The all new BMW X5

10-08-2006 10:54

Seven years after its 1999 Frankfurt Motor Show debut, BMW announces the arrival of an all-new X5 Sports Activity Vehicle that aims to redefine its class courtesy of an enviable list of firsts. The new BMW X5 is the world’s first SAV to be offered with Head-up Display and an active suspension system – BMW’s Adaptive Drive package. It is the first SAV that can be specified with Active Steering for unsurpassed manoeuvrability and the first to be shod with Run-flat tyres for added safety. It is also the first BMW to offer a third row of seats for added practicality.

The BMW X5 defined a new segment of the car market when it first appeared in 1999. It was the first SUV-type vehicle to offer a genuinely sporty car-like drive. BMW coined the phrase Sports Activity Vehicle to define its dynamic attributes over its rivals’ utilitarian construction. Year-on-year record sales since its launch in the UK are evidence of its appeal to customers and it set a new standard for the competition.

The BMW X5 offers unsurpassed safety credentials and on-road ability. Not only does its intelligent xDrive four-wheel drive system transfer power between front and rear wheels depending on available grip for optimum handling, but it can now be specified with Adaptive Drive and Active Steering – two advanced systems never offered before on a BMW X model.

The BMW X5 can be specified with Head-up Display – a first for a Sports Activity Vehicle or SUV. For enhanced safety the system projects speed, navigation and check control messages into the line of sight of the driver. Such a system allows the driver to keep his eyes on the road ahead while still being made aware of important instructions.

A further safety benefit is the fitting of Run-flat tyres – again a first for an SAV or SUV. Run-flat tyres allow a driver to continue his or her journey in the event of a puncture for up to 90 miles at speeds of 50mph. Run-flat tyres also provide the best stability in the event of a blowout. The BMW X5 comes fitted with 18-inch alloy wheels and Run-flat tyres as standard with optional 19- and 20-inch alloy wheels offered.

While being one of the most practical cars BMW has ever made, the new X5 still has a luxurious interior feel and a dynamic and sporty exterior shape. A drag coefficient as low as 0.33 places the BMW X5 at the top of its segment as the most aerodynamically efficient large SAV or SUV. This low figure is partly achieved by a rear tailgate that incorporates a roof spoiler and a near flat underbody to aid airflow. Nine exterior colours are offered initially alongside four levels of trim and seven upholstery colours to allow owners to personalise their X5s.

Supplementing the standard fit front and rear Park Distance Control, X5 customers have the option to specify a rear camera for added parking convenience. Automatically activated when the reverse gear is selected, the driver is presented with a wide-angle colour image on the iDrive display in the centre console.

The BMW X5 has proved to be a huge global hit since it was launched in 1999 with more than 580,000 sold. In the UK its sales reached record levels each year. In 2001, the car’s first full year, BMW UK sold 5,650. In 2005 a record 10,808 X5s found customers in the UK. Prices for the new BMW X5 and details of the Dynamic Package will be revealed nearer to the spring 2007 UK market launch date.