See Full Image Gallery >>
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – I don’t speak much German, but I know a message auf Deutsch when I hear it. At the first media drive of the 2023 BMW X7, engineers and executives revealed the internal name for the brand’s biggest and most-luxurious people hauler: Der Souverän, or, “The Sovereign.” This came even as BMW nodded to the forthcoming appearance of an all-new 7 Series sedan and its i7 electric offshoot, cars that in any other era would be the unquestioned flagships of a luxurious fleet.
In a market that now puts SUVs on a tall-riding pedestal and treats sedans like soil-tilling peasants, the three-row X7 has clearly usurped the 7 Series throne, especially as King of America. Since its debut as a 2019 model, this South Carolina-built challenger to the Mercedes GLS-Class, Range Rover and Cadillac Escalade has found 47% of its global buyers in the United States with another 28% coming from China. Only 2% found homes in Germany.
See Full Image Gallery >>
With one eye to protecting that throne, the X7 receives an especially robust refresh for 2023. Decisive upgrades include new inline-six and V8 engines, both with a 48-volt mild hybrid assist for added efficiency, reduced emissions and a helpful shove of electric torque. The X7 xDrive40i model (starting from $78,845), brings 375 overachieving horsepower and a peak 393 pound-feet of torque from its turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six. That’s a jump of 40 horses and 67 pound-feet, but it also runs the more efficient Miller cycle and features exhaust valves that can close during engine shutdown to reduce torque on overrun by about two-thirds. This allows the hybrid generator to absorb more regen energy for the 48-volt battery.
For the X7 M60i (from $104,095), a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 amasses 523 horsepower and 553 pound-feet. That’s unchanged from before, but BMW engineers say the mild-hybrid system supplies noticeably more torque to fill in any V8 lag or power gaps. Based on the M Division’s wicked S63 unit that first powered the X5M and X6M, the V8 tucks dual-scroll turbos within “Hot Vee” cylinder banks. There’s a cross-bank exhaust manifold and a strengthened crankshaft to handle the gut-wrenching torque.
There’s a new eight-speed automatic transmission, a strikingly redesigned dashboard with BMW’s sleek Curved Display, and the latest iDrive8 interface that isn’t exactly a step forward. Standard gear now includes the previously optional panoramic sunroof with a separate panel over the third row; and top-shelf heated-and-cooled Comfort seats up front. There’s a raft of new driver-assistance tech, reams of optional packages (such as M Sport and Sport Pro), and a cool Sparkling Copper Metallic paint that embeds copper particles in a blue-gray coat.
A mid-cycle facelift includes an extensive nip-and-tuck up front. Stacked LED lighting puts a squinty pair of DRLs and direction markers up top, with larger adaptive matrix headlamps below. BMW’s familiar overweening kidney grille bulges in between, at least vaguely proportional to the chunky SUV trailing behind. “Iconic Glow” lights now cascade from the grille. At the rear, ultra-slim 3D taillamps are bisected by an elegant chrome strip below a glass cover. But it’s the four-eyed front end that has caused consternation among self-appointed BMW design critics. Despite familiar piling on from the automotive herd, the X7’s style isn’t remotely offensive, at least by big-and-tall SUV standards. If anything, the X7’s Bavarian-bus exterior remains as perfunctory and unremarkable as before, which may ultimately be a bigger sin. It’s here that the Range Rover presses its biggest advantage, its haute couture exterior (and interior) out-styling the BMW by a margin as wide as the London Bridge.
Hopping aboard an M60i for a run from Greenville to BMW’s Spartanburg factory, we’re met by a cabin resplendent in a two-tone upholstery combo of Atlas Gray and Ivory White. This “BMW Individual” treatment lavishes seemingly the entire cabin in fragrant Merino leather, with lovely quilting that recalls a Gucci bag. Others will prefer new animal-free “Sensafin” upholstery standard on the xDrive40i in four hues, but its faux leather left me cold.
