BMW X7 Dirt Edition by Manhart Is a 650-HP All-terrain Performance SUV
Manhart Performance has unveiled its reinterpretation of the BMW X7, and the utility vehicle has been styled to look like an urban tactical vehicle.
SUVs, crossovers, and pickup trucks are the best selling body types in the market right now, and the global automotive industry is fast adopting electrification as the propulsion system of the future. As controversial as its design might be, the anticipation for the BMW iX is growing every day. So, it is safe to say that the Munich-based carmaker will soon introduce some level of electrification across its entire product portfolio.
As it turns out, there is still a lot of demand for old-school performance off-roaders. Wuppertal-based luxury car tuning company, Manhart Performance recently unveiled its reinterpretation of the BMW X7. The German atelier calls its new SUV the MHX7 650 Dirt Edition 2, and the utility vehicle has been styled to look like an urban tactical vehicle.
The outgoing BMW X7 is a luxurious off-roader, to begin with, but Manhart Performance will re-configure the cabin to suit the customer’s personal taste on request. It is obvious that the tuning house focused on enhancing the off-road capability of the SUV. Manhart’s X7 Dirt Edition rides on 20-inch Black Rhino alloys, and the sturdy rims come wrapped in Maxxis Bighorn MT-764 tires, which are brawny 305/50 R20 mud-terrain units.
To accommodate X7’s large wheels, Manhart also raised the air suspension of the SUV, which increased the ground clearance by 1.57 inches (approximately). Manhart Performance is confident that its X7 Dirt Edition can tackle any surface, “650 Dirt Edition 2 can easily navigate through very stony or muddy terrain – a terrain that probably few X7s will ever see”.
The tuning company’s military-spec off-roader is based on the M50i variant of BMW X7, but Manhart has re-tuned the SUV’s powerplant. The 4.4-liter biturbo V8 engine now comes mated to a stainless steel exhaust system and features an HJS downpipe. With reduced back pressure and valve control, the power output of the 4.4-liter motor has been bumped up to 650 hp from 530 hp.
To give the X7 Dirt Edition its armored styling, Manhart wrapped the SUV’s body in a matte black vinyl and added faux rivets. Back in 2012, Manhart Performance gave a similar Dirt Edition treatment to the original BMW X6.
Photos: Manhart Performance