BMW's new X5 - much more than just a pretty face!
Intelligent All-Wheel Drive Technology, Even More Powerful Engines, and
the New 4.8is Top Model. Thoroughly upgrading a wide range of
important features, BMW is making the highly successful X5 even better
as of autumn 2003 (overseas). Some four years after its market launch,
the world's first Sports Activity Vehicle remains very popular among
customers the world over. Now, to increase this high level of
popularity even further, BMW's engineers and designers have thoroughly
upgraded the large offroad athlete in the BMW X-family, giving this
outstanding vehicle a wide range of both technical innovations and
design updates. The new, intelligent xDrive all-wheel-drive system, new
and even more powerful engines extending all the way to the new
top-of-the-range X5 4.8is, and the improvement of striking design
elements are the highlights of this model update. As a result, the X5
will remain the perfect vehicle for the sports-minded driver also in
future, the individualist seeking to combine the magnificent handling
and driving behaviour of a BMW with the unique commanding position and
a very wide range of applications and purposes also off the beaten
track. The new BMW X5 is making its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
And then, only a bit later, the first vehicles will be delivered to
customers, in North America as of mid-October, in Europe as of early
December. The other markets will then follow immediately afterwards.
New engines: more power, more driving pleasure, more economy. Together
with its update, the X5 is re-entering the market with no less than
three new engines: A new 4.4-litre V8 petrol unit, the new 3.0-litre
common rail diesel, and the new top-of-the-range 4.8-litre V8
high-performance engine. In its performance on- and offroad, the X5
3.0i furthermore benefits from the new six-speed manual gearbox and the
xDrive all-wheel-drive system. The new BMW 4.4-litre V8 petrol engine
with VALVETRONIC valve control, bi-VANOS and fully variable intake
manifold has already set the standard in terms of performance and
motoring refinement in the new BMW 7 Series. Now this engine, modified
to meet the requirements of a Sports Activity Vehicle, is presenting
its benefits also in the X5 4.4i. Developing maximum output of 235 kW,
the 4.4-litre V8 accelerates this outstanding model to 100 km/h in just
7.0 seconds. Top speed, in turn, is 240 km/h, provided the vehicle is
fitted with V-rated high-speed tyres standard in Germany. Fitted with
H-rated tyres, in turn, top speed is limited electronically to 210
km/h. The new V8 also offers an even higher standard of economy in every
respect: Despite the very significant increase in engine power, the new
X5 4.4i consumes six per cent less fuel than its predecessor in the ECE
driving cycle. This is also made possible, inter alia, by the new
six-speed automatic transmission fitted as standard in the X5 4.4i.
Through its perfect gear increments and intelligent shift logic, the
transmission keeps gearshifts virtually unnoticeable to the driver, who
at the same time always benefits from optimum power and performance
reserves. The new X5 3.0i comes with BMW's new six-speed manual gearbox
and xDrive all-wheel drive. With the output and torque of the
three-litre straight-six power unit remaining unchanged, the X5 3.0i
thus offers a far higher standard of performance on the road,
accelerating from 0 to100 km/h in just 8.3 seconds and now reaching a
top speed of 210 km/h. Composite fuel consumption, in turn, is a
moderate 12.7 litres/100 km. The successful synthesis of sporting
performance and economic benefits has already made the diesel-engined
X5 3.0d one of the most popular versions of this Sports Activity
Vehicle in many markets. Now, to enhance this popularity to an even
higher level, this power unit has been improved yet again most
impressively, the updated straight-six turbodiesel with
second-generation common rail fuel injection now developing maximum
output of 160 kW in the new X5 3.0d. With this new kind of power, the
X5 3.0d accelerates to 100 km/h in just 8.3 seconds and has a top speed
of 210 km/h. And with impressive maximum torque of 500 Nm throughout an
extremely wide speed range, this Sports Activity is absolutely superior
also off the beaten track and on steep mountain roads. In the ECE
driving cycle the new X5 3.0d, despite its superior power, consumes
only 8.6 litres of diesel fuel. This new common rail diesel transmits
its huge power to the wheels through six gears with finely chosen gear
increments, coming as standard with BMW's new six-speed manual gearbox
or, as an option, with the new six-speed automatic transmission. X5
4.8is - the new top model setting an entirely new benchmark in sports
motoring. The new X5 4.8is is the top-of-the-range model within the
revised X5 family. Starting in spring 2004, this high-performance
version of BMW's Sports Activity will be following in the footsteps of
the other three models, the V8 high-performance power unit receiving a
lot more power, with maximum output upon introduction of this new
vehicle of approximately 265 kW accelerating the X5 4.8is to 100 km/h
in a staggeringly quick time of only about six seconds. Top speed of
this new high-performance model will presumably be 246 km/h. The 'heart'
of this development is of course the new BMW V8 power unit featuring
VALVETRONIC valve management, bi-VANOS, and a fully variable intake
manifold. This high-performance engine developed exclusively for the X5
has been increased in capacity to 4.8 litres and features a wide range
of modifications on the intake and exhaust system as well as the engine
management itself. As in the past, the new top-of-the-range X5 4.8is
comes exclusively with the 'is' abbreviation proving that this X5 is
the absolute leader not only in terms of engine output and capacity,
but also through its very special equipment, exclusive colours and
materials, as well as discreet, sporting design features setting this
model aside from the other versions of the X5. One example is the front
air dam of the X5 4.8is - completely new in design and contributing to
the unmistakable, sporting character of this very special model.
