BMW has started production on its X7 model which will be taking on the ever-popular Range Rover for sales.

Work is underway at the company’s Spartanburg factory in the US on pre-production models which are due to undergo rigorous testing prior to the launch of the vehicle later this year.

The X7 will be BMW’s largest SUV and was shown in concept guise at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show. While the details are still sketchy images of X7 prototypes in camouflage reveal that the car has a large, brightly finished kidney grille and tapered LED headlight clusters.

It is likely to be a seven seater with two foldaway seats in the rear and will sit above BMW’s other X models.

The first X7 vehicles will be handed over to BMW’s development team for testing across the globe, including the extreme temperatures of Death Valley in California and the arctic conditions of Scandinavia.

Prices are likely to begin in the region of £70,000-plus and it is believed that a full-efficient plug-in hybrid model will be included in the line-up.