Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.The 2027 BMW X5 has just been revealed, and it's got an electric iX5 sibling for the first time - something the next iteration of Bavaria's three-row SUV, the X7, will also get. The first-ever iX7 has been spotted by the Autoblog spies in Munich, and for the first time, the pre-production prototype in front of their lenses has its production-ready front end, albeit still covered in vinyl camouflage. Despite BMW's best efforts at hiding the new design, it's quite clear that the X7 is going to wear the same face as the recently launched 2027 7 Series sedan, but we're more interested in the rear, and for practicality reasons, not prettiness.2028 BMW X7 SUV Will Look and Feel DifferentAutoblog/SH ProshotsView the 2 images of this gallery on the original articleAdvertisementAdvertisementWhile the front will look similar to the 7 Series, and the taillights will no doubt be two very long bars, possibly one, this prototype doesn't reveal whether it keeps its two-piece tailgate. The new X5 drops its split tailgate because BMW said it was too heavy, too complex, and too expensive to design a powered two-piece hatch that most customers didn't even know existed, let alone used. For the iX7, we're hopeful that the split gate will carry over because the gas X7 is a $100,000 SUV that competes with the likes of Range Rover, and having the luxury of a bench seat that lets you face the scenery is worth investing in, especially when the electric iX7 is likely to cost closer to $200,000. Fortunately, a piece of black tape across the rear end seems to suggest the easy-to-load tailgate will continue.Autoblog/SH ProshotsView the 2 images of this gallery on the original articleAnyway, the new iX7's front end ditches the rounded and oversized kidneys for straight-edged oversized kidneys, with the headlights placed in a recess below the narrow LED running lights/turn signals. Interestingly, while the 7 Series and i7 have their headlight modules in a vertical recess, these close-ups suggest the SUV will place them in horizontal cutouts. The taillights, meanwhile, appear to be retaining simple graphics, but we suspect BMW has fitted pre-facelift lights under the camo to throw us off since every new BMW designed to Neue Klasse themes - iX3 crossover, i3 sedan, i7 limo, and X5 'sports activity vehicle' - has featured a complex, multi-filament rear lighting signature. Both the hood and the rear end will be recessed in the middle, and we can expect angular elements for the intakes and rear faux diffuser panels.2027 iX7 SUV: BMW's Heaviest Creation Yet?Autoblog/SH ProshotsView the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleAdvertisementAdvertisementConsidering that the two-row iX SUV weighs up to 5,849 pounds and that the new G65 X5's electric variant is rumored to weigh over 6,000 lbs, the seven-seat electric iX7 seems destined to be even heavier than the i7 M70 xDrive, which is said to tip the scales at over 6,200 lbs. Still, BMW's 800-volt Gen6 battery technology should deliver a range of as much as 400 miles, and the cylindrical cells will be rechargeable at speeds of up to 400kW. Up to 800 horsepower is rumored to be in the offing, making the new iX7 even more powerful than the twin-turbocharged V8-powered Alpina XB7 (631 hp). Inside, BMW Operating System X and its Panoramic Vision iDrive system will create a relatively uncluttered cabin, albeit at the cost of many physical controls. A reveal is only expected in the middle of 2027, but with prototypes now donning production-spec bodywork, we'll see and learn more before then.Autoblog/SH ProshotsAutoblog/SH ProshotsAutoblog/SH ProshotsThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Jul 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
