BMW’s sports cars are what capture the hearts and minds of enthusiasts, but the brand’s large, luxury X7 SUV is no slouch either. In its top M50i configuration, the X7 delivers 530 horsepower (395 kilowatts) and 553 pound-feet (750 Newton-meters) of torque. That’s more than enough for most people, but the minds at Manhart aren’t like those of the masses. The aftermarket tuner’s latest gives the X7 a minor visual makeover and a big performance boost.
Manhart keeps the SUV’s twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8, but it adds some new software and a bit of new hardware to massage the output up to 650 hp (484 kW) and 678 lb-ft (920 Nm) of torque. Manhart achieves the new power figures by adding its in-house MHtronik auxiliary control unit alongside a new sports exhaust system with valve control. Manhart completes the exhaust upgrade with quad carbon-fiber tailpipes; however, the upgraded tips aren’t the SUV’s only visual upgrade.
