Filed under: Diesel, MPG, BMW
Click on the image for a gallery of high-res images of the 2007 BMW X5.BMW is set to release the brand new 2007 X5 luxury Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) onto the Australian market next month with three engine variants including a fuel-efficient 3.0-litre turbo-diesel model which is still over a year away from hitting the American market. The new X5 is larger than its predecessor but manages to balance increased size with stronger performance and better fuel economy. BMW is clearly excited about the new model, providing the media with a colossal 61-page press release kit, the summary of which is provided after the jump.
An array of new safety features and gadgets also find its way into BMW's top selling SAV, including Active Steering, AdaptiveDrive and a Head-Up Display.
Active Steering is a new, optional rack-and-pinion steering system which features a variable transmission ratio based on the steering angle. At speeds up to around 90 km/h, the transmission ratio is very direct, providing a sporty response requiring a minimum of driver arm movement. When parking, the steering wheel requires little more than two turns from left to right lock; and at high speeds, the steering becomes increasingly indirect to give precise, stable directional stability and superior motoring comfort.
AdaptiveDrive is a combined active anti-roll stability system with variable damper control which is designed to prevent body roll and dive in fast bends, or when avoiding an obstacle. Using special sensors, AdaptiveDrive continually measures lateral and longitudinal acceleration, road speed, the position of the steering wheel, and the ride height of the vehicle to improve comfort and agility.
The optional Head-Up Display provides instant readouts of road speed or navigation information that are displayed directly in the driver's line of vision on the windscreen.
But moving on to the good stuff, the X5 comes with either a aluminium-magnesium inline six cylinder petrol engine, a 4.8-litre V8 petrol engine, or a 3.0d turbo-diesel - all of which offer high power and torque output:
- The inline six puts out 200 kW / 268 hp and 315 Nm / 232 ft-lbs.
- The V8 offers up 261 kW / 350 hp and 475 Nm / 350 ft-lbs.
- And the oil burner packs 160 kW / 214 hp and 500 Nm / 369 ft-lbs.
The six-cylinder 3.0 litre diesel engine features third-generation common rail technology, a modern piezo injection system, a Euro-4 compliant particulate filter and a newly developed exhaust gas turbocharger with variable turbine geometry and electrical adjustment.
Of special note is the fact that the diesel X5 returns a miserly 8.7 L per 100km / 27 mpg which is pretty impressive for such a large vehicle. In comparison, the petrol inline six returns 11.7 L per 100 km / 20.1 mpg and the V8 starts to look thirsty at 12.5 L per 100 km / 18.8 mpg. That fact hasn't been lost on Australian consumers either with the diesel model accounting for a whopping 70 per cent of total X5 sales for 2006.
Analysis: The luxury SUV / SAV market has boomed in the last ten years and BMW led the way with the X5 and X3. Even despite increased competition of late, the X5 still accounted for almost 40 percent of the Australian luxury SUV / SAV market in 2006. BMW aren't planning to relinquish their market dominance in 2007 either with the new X5 looking like a very strong competitor indeed. You can expect the fuel-efficient diesel model to once again lead the assault.
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[Source: BMW]
The new BMW X5A Perfect Combination of Driving Dynamics, Function, and Exclusivity. o. Bigger, with stronger performance, improved fuel efficiency.
o. SAV firsts: Active Steering, AdaptiveDrive, Head-Up Display.
o. New suspension designed from the ground up for even better dynamics.
o. Improved xDrive permanent all-wheel drive.
o. Weight-optimised body with outstanding torsional stiffness.
o. New Dynamic Stability Control functions.
o. Faster-thinking, faster-acting six-speed transmission.
BMW continues to set the pace in Sports Activity Vehicles with the introduction of the all-new X5, which launches in Australia next month with dazzling style, class-leading dynamics and an engine line-up that stretches from the muscular and fuel-efficient 3.0-litre turbo-diesel through to the refined 3.0si inline six-cylinder and on to the blistering 4.8i V8.
With its Australian debut at the Melbourne International Motor Show earlier this month, customer deliveries of the all-new BMW X5 diesel and V8 petrol models will commence from April 16. The 3.0si six cylinder petrol variant will arrive in June.
Following the first-generation X5 which established the Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) segment on its arrival in Australia at the beginning of 2001, the new model builds on its formidable qualities with even greater abilities on and off road, more space and luxury for passengers and a host of trail-blazing innovations that add to the already lofty standards of safety, performance and efficiency.
