This is a polarizing look but not due to the XXL grille.
As you can see, BMW’s latest designs have been controversial. The Internet consensus says that the Bavarians are moving down the styling ladder, whether it’s the larger kidney grilles and the awkward taillights on the new 2 Series Coupe. Sales figures will show the true impact of radical styling changes on customer demand.
Prepare for another polarizing design. This is being done to make way for a new model, rather than a future-generation. BMW will equip the Mercedes GLS competitor with completely new headlights to bring it in line with the future 7Serie and X8 / XM. This is as shown in our spy shots, which show a prototype with slightly less camouflage.
This imagery was repurposed to create a speculative rendering for the X7 facelift, with its unusual headlight arrangement. It’s not a rare sight, as many Citroen models have used this arrangement for some time. The 2013 C4 Picasso is an example. Moving forward to 2021, you will find a lot of models with LED daytime running lights above the main cluster of headlights, including the Skoda Kamiq.
BMW seems to be going for the same look as the X7’s mid-cycle updates, and its next-gen fullsize cars, for better or worse. These in-depth changes are not common for facelifted models, but BMW seems determined to make its luxury marque stand out. Although the rendering is unofficial, it looks quite wild from a first glance. But, if you look at the spy photos, you’ll see that the speculative design exercise was not so crazy.
When will camouflage be available? The X7 was unveiled by BMW in October 2018. It is unlikely that the company will rush to unveil the new version. It could be unveiled at the IAA in September if BMW wants to reduce the product’s first half-life cycle. This is because the IAA will switch from Frankfurt to Munich starting 2021.
Future models of the company won’t all adopt the controversial split headlights. However, the next 5 Series has been spotted using one-piece clusters. So we can at least give BMW credit in acknowledging that variety is the spice of life.