BMW X5

BMW X5 second generation

BMW introduced the new SUV X5. It is the largest 4x4 in the German house, incorporating the possibility of carrying three rows of seats worth a total of seven seats. The exterior received a soft restyling (similar to the X3) although it maintains certain characteristic design elements. It will be marketed in Europe since the end of 2006.

With larger dimensions and new engines, it presents as a novelty a third row of seats. This responds to the competitive needs of the market, as the huge Audi Q7 caught the spotlight of the European market since its launch.

The interior space is reconfigured to be more used. It also incorporates the iDrive system, which commands a variety of functions. The interior features a DVD player with a screen to see the rear sector of the vehicle during parking manoeuvres.

BMW is always trying to improve not only its products, but the quality of its services. This is why the new X5 has automatic connection with the dealer to diagnose technical faults.

Other safety systems are the speed programmer (controls the brakes and throttle), automatic operation of long or short lights depending on conditions (or when there are front lights or the distance from the previous car falls by a certain parameter), adaptive lighting and information projected on the windshield for easy user reading.

The standard headlights are halogen type. They have a daytime running light function located in rings that are brighter and consume less than the usual position lights.

Standard safety equipment has 6 airbags. The first 2 rows of seats have head airbags, commonly called “curtain”. The X5 also features emergency belt tensioners, tension limiters (in the front seats) and Isofix rings on the seats located in the second row of passengers.

Engines that equip the BMW X5 second generation

Initially, the BMW X5 will offer three engines, two nafteros and one diesel. In all cases the transmission shall be carried out via a six-speed automatic ZF box. The difference from the case that was equipped with the previous model lies in the new hydraulic torque converter, which allows the time between coupling from one shift to another to less, that is, the shifts now pass fifty percent faster.

The six-cylinder diesel engine is aluminum. This 6 cylinders of 3.000 cm3 of cylinder capacity develops a power of 231 hp. The BMW X5 that uses this impeller has an average consumption of 8.5 litres per 100 km. The performance is very good, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.3 seconds and reaching a top speed of 216 km/h.

The 3,000 cm3 engine engine offers a power of 272 hp and a maximum torque of 100 Nm. The torque data speaks especially well of this development. This engine allows the X5 to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.1 s and reach a top speed of 225 km/h. For a reference, the Porsche Cayenne off-road with similar characteristics has lower performance and consumes more fuel, as the 3,000 cm3 BMW has an average consumption of 10.7 litres per 100 km. consequence of the distribution of the Valvetronic type.

The most powerful engine that equips the revamped X5 is a 4.800 cm3 diesel engine that develops 355 hp of maximum power. With a maximum torque of 475 Nm, this engine takes the X5 up to a top speed of 240 km/h, while accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds. Fuel consumption is optimal, as the average consumption is 12.3 litres per 100 km travelled.

It should be noted that such high performance is not just the result of engines. Very few off-road vehicles have an aerodynamic coefficient as low as that of the BMW X5, which is close to 0.33. Most vehicles of this type are closer to coefficients in the order of 0.4.