Showcased at the 2014 Auto Expo earlier this year, BMW has finally launched the X5 in India with fresh styling and noteworthy changes that exude a completely new look and appeal to the SUV. Competing against the Mercedes GL-Class and the Audi Q7, the X5 SUV is certainly fresher and far more vibrant than competition and will appeal to the rear seater and the enthusiast alike. Changes on the 2014 BMW X5 include a revised design and styling that gets updated with a wider kidney grille in the front along with a revised headlamp design. BMW has priced the third generation X5 at Rs. 70.9 lakhs (ex-showroom).
The new cluster now sports adaptive LED lights, while the front bumper features wider ducts for improved air intake. The side profile of the BMW X5 is strong as ever. The upright stance blends well with the dynamic road presence of the SUV, while the pronounced wheel arches and uplifting shoulder line offer a very bold statement to the vehicle. The rear retains the signature X5 look with quad exhausts and revised tail light design for a fresher appearance.
On the inside too, the cabin now features a familiar dashboard similar to the ones seen on other models, while the upholstery gets new leather options, wood inserts and an updated iDrive system. The 2014 BMW X5 is also 32 mm longer, 5 mm wider and 14 mm taller than its predecessor which does translate into improved space inside the cabin. Apart from being comprehensively reworked, BMW also managed to make the X5 80 kgs lighter than the older model, the new one now weighs in at 2070 kgs.
BMW has introduced the new X5 with a 3.0-litre in-line 6-cylinder diesel engine producing 258 BHP of power and 560 Nm of torque, mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. It does the 0-100 km/hr sprint in just 6.9 seconds with a top speed of 230 km/hr. BMW claims 16.12 km/l of fuel efficiency from their flagship SUV. The BMW X5 xDrive30d is locally assembled at BMW’s Chennai plant via CKD kits unlike the previous generation X5, which was imported directly via the CBU route.
