BMW takes reworked X5 to new levels
BMW X5
Published: Nov 6, 2006
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At first glance you might miss the changes to the reworked BMW X5. I did. That is until I began comparing the 2007 model to the previous version. The new body is larger without taking up too much road. It is more aggressive in appearance without intimidating.
The X5 has taken BMW a bit by surprise. When the carmaker first brought the vehicle to market, the speculators were thinking they might build 300,000 X5s. The surprise came when they surpassed that number early and hit the 600,000-plus mark. To say this made the head honchos at BMW happy would be an understatement. They were ecstatic.
One bit of trivia you might like to know, but which is hardly trivial, is that the guy behind the X5 is the same guy who brought the world the M3 E30 racecar. The car made an indelible mark on the racing world and certainly made the competition sit up and take notice.
Albert Biermann, project manager of the X5 development, is that guy. Biermann took the lessons his group learned on the racetrack, reworked them for the street and raised the X5 to a new level. I believe the X5 will not disappoint. In fact, it will surprise a present X5 owner and those new to BMW or the sport activity vehicle category.
How does this transfer over to a sport activity vehicle that most likely will never see a racetrack? At BMW, it means everything because the feeling around the water cooler at this company is that their cars are enhanced by their ability to drive like a sports car while offering the comfort of a luxury sedan.
To prove its point, BMW introduced the X5 to the motoring press at its performance center, adjacent to the factory in Spartanburg, S.C. Here, we could put the X5 through some extremely hard driving without being out on public roadways.
The big V-8 engine has the growl of an exotic sports car. The engine jumps at the mere touch of the electronically controlled throttle. I tend not to be a fan of electronic throttles, but this system is linear and is nearly as good as having your foot on the throttle box of the engine.
The suspension system and tremendous rigidity of the platform give the X5 wonderful road manners. Not only can it handle a quick left-right slalom course with ease, but it also insolates the interior from the harshness of rough roads.
The exterior design is larger, adding more than four inches to the wheelbase and seven inches to the overall length. This enables the designers to add the third-row seat sought by customers.
In fact, BMW designers brought young children into the studio to crawl over the passenger compartment of a prototype X5. After the session, they informally asked the kids for their opinion on the available space. The children replied that they would like the seatback redesigned for their little bodies and also armrests added. That was the crux of the changes.
This is as close as you are going to get to a utility vehicle that offers the luxury and abilities of a 7-series sedan. The puffed-up front-end design offers a more aggressive look. The fenders are inflated a bit and the front fascia and bumper, with three fresh-air ducts in the valence, enhance the stronger, wider look.
The interior is first-rate, offering the feel of a fighter aircraft and luxurious den. Even the storage compartments are more than just a place to store your stuff; these compartments gently cuddle it. The glove compartment opens with the mystery of an elegant jewelry box.
I think we all understand that the folks at BMW are automotive enthusiasts, but they also must be business people. To keep a company profitable, you must provide products that buyers want and are willing to spend their hard-earned money to purchase. BMW has found a way to succeed at both tasks and in more than a limited market. The expansion has been good for BMW and for us.
Ron Moorhead, a nationally syndicated automotive columnist, can be reached at ronmoorhead@hotmail.com.
