BMW X7

Broader changes for BMW's flagship SUV are spearheaded by an M-lite, V8 special

MODEL TESTED M60I XDRIVE

Price £108,935 

Power 523bhp

Torque 553lb ft

0-60mph 4.2sec

30-70mph in fourth 5.2sec

Fuel economy 20.7mpg

CO2 emissions 276g/km

70-0mph 45.2m

Nobody could dispute that BMW has got the bit firmly between its teeth concerning the business of fast, brash SUVs. How firmly is something that becomes apparent when you consider that the 523bhp, £109,000 X7 M60i tested here isn't even the fastest, brashest BMW SUV you can buy, or even the second-most-step forward the new M-bespoke 653bhp XM and the recently upgraded 628bhp X5 M.

But, of course, the X7 M60i's remit is not simply to be as fleetfooted and dynamically able as it's possible for BMW to achieve. It must also be endlessly practical and lavishly comfortable. There is an overlap with the 7 Series limousine here, which is an element neither of the hottest X7's uber-powerful stablemates need worry about. They need only be fast and brash.