The all-new X5's dynamic abilities are underpinned by a new suspension system using a unique double wishbone arrangement at the front and an integral-IV rear axle. The suspension was designed from the ground up to deliver on-road handling that combines outstanding ride quality with class-leading BMW standards of road holding.
As the world's first SAV to offer such leading-edge technology as Active Steering, AdaptiveDrive anti-roll suspension and Head-Up Display, the new BMW X5 affirms its position as the benchmark in the luxury 4WD segment of the Australian market.
The X5's AdaptiveDrive anti-roll suspension option also debuts the new FlexRay high-speed data transmission system, which offers the highest level of data transfer capacity and speed yet seen between the individual suspension control systems.
The BMW X5's highly effective xDrive permanent all-wheel drive system, which operates under normal circumstances with a 40-60 front-rear drive split, has been even further refined to assist stability on the road while affording maximum traction in off-road situations.
Aided by ABS anti-lock brakes, ASC Automatic Stability Control, HDC Hill Descent Control, DBC Dynamic Brake Control, CBC Cornering Brake Control and the ADB Automatic Differential Brake, the all-new X5 aims at being perfectly composed and controllable in any circumstances.
Embracing all these functions, the new X5's Dynamic Stability Control System (DSC) also includes automatic brake-power increase to offset high-temperature brake fade, as well as the ability to increase brake pressure moderately when appropriate to keep the system on standby for emergency deceleration. The braking system also features the BMW Dry Braking Function to maximise efficiency in wet conditions, Start-Off Assistant to prevent rolling back when starting off on an uphill gradient, as well as a push-button operated combined electromechanical/hydraulic parking brake.
The DSC system also includes push-button-operated DTC Dynamic Traction Control that alters the level at which it begins to intervene to allow a certain amount of slip when starting off on sand or snow.
Increased practicality in the new X5 comes via a body that, through increases in length and width, offers more passenger and luggage space while also enabling it to be specified with a third row of seats giving a seven-passenger capacity. And the luggage capacity measures from 620 litres in five-seat mode, to as much as 1,750 litres when just the front seats are being utilised.
With all this, the new X5's weight-optimised body shell is virtually no heavier, yet boasts a 15 per cent increase in torsional stiffness.
The new X5 is also well equipped for its role as the premium luxury SAV. An enhanced iDrive control system enables fast, intuitive operation, with eight "favourite" buttons allowing direct selection of navigation destinations, telephone numbers and audio sources among others.
The interior's generous space and luxurious ambience convey a distinctive, high-quality feel enhanced by innovative options such as multi-channel audio systems, and a DVD video system for rear seat passengers.
The all-new X5's engine line-up is notable for increased power outputs, along with even better efficiency. The 3.0si's aluminium-magnesium inline six cylinder petrol engine ups power by 18 per cent to 200 kW, while torque is increased 5 per cent to an impressive 315 Nm. In the 4.8-litre V8, power is up by 11 per cent to 261 kW and has 8 per cent more torque at 475 Nm.
The new X5's 3.0-litre inline all-aluminium six-cylinder turbo-diesel engine now has 7 per cent more power at 160 kW, while the maximum torque of 500 Nm is up 4 per cent and is produced between 1,750 and 2,750 rpm.
Average fuel consumption figures show considerable gains across the board, with the 3.0si 9 per cent better at 11.7 litres/100 km, the 4.8i V8 5 per cent more economical at 12.5 litres/100 km and the 3.0d turbo-diesel returning a thrifty 8.7 litres/100 km, which is an improvement of 7 per cent.
Acceleration figures have improved accordingly, with the 3.0si reaching 100 km/h from standstill in a very swift 8.1 seconds, the 4.8i scorching across the line in 6.5 seconds and the 3.0d revealing its sporting nature with a figure of just 8.6 seconds.
All BMW X5 models utilise a new six-speed automatic transmission using new torque converter technology and efficient software to reduce reaction and gearshift times by as much as 50 per cent. The new transmission is operated by an electronic gear selector incorporating a push-button parking-brake selector.
The all-new BMW Sports Activity Vehicle follows a prodigiously successful performance by the first series X5, which saw no less than 580,000 vehicles sold since production began in 1999. Australian sales since its introduction in 2001 have so far totalled more than 16,000 and in 2006 the BMW X5 accounted for nearly 40 per cent of the luxury SAV market. As an indication of the popularity of diesel in this segment, the 3.0-litre diesel variant accounted for 70 per cent of total X5 sales for 2006.
All models come standard with a 6-speed Steptronic automatic transmission.
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