Next BMW X7 Ditches Door Handles and Embraces a Bold New Era

The current BMW X7 has been on the road for eight years now, and the clock is ticking. A second-generation model is already deep in development, and spy shots of camouflaged prototypes suggest the next BMW X7 is shaping up to be a fascinating blend of what the brand has been and where it is headed. Early sightings point to a large SUV that borrows cues from the recently updated 7 Series while also leaning into the sharper, more technical look of BMW’s Neue Klasse design language. The result appears to be a car caught between two worlds, familiar enough to feel like a proper BMW yet forward-looking enough to signal a genuine shift in direction.

The front end looks set for a significant rework. Split headlights appear to carry over from the current car, but the upper daytime running lights seem wider and more sculpted, while the main lamp units look to be tucked more neatly into darkened surrounds. Interestingly, the oversized kidney grilles appear to survive the transition, unlike on BMW’s newer electric models, such as the iX3 and i3. This time around, however, they seem to feature horizontal slats and LED illumination that nudge them closer to the Neue Klasse aesthetic without abandoning the X7’s bold visual identity. Render artist Sugar Design has used recent prototype sightings to digitally strip back the disguise, and the results suggest a front end that looks more refined and purposeful than the outgoing model. Lighting details also appear to echo limited-run halo cars like the Skytop, hinting that BMW may be threading design DNA from its most exclusive models into the mainstream lineup.

The sides of the car reveal what could be the most talked-about detail of all. Traditional door handles appear to be gone entirely, replaced by small flush-mounted fins positioned just below the window line, similar in concept to those found on the Ford Mustang Mach-E. It is not a completely new idea for BMW, as limited-production models like the Skytop and Speedtop have already experimented with similar solutions, but seeing it on a volume SUV would mark a notable step. Beyond the clean visual effect, the flush design could also improve aerodynamic efficiency, which would benefit electrified variants in particular. Around the rear, renders suggest a fresh set of taillights that draw from the new iX3’s design language, though no prototype has been spotted wearing what looks like final production units just yet. The split tailgate appears likely to return, although that has not been fully confirmed at this stage.

Inside, the cabin looks poised for just as dramatic a transformation. BMW’s Panoramic iDrive system, already seen in the i3 and iX3, is expected to make its way into the X7 with a full-width head-up display projected at the base of the windscreen and a large tablet-style infotainment screen taking centre stage on the dashboard. Physical controls are likely to be pared back further in favour of touchscreen interaction and an upgraded voice assistant. Despite the tech overhaul, the X7 should remain true to its core mission as a spacious three-row family haulier with seating for seven, and overall proportions look set to stay broadly similar to today’s model, though early prototypes hint at a slightly longer footprint.

Known internally as the G67, the next X7 could arrive in the second half of 2027, with production reportedly pencilled in for the summer or autumn of that year. Whether it remains BMW’s largest SUV is an open question, though. Reports suggest North American dealers have been lobbying for an even bigger X9 to take on the likes of the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator, which means the X7 may eventually have to share the top spot in BMW’s lineup. For now, though, it looks like BMW is pouring serious effort into making sure this next chapter for the X7 feels like a genuine leap forward rather than a cautious step.