For either model, the operating word is “magisterial.” The X7 pampers occupants to the Nth degree, and it must be the most athletic three-row SUV yet created. The all-new Range Rover is highly capable, but even it can’t match the BMW’s buttoned-down confidence in curves. Escalade? Mercedes GLS-Class? Forget it.
On the Perkins Highway, a ribbony two-laner skirting the Pisgah National Forest, the M60i dispatches even Miata-style corners with no lumbering or complaints. Steering is smartly weighted, but there’s still too little feedback. It also combines with a rear-axle steering to improve maneuverability. A dual-axle, adjustable-height air suspension delivers a sumptuous ride, even on available 23-inch, diamond-polished wheels (a first for BMW) that stuff the arches to bursting. Executive Drive Pro, standard on the M60i, flattens the body via active roll stabilizers and takes into account information from a camera, the navigation system and analyzing driving style to proactively adjust the suspension of upcoming curves or broken pavement.
Stated power and acceleration figures can feel as sandbaggy as some other BMWs. An automated launch flings the big X7 ahead with slam-bang violence, defying a company estimate of a 4.7-second run from 0-60 mph. The seat of my pants says it’s more like 4.2 or 4.3 seconds. This engine is a WWF star in a PBS body, taunting and crushing lesser SUVs with every prod of a loafer. For the xDrive40i, BMW cites a 5.8-second trip to 60 mph, another seeming understatement of the bountiful, flexible power on tap.
The V8’s basso thrum is often smothered under cashmere layers of sound deadening, but Sport driving modes tease out more of a rich and tuneful sound. That’s ultimately a good thing: The X7 remains one of the most quiet, Zen-like experiences on wheels.
Easing into a cruise, we admire a modernized ridge of dashboard, striped by an ambient light bar with illuminated X7 graphic. BMW’s Curved Display sits atop, melding a 12.3-inch
driver’s display and 14.9-inch center screen. New air vents pivot via knurled metal knobs with a rich and tactile feel. A redesigned gear selector, including an optional glass-beveled toggle, recalls Porsche’s stubby shifter on the latest 911.
iDrive8 supports all the goodies, from a slick head-up display to augmented reality navigation, new traffic-light recognition and optional smartphone-based Digital Key. The system looks great, but I’m in agreement with Autoblog editors Palmer and Riswick that the system seems like a step backward in terms of intuitive operation. You can dive deeper into iDrive8’s issues here.
Driver assistance features include limited hands-free operation on divided highways. The robotic assistant worked like a charm in snarled rush-hour traffic, but unlike GM’s industry-best Super Cruise, only works at speeds up to 40 mph. At even slower speeds, we experienced the new Maneuvering Assistant: Like dropping a trail of bread crumbs, drivers can train the Assistant to memorize up to 10 complicated “maneuvers” of up to 200 meters each. Imagine the route from a gated estate to a final parking space in the stables, or just a tricky condo development. Roll up to the memorized starting point, as we did on a cone course at Spartanburg, and the BMW will manage its own steering, throttle and brakes to complete the trip autonomously. It’ll even shift into Forward or Reverse to complete the memorized course. That joins assistants for parking, trailering and reversing.
Accommodations are equally plush. One button in the hatch maximizes cargo space by power-folding every seat in the second and third rows. Another maxes passenger space, boosting the split third-row chairs and sliding the second row for peak legroom — either a three-passenger bench or a pair of swanky captain’s chairs with folding armrests. The Bimmer’s third row remains reasonably comfy for even larger adults, and integrates USB-C ports or personal temperature and airflow settings via an optional five-zone climate control.
We swap into an xDrive40i model for a return trip to Greenville. I unwind the “base model” X7 from a curling overpass into a rushing flow of freeway traffic — and nip 100 mph on a vector to the fast lane, a bit shocked to see three digits when I glance at the speedo. Yes, this sucker is fast. And less weight over that driven front axle makes the 40i feel a touch more responsive as well. As with Mercedes’ wonderful new inline-six, BMW’s straight-liner feels strong enough to render the V8 (arguably) superfluous; aside from moms or dads determined to traumatize offspring and in-laws in the rear rows.
