Gone are the days when luxury was synonymous only with high-profile sedans. Exotic SUV's are the new norm. Even companies have understood how important this niche segment is and want a share of the pie. BMW is reportedly exploring the possibility of launching an uber-luxurious SUV - the X8 - primarily for the wealthy Chinese.

X8 will be much more than a bigger X6

This isn’t the first time that an X8 has been reported. Ever since it made the news, most thought it would act as the coupe version of the X7 and essentially be marketed as a larger X6. However, according to a report from BMW Blog, this won’t be the case, as the X8 will instead be a traditional luxury SUV that’s even larger than the X7. The German brand is pondering whether there would be demand for the X8 in markets like China, where customers demand lots of room for rear seat passengers. If the X8 gets the green light, it will essentially sit between the X7 and Rolls-Royce Cullinan in the Bavarian Group’s stable.

With this, the X8 will be the most luxurious and expensive BMW ever produced and come complete with the automaker’s most advanced comfort, driver-assist and self-driving technologies. Furthermore, the model should get a choice of powertrains that will include at least one V8-powered version and a plug-in hybrid.

 

Our Take

Given that the X8 is still an 'idea,' it could take at least a couple of years for it to arrive. High-end SUV's are picking up the pace, as you can see from vehicles like the Lamborghini Urus, Bentley Bentayga, the upcoming Rolls-Royce Cullinan, and the upcoming Audi Q8. China has been an important market for BMW, having sold around 600,000 cars in 2017 alone and growing more than 15% year-on-year! With the X8 in China, BMW could close-in on the gap with Audi and take pole position.

References

BMW X7

Read our full review on the 2018 BMW X7.

Read our full review on the 2017 BMW Concept X7 iPerformance.

Read more BMW news.