Intelligent use of power: the unique xDrive all-wheel-drive system as a
world-first achievement. The technical features of the X5 are at least
as significant as the outstanding performance of the new engines,
conveying this superior power to the road smoothly and consistently in
all situations. This supremacy both on- and offroad is ensured by the
specially developed intelligent xDrive all-wheel-drive system setting
new standards in the traction and agility of all-wheel drive vehicles,
xDrive ensuring infinitely variable distribution of drive forces
between the front and rear axle more quickly and efficiently than ever
before. The system immediately recognises the need for a change in power
distribution and responds extremely quickly to any demand of this kind,
when driving onroad usually even before the wheel about to slip has
lost its grip on the road. Action, not reaction: xDrive thinks with
the driver and responds even more quickly. xDrive acts more quickly than
other systems, since it is able to think ahead in every situation. To
do so, it not only uses information from the wheel sensors signalling
that the wheels are spinning, but also data collected by the DSC
sensors, the yaw rate and steering wheel lock sensors, for example,
providing important information on the vehicle's current driving
conditions (in the former case on the rotation of the vehicle around
its vertical axis). As a result, xDrive is able at any point in time to
spread out drive power perfectly between the two axles, thus
significantly minimising the risk of under- or oversteering. In
practice this means not only a significantly higher standard of agility
and driving pleasure, but also a lot more safety, suspension control
systems such as DSC only being required to cut in much later in most
situations than with conventional all-wheel drive. Through its fast
response alone, the new system offers enormous benefits in terms of
traction. On rough tracks or slippery surfaces, xDrive takes only a few
milliseconds to respond to loss of grip by one wheel, redistributing
drive power to the other wheels which have still retained their grip on
the surface, the electronically controlled multiple-plate clutch
responding immediately without losing any time. Setting off on
snowbound surfaces or climbing even the steepest gradients on loose
rubble or gravel, therefore, is an easy exercise in the new X5 thanks
to BMW xDrive. Striking design elements providing an even more
distinctive profile. Taking the outstanding qualities of the new X5,
BMW's designers have decided to turn wonderful looks into perfection.
And so, updating the X5's design, they have given the vehicle even more
character, making the outstanding technical features concealed from the
observer's eye within the body visible to the outside with that
understatement so typical of BMW. The front end of the X5, for example,
has been fully revised all the way to the A-pillar, emphasizing the
sculptured shape of the engine compartment lid characteristic of BMW's
X models even more strongly and bearing out BMW's new design language
with interchanging convex and concave surfaces for an even more dynamic
appearance. The character lines in the engine compartment are even
wider and higher than before, now extending all the way into the double
kidney grille so typical of BMW. The kidney-shaped air intakes have
indeed been carefully redesigned, now becoming larger than before and
giving the new X5 even greater presence. The slats in the kidney grille,
again characterising this BMW Sports Activity Vehicle, come with a
robust and sophisticated-looking wave-shaped profile. On the
six-cylinder models they are finished in black, on the 8-cylinders in
titanium colour. The dual headlights now come with an even more dynamic
exterior contour, forming a perfect match with the more rounded
direction indicators to reflect the new look of BMW's model range. And
almost mystic night design, finally, is ensured by the new, brilliant
corona rings around the four headlights. The front air dam is even
more striking in its design and now comes with larger air scoops split
down the middle, visually extending the character lines of the engine
compartment lid to the rear. The bumper, in turn, merges smoothly into
the headlight area, while at the rear the new tail lights in clear glass
look harmoniously round off the fresh appearance of the new BMW X5.
Several new wheels and new outer colours offer the customer a wide range
of personalisation options, with an equally wide choice of new leather
and fabric upholstery as well as matching colours and surfaces within
the passenger compartment. Coming right at the top: safety. The new
BMW X5 also ranks right at the top in terms of safety, benefitting from
the wide range of improvements and modifications introduced on the new
model. The new xDrive all-wheel-drive system raises active safety to a
new level right from the start, eliminating the risk of many critical
situations to begin with. And the X5 has only recently confirmed its
qualities in terms of passive safety in one of the toughest crash tests
in the world, BMW's Sports Activity becoming the first 'Large
Offroader' in the world to score the highest number of five stars in
the Euro-NCAP test. Numerous new and proven equipment features also
contribute to superior driving safety in the X5. As an example, new
Adaptive Headlights available as an option ensure optimum illumination
of the road ahead in all kinds of bends (available overseas from spring
2004). This 'intelligent' system uses the wide range of data collected
by the chassis and suspension control units in order to guide the
swivelling headlights in good time along the course of the road. New
bi-xenon headlights, in turn, ensure particularly good and bright
illumination, coming as standard on the 8-cylinder models and optionally
available on the six-cylinders. The enthusiast using the superior power
and performance of the new X5 to tow a trailer will also benefit from
another unique safety feature: the trailer stability control offered on
the new model. This control system prevents the trailer from building
up an increasing pendulum motion by recognising dangerous movements of
this kind with the help of the DSC sensors and by intervening in the
brakes, automatically reinstating a safe and stable driving condition.
Yet another important safety feature is the adaptive Brake Force Display
'telling' motorists following from behind how hard you are applying the
brakes through the growing area covered by the brake lights as a
function of brake intensity. As a result of homologation and
legislation requirements, this safety feature is currently only
available in North America, where it is standard in the new BMW X5.
