New X5 - Innovative Technology and Even More Powerful Engines.

Thoroughly upgrading a wide range of important features, BMW is making
the highly successful X5 even better. 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 off-road 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, 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. 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 (available from the second half of 2004). 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 a sports package
(including V-rated high-speed tyres). 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 0-100
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 150 kW in the new X5 3.0d. With this new
kind of power, the X5 3.0d accelerates to 100 km/h in just 8.8 seconds
and has a top speed of 210 km/h. And with impressive maximum torque of
480 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. 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 off-road 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 on-road
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 leather options
(including a new top-end Walknappa leather choice) 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, benefiting 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 Off-roader" 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. 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.