production Bimmer of all time. You can get it with an inline-six engine in the xDrive40i or a big twin-turbo V8 that churns out 456 hp in the xDrive50i. Well, apparently, that's not enough power for some since the new SUV will get the Motorsport treatment (not a true X7 M) in the new X7 M50i.
The same V8 engine is present in M50i, but it gets tweaks that increase the horsepower from 456 to a huge 523, and the torque jumps from 479 lb-ft to a whopping 553. The performance increases, as a result, taking its 0-60 numbers from 5.4 seconds to 4.5 seconds. That's 1/10th of a second faster than a Bullitt Mustang. Wow. That's pretty damned fast for something that weighs 5,600 lbs.
In addition to the significant performance bump, there's also a snortier M Sport exhaust that also helps with airflow and an M Sport differential that routes power from side to side when needed for better handling. The transmission is also more responsive, providing quicker shifts in automatic and paddle shifted manual operation. There's also a launch control feature so you can drag race unwitting sports cars. Even the xDrive AWD system can send all the engine's power to the rear wheels alone when the traction of all-wheel drive isn't needed.
But since it's a BMW, there's also the kind of ride you expect. There's an air suspension that can lower the X7 by 0.8 inchs when the vehicle is dialed into Sport mode, and there's retuned components for sportier handling, including bushings, springs, and dampers. The X7 M50i also gets M Sport brakes and huge 22-inch wheels on run-flat tires.
Though we don't have shots of the interior, there are distinct features that set it apart from the standard (and still very luxe) regular X7 including interior M badging, perforated leather with contrast stitching, and fancy door sill plates indicating the special trim. Of course, just like all X7s, you can get heated/cooled cupholders, a panoramic LED sky roof, gesture control, and a Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Premium audio system, just to name a few. Let's just say you'll have one of the most luxurious and one audaciously fast premium SUVs on the planet.
The price for the M50i is $99,600, a $25,700 increase over the base 6-cylinder X7, or about the price of a new Honda Accord sedan.
