BMW Malaysia today introduced another variant of the BMW X7 facelift with the launch of the xDrive40i M Sport. This joins the existing xDrive40i Pure Excellence that arrived back in March this year, and like that variant, the new one is also locally assembled (CKD) in Kulim, Kedah.

The X7 xDrive40i M Sport’s retail price inclusive of a five-year extended warranty and service package is RM718,800 on-the-road without insurance, which makes it RM64,000 more than the xDrive40i Pure Excellence that sells for RM654,800.

For the premium, you get the three-row SUV with the M Sport package that adds on more aggressive bumpers. At the front, the trim for the air curtain – just under the dual-tier headlamps (with adaptive matrix LEDs) – is more prominent in appearance, while the lower apron has larger air inlets and is finished in black. As for the rear, the exhaust finishers are slightly larger and surrounded by a black trim piece that also integrates a contrast-coloured faux skid plate.

The M Sport variant also comes with 22-inch double-spoke style 913 M bicolour alloy wheels instead of the Pure Excellence’s 22-inch V-spoke style 756 alloys. Another thing the M Sport variant gets is the Iconic Glow kidney grille that is illuminated by LED fibre optics.

On the inside, Fineline Black fine wood trim with high-gloss metal effect is paired with BMW Individual extended Merino leather upholstery (available in Black or Tartufo). This is in contrast to the Pure Excellence that is fitted with Lindenwood Fineline fine wood trim and Sensafin leather.

Another area where the M Sport variant differs from the Pure Excellence is driver assistance systems, with the former coming standard with the Driving Assistant Professional package. This is a step up from the Driving Assistant package in the Pure Excellence and includes distance control (active cruise control) with stop and go function as well as steering assistant and lane control assistant.

These systems are joined by lane departure warning, lane change warning with active steering intervention, front collision warning with brake intervention, rear crossing traffic warning, rear collision prevention with exit warning, speed limit info and manual speed limit assist in its kitbag. Also included is the Reversing Assistant Professional, which records up to the last 200 metres covered.

The rest of the X7 xDrive40i M Sport’s kit list includes two-axle air suspension, Executive Drive Pro (includes active roll stabilisation), Integral Active Steering (rear-wheel steering), a Sky Lounge panoramic roof, ambient lighting, the BMW Curved Display (12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch central touchscreen), BMW Operating System 8, M Headliner Alcantara anthracite and Crafted Clarity package (glass applications for selected interior elements).

The xDrive40i powertrain is identical for both variants, which means a B58 3.0 litre turbocharged straight-six petrol engine operating on the Miller cycle to provide 380 PS (375 hp or 280 kW) and 520 Nm (can be boosted momentarily to 540 Nm), which is an improvement of 47 PS (47 hp or 35 kW) and 70 Nm from before. M Sport brakes are added if you opt for the new variant.

Like the Pure Excellence variant, the M Sport’s engine is helped along by a 48-volt mild hybrid system that adds an electric motor rated at 12 PS (12 hp or 9 kW) and 200 Nm to the housing of the eight-speed Steptronic Sport automatic transmission. Along with an xDrive all-wheel drive system, performance figures unchanged between the two: 0-100 km/h time of 5.8 seconds and a top speed of 245 km/h.

Available exterior colours for the X7 xDrive40i M Sport are Mineral White Metallic and Black Sapphire Metallic – both also offered for the Pure Excellence – as well as a variant-specific M Brooklyn Grey Metallic. Included with each purchase is access to BMW roadside assistance and accident hotline and a BMW Service Online.

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