First look: BMW reveals its second-gen X5

RIGHT on cue, BMW has revealed first pictures and details of its successor for what's widely regarded as the world's finest luxury 4WD, the X5, ahead of its world premiere at the Paris motor show in September.

Due on sale in Australia by mid to late April 2007, following its Australian debut at the Melbourne motor show in March, the redesigned X5 is claimed to again set new benchmarks in terms of on-road dynamics - despite the addition, for the first time, of a third-row seating option.

The extra twin rear seat – said to be suitable for passengers up to 1.7 metres tall - brings the all-new X5's occupant capacity to seven for the first time, but despite the major passenger-carrying advantage over major rivals like the Mercedes-Benz M-class and Lexus RX350, BMW won't be making a big deal of it.

Instead, the Bavarian brand will claim new X5 sets an even higher standard in terms of on-road dynamics, thanks to a larger body that’s no heavier, hits the scales in six-cylinder guise with a perfect 50/50 front/rear weight distribution and is powered by three new, more powerful engines that are also more fuel-efficient.

Opening the range will be the X5 3.0si, motivated by an even more powerful version of the 1, 3 and 5 Series’ 3.0-litre magnesium-alloy straight six. Offering 200kW (up 18 per cent over the current X5 3.0i) and 315Nm of torque (up five per cent), it consumes a claimed 10.9 litres per 100km on the combined average EU cycle.

The least expensive X5 (currently priced at $82,500 in five-speed manual guise) blasts to 100km/h in a claimed 8.1 seconds (eight per cent quicker), on its way to a top speed of 225km/h (210km/h with H-spec tyres).

Its 3.0-litre turbo-diesel sibling, the X5 3.0d, will offer 170kW (up six per cent from the current model’s 160kW, or 150kW in Australia) and 520Nm of torque (up four per cent from 500Nm, or 480Nm in Australia).

That’s enough to propel it to 100km/h in 8.3 seconds (an improvement of three per cent), while top speed is 216km/h (210km/h on H-rated tyres). Official preliminary fuel consumption is 8.7L/100km on the EU cycle – seven per cent better than the current 3.0d.

The range-topper at launch will be the X5 4.8i, whose 4.8-litre engine - borrowed from 5, 6 and 7 Series models - produces 261kW (up 11 per cent on the X5 4.4 V8’s 235kW) and 475Nm of torque – up eight per cent from 440Nm.

The V8 X5’s preliminary fuel consumption figure is stated at 12.5L/100km (five per cent better than the 4.4), while 0-100km/h acceleration is claimed at 6.5 seconds (a seven per cent improvement on the 4.4). Top speed is 240km/h.

All three engines, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission as standard (there will be no manual option for Australia), power a significantly longer new X5 body (up 187mm to 4854mm) that’s also 61mm wider at 1933mm. The bigger body offers more interior space, with cargo room up to a total of 1750 litres (up 200 litres), or 620 litres (up 110 litres) with the third row in use.

Like the interior - which features a more luxurious, 7 Series-style design, an improved version of iDrive with eight new "favourites" buttons, a new console-mounted electronic gearshifter, a host of new individualization options, 40mm of extra mid-row legroom, a 100mm-longer load floor and better build quality - X5’s exterior is all-new, although some may find it difficult to pick it as new from the rear.

While BMW has not provided kerb weight figures, it says weights remain static despite the fact torsional rigidity of the new monocoque bodyshell is up a further 15 per cent from the already-stiff current X5, from 23,500 to 27,000 Nm/degree.

BMW says the new X5’s improved tarmac handling is a result of the extra body stiffness, combined with an all-new double-wishbone front suspension, better aerodynamics (0.33Cd for the 3.0si), a low centre of gravity, engines mounted mostly behind the front axle and upgraded xDrive permanent, electronically controlled variable all-wheel drive system.

Significantly, BMW claims X5 will be the first luxury SUV to come with the company’s controversial Active Steering system, as well as the first to feature adaptive anti-roll and damping technology in the shape of AdaptiveDrive.

Even more controversially, the new model will also come with BMW Safety Tyres (read: fourth-generation run-flats) as standard, though a space-saving "emergency spare wheel" will be available as an option with five-seat versions. When punctured, as indicated by the Tyre Defect Indicator, "safety tyres" are limited to a distance of 250km/h at a top speed of 80km/h.

Standard safety systems will include ABS anti-lock brakes, ASC Automatic Stability Control, DSC Dynamic Stability Control, TSC Trailer Stability Control, HDC Hill Descent Control, DBD Dynamic Brake Control, CBC Cornering Brake Control and ADB Automatic Differential Brake.

Six-cylinder models will be braked by 332mm front rotors and 320mm rear rotors, while the V8 offers 365mm front and 345mm rear discs. Standard wheel sized rise to 18-inch light-alloys with 255/55-section rubber, with run-flat tyre options up to 275/40 front and 315/35 rear on rim sizes of up to 20-inch.

Even more options will be available than usual, including a Head-Up display, DVD video, a reversing camera, active bi-Xenon headlights and High Beam Assist With some 580,000 examples of the current E53 models sold globally since 1999, the original X5 has been an outstanding success for BMW, especially in the US, and is widely credited with taking the luxury off-roader theme started by Range Rover to vastly higher, sportier height.

Originally dubbed by BMW as the world’s first Sports Activity Vehicle and on sale in Australia since November 2000, X5 proved more popular every year until 2006 – the first year it was knocked from its perch as the nation’s top-selling luxury SUV.

To July this year, X5 sales are down almost 25 per cent, with just 1319 vehicles sold to attract 12.9 per cent of the LSUV market segment. That’s well behind current market leader RX350 (1522 sales, 14.9%) and the ML (1506, 14.7%) and only marginally ahead of Land Rover’s Discovery (1138, 11.1%).

"The engineers and development specialists creating the new BMW X5 have succeeded once again in developing a truly unique vehicle for the market. In a segment now subject to fierce competition, the new BMW X5 sets the standard yet again in driving dynamics and agility," said BMW Australia managing director, Dr Franz Sauter.