With the X7 40i’s baseline below $79,000 — $25,000 less than the V8 model, which as-tested climbed to $119,945 with options — there’s room to go hog-wild on options and still feel you’ve come out ahead. Fuel economy is another tangible benefit, as the x40i returns 21 mpg city, 25 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined, versus 16/21/18 for the M60i. That should add up to a significant $700 annual fuel savings, according to the feds, at $3,200 for the six-cylinder model and $3,900 for V8s.
Maybe such savings won’t matter to those who can afford something convincingly called the Sovereign. Either way, it’s good to drive the king.
BMW M starts testing four-motor electric prototype
2022 Porsche 911 GT3, the death of the manual and new EV tax credits | Autoblog Podcast #742
BMW partners with Toyota on fuel cell vehicles, will build a few this year
2022 Toyota Tundra full-size pickup truck and Lexus NX compact luxury SUV recalled over electronic parking brakes that may not work correctly.
The SABR Solutions Inc.-2018 gutted it out to pull off a 78-70 win over the Casa Mira-2021 in Division C of the 25th Sacred Heart Ateneo Alumni Basketball Athletic Association (SHAABAA) last Wednesday at the Magis Eagles Arena in Canduman, Mandaue City.Playing with just seven players, 2018 dug deep and leaned on the shotmaking of Eroll Pastor, who had 26 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and three assists to help his team improve to 3-1 in the standings.Pastor was aided by Andre Chua who had
The Philippines has once again expressed interest in joint oil and gas exploration in the West Philippine Sea with China. Why is the country open to such partnership with the aggressive Asian giant?
FILIPINO infrastructure firm Megawide Construction Corp. and New Delhi-based GMR Airports International BV (GAIBV) are divesting their stakes in GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. (GMCAC), the operator of Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA).This developed after Megawide and GMR executed a share subscription and transfer agreement with Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. (AIC), for AIC to acquire shares in GMCAC worth P9.5 billion.In addition, GMCAC shall utilize a portion of the primary infusion to acqu
A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in August 2022 in posts that claim it shows Saudi Arabia's defence minister fleeing from fireworks ignited outside the Chinese embassy in the capital Riyadh. This is false. The video actually shows a mock military drill in 2019 in Kuwait. The video was shared here by an India-based Twitter user on August 23, 2022. It was viewed more than 150,000 times before it was deleted."The Saudi Defence Minister arrived at the Chinese Embassy in Riyadh to c
THREE Pinoy pugs are seeing action overseas on Sept. 3.Former International Boxing Organization (IBO) flyweight king Edrin Dapudong and Alvin Medura are fighting in separate venues in Japan, while Rimar Metuda is fighting in Thailand.Dapudong takes on fellow world title challenger Ryo Akaho in a 10-round bout at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.After a four-year hiatus, Dapudong, now 36 years old, is looking to get another run at a world title. He challenged then World Boxing Association (WBA) flyweig
Social media posts pushed by a politician and an anti-vaccine group in Australia claim that thousands of reports of adverse reactions to Covid-19 vaccines in children is evidence that the jabs are not safe. However, they base the claim on unverified, self-reported cases of adverse events which were not necessarily caused by the vaccine. Health authorities say the benefits of Covid-19 vaccination far outweigh the risks."Not sure how many more children need to be injured by the Covid vaccine befor
Another Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) star is escaping the coop to play in Japan’s B.League as Fil-Canadian wingman Matthew Wright has signed on to play for Kyoto Hannaryz.The team announced the massive development on Friday a few days after Wright bid farewell to his one and only PBA team, the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters."I am excited to embark on this new journey and looking forward to reuniting with coach Roy Rana. I'm eager to help take this team to the next level and build a wi
Kababayans will have a chance to meet President Marcos at the National University Singapore. Ready to bump fist?
