BMW's South Carolina Plant Planning "Significant" Product Announcement on March 28th

[Palbay]

In the local paper today...http://www.greenvilleonline.com/art...ng-significant-economic-announcement-March-28 A lot of land surveying going on around Plant Spartanburg....Dead giveaway on impending new construction. So what's the "Product"....US Built 3 Series, Engine Plant, New Z Cars, Toyota....X7/Rolls Product Tie up.......time will tell... Thanks. PalBay

 

[mini_cooper4]

It's time for the X7 I guess.

 

[chonkoa]

My guess is X7.

 

[Human]

X7!? Cool!!!!!

 

[klier]

Like the others said. From all the X cars, X7 is most logical to be build in Spartanburg. Most will be sold in U.S by a landslide.

 

[bimmerjph]

Someone from the plant told me this week that "we are supposed to be getting the new Z4 back". That being said, I don't think the new Z4 (or what ever it will be called) would qualify as a "significant economic and product announcement".

I'm also not convinced that it would be an X7 either. I would think if they were announcing a new model then Ian Robertson (Head of Marketing) or Herbert Diess (Head of Development) would be attending as well. As it stands the only board members coming are Reithofer and Kruger (Head of Global Production) My money is that they are moving some of the 3er production stateside. That would also be in line with Mercedes' move of moving some C-Class production to Alabama.

Needless to say, I can't wait to find out what it is.

 

[SCOTT27]

BMW, the largest premium carmaker in the world plans to significantly expand its actual capacity in the U.S. by building a new plant or expanding the actual plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, German newspaper Handelsblatt reports.

Citing “consolidated circles”, the German daily reports BMW plans to raise output from 300,000 vehicles today to more than 400,000. The carmaker has already expanded its plant in Spartanburg several times.

On the same time, according to the same source – BMW will also decide wherever or not it will build the “long-discussed” X7 SUV. X7 is expected to compete with the upcoming Audi Q9 and Vw Cross Blue, which will be made and sold in the U.S. from 2016.



http://www.inautonews.com/bmw-to-build-new-plant-in-the-u-s-plans-x7-suv#.UynUSX8gGSN

 

[Merc1]

X7, I can't wait to see it.

M

 

[SCOTT27]

Welcome to the next member of the BMW family.

The BMW X7
http://www.autonews.com/article/201...-7-seat-crossover-for-spartanburg-report-says

 

[SCOTT27]

Don't forget live from Spatanburg tomorrow.

http://www.audiosolutionsusa.com/bmw-032814.html

http://www.autonews.com/article/201...-make-s-c-plant-an-even-bigger-manufacturing#

 

[dalab]

Very interesting and fun to watch live.
Passionate opinions of Government, State and BMW really stress the importance of this as an example of what should be the management of a company

 

[SCOTT27]

Welcome to the new BMW X7.

 

[SCOTT27]

Ok this is more Gran Lusso inspired than anything but there is some similarities to the front of the car minus over exposed cartoon like details. As you will see soon....

But some ideas are present. The rising glasshouse and dynamic roofline - possible thanks to the long wheelbase will feature. X7 will be basically the 7er as a SAV and will share all that models genes including lightweight design and construction. After two cancellations which we might actually get to see for the first time as the excitement begins to ramp up. The X7 is a product is entirely feasible due to the investment in BMWs process of volume Carbon Fibre which will feature significantly in delivering a lighter than expected vehicle.

The exciting part is that the X7 is not the end of the expansion for the BMW brand in the luxury segment.
Shared architecture etc is at an acceptable level that other models can be conceived effectively.

 

[bimmerjph]

Ok this is more Gran Lusso inspired than anything but there is some similarities to the front of the car minus over exposed cartoon like details.

Damn. I actually kind of liked those.

 

[SCOTT27]

Damn. I actually kind of liked those.

You will like the actual car's or proposals better , more in proportion.

 

[rollo]

BMW does need a large SUV in their portfolio. This has lots of potential in the U.S.

 

[SCOTT27]

Pictures from the event.

 

[dalab]

I hope that unlike these renders, the X7 is more innovative in design and that profile does not look like a long X5.
More like the Mercedes GL vs ML, which are quite different

 

[chonkoa]

X7- perhaps the only the new SUV that makes sense from BMW.
It will be interesting to see the price point.

 

[EnI]

It will be interesting to see the price point.

Since X5 xDrive50i MSRP starts @ $68,200 it's obvious X7 xDrive50i will be priced higher. I guess it will be priced to rival Range Rover V8 ($84,150) and MB GL 550 ($88,600) directly. So, I guess around $85k. Not sure what the US entry model will be. I guess the 40i - costing around 65k. We shall see. Btw, diesel engined X7s & X7 eDrive hybrid will also be offered. No M version though. M Performance model is a possibility but not priority.

Expect the mules (enlarged X5s) to be out soon - testing the chassis. X7 prototypes will be out in early Fall, I guess. Since the final design has just been chosen, and now in the next months first bodies will be produced.

X7 will be premiered in late 2016, while market launch is expected in early 2017.