BMW is shaking up Detroit's bread-and-butter with a fresh new take on the large premium SUV segment long dominated by Cadillac's now aging Escalade. BMW's X7 takes a decidedly sportier approach to transporting seven people in plush comfort than Detroit's more truck-like SUVs. Built at BMW's Spartanburg, S.C., factory, the new X7 joins four other models assembled at the plant, which makes BMW the largest U.S. exporter of new vehicles by value.

From the outside, the X7 makes a bold statement, blending elegant lines with a purposeful look that is both confident and poised. Measuring 203.3 inches in length, the X7 is about a half-inch shorter than an Escalade, though rear passengers have more legroom in almost every direction. Up front, the X7 features a prominent kidney grille, the largest ever seen on the face of a BMW, flanked by slim LED headlights that come standard on all X7s. From the side, large windows bathe the interior in light and contribute to the sense of spaciousness that passengers feel inside. In back, the X7 borrows from BMW's flagship luxury sedan, the 7 Series, with a chrome bar that stretches between the two slim LED taillights, adding an elegant touch to an otherwise sporty rear. Inside, the X7 astonishes with its innovative and roomy interior that's as luxurious for front seat occupants as it is for those in back. The available second-row captain's chairs are supremely comfortable and offer electronic adjustments.