THE Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) said it will wait for the guidelines that may be released by the Philippine National Police (PNP) with regard to Mayor Michael Rama’s executive order that made the wearing of face mask “non-obligatory” in areas within its jurisdiction.Police Lieutenant Colonel Janette Rafter, deputy city director for operation of the CCPO, said that as of now, they will continue to encourage the public to wear face mask every time they go outside their residences.She said the C
A BRANCH manager and a teller of a company allegedly engaged in pyramiding scam similar to the Ponzi scheme in Bohol was arrested in Barangay Capio-an, Argao town in southern Cebu past 2 p.m. Thursday, September 1, 2022.The operatives of Argao Police Station served the warrants for syndicated estafa issued by Judge Glenn P. Pergamino of Talibon Branch 52 that led to the arrest of Renato Autida, 38, married, manager of Organico Talibon branch, and Vincent Bunado, 30, married, branch teller.Police
Social media posts in August 2022 repeatedly shared a claim that Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) removed information about myocarditis -- a rare side effect of certain Covid-19 vaccines that causes inflammation of the heart -- from its website. The claim is false. As of September 2, the information is still on the NHS website. An NHS spokesperson said they published information about the condition in June 2021 and have kept their guidance up to date."Myocarditis removed from the NHS webs
Social media posts claim Starbucks will stop accepting cash. This is misleading; while some individual stores may decide to go cashless, the American coffee company said it has no plans to roll out the policy to all branches in the United Kingdom, Canada or the United States."Time to boycott Starbucks," says an August 29, 2022 Facebook post that has been shared thousands of times.The post includes a picture of a sign with the Starbucks logo that says: "We're going cashless. From 1st October 2022
PATROL officers of the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) can now flag down and issue the temporary operator’s permit (TOP) to erring motorists who violate traffic rules while traversing the expressway.The Land Transportation Office in Central Visayas (LTO 7) formally turned over the TOPs to 16 deputized patrol crew members of CCLEX Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022.Under LTO Memorandum Circular 515-2004, the TOP is issued to drivers at the site and time of the driver’s apprehension for a violation. It
IT’S DEJA VU for the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) as it finds itself confronting a Cebu official again on the mask policy amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, after Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama insisted Thursday that his order making mask wearing in the city “non-obligatory” would remain.Rama’s declaration came after DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. announced that Rama had agreed to temporarily put on hold the implementation of Executive Order (EO) 5.Rama s
A MAN survived an attack by his brother-in-law in Sitio Danawan, Barangay Poblacion in the northern town of Daanbantayan, Cebu on Wednesday night, August 31, 2022.The victim was identified as 54-year-old Sergio Coyoca Nogra Jr., a resident of the sitio.Nogra suffered a hack wound at the back of the head and a deep cut in the right arm.Police later arrested Rodito Doble Tumakay, a 52-year-old widower who also resides in the sitio.They said the suspect was drunk.Patrolman Zosimo Ducante Jr. of the
Social media users are sharing photos of a Twitter page that purportedly belongs to Hallie Biden, the widow of US President Joe Biden's son Beau. This is false; the foundation that Hallie Biden chairs told AFP she is not active on Twitter, and the account has been suspended for violating the platform's rules."Good for Hallie Biden," says an August 31, 2022 tweet with a screenshot of the account.The image appears to show Hallie Biden saying she is "coming out as a Donald Trump supporting Republic
Investing in jewelry is one the most beautiful and personal journeys one could embark on. Ever since its existence, the appeal for jewelry has never dwindled and continues to be in high demand. They are worn as statement pieces or cherished as priceless heirloom pieces that will soon be passed from one generation to the next.In purchasing the pieces, there is so much thought and love that goes into acquiring them depending on personal taste or connection.Homegrown brand Oro China Jewelry underst
“Every human being is the author of his own health and disease.” — BuddhaWHEN was the last time you went for a check-up? When was the last time you put yourself first, and saw your doctor instead of buying a new bag or pair of shoes? Did the last clinic or hospital you went to feel like a safe place where people genuinely cared for you?We feel at ease in places that give us peace, where people top the list of priorities (and where services are affordable).The answer: Keralty ClinicsKeralty Clini
Fil-Am NBA star Jordan Clarkson shared what he learned from NBA icons Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. What are those valuable lessons?