BMW’s Spartanburg plant has started churning out the first pre-production examples of the upcoming X7 full-size luxury SUV.

The Bavarian car maker is now putting the X7 through its final stages of development, with the production version expected to hit the market at the end of 2018.

“This is a very special vehicle and our employees are looking forward to yet a further member of the X family,” said Knudt Flor, head of the BMW Group Spartanburg plant. “Together with the BMW X7, a total of five BMW X models will be exported from Spartanburg to all four corners of the globe.”

The pre-production examples of the BMW X7 will be used for homologation and registration, as well as for endurance tests in extreme weather conditions. The production of the pre-production models also serves as a test for the Spartanburg plant, helping them optimise the future series production of the X7.

Cars will remain camouflaged with a striped-pattern wrap in a bid to hide the Bavarian flagship SUV’s final look. That didn’t stop BMW from releasing a few images of some naked cars sitting on the assembly line and showing off details of the front end which is dominated by the huge kidney grille and some sleek headlights.

The upcoming BMW X7 will rival models like the Range Rover and Mercedes GLS-Class once it hits the market.

PHOTO GALLERY