BMW showcased the all new 2014 X5 at the 2014 Auto Expo today. The SUV now in its third generation receives upgrades on the interiors as well as the exteriors. The new X5 retains the same silhouette, with every part redesigned giving this luxury SUV a new look. Sharing space at the stall with the X5 is the new 3-Series GT, the M6 Gran Coupe and the hybrid sports car the BMW i8.
The exteriors feature significant changes and additions to make the luxury SUV look up-to-date. The front facia gets bolder with a wider and sharper kidney grille with chrome inserts. The head lamp cluster has also been redesigned and integrates with the grille. It also houses adaptive LED lights and the signature corona rings. The bumper has been revamped for better air flow with wider duct, while the fog lamps have been moved higher up in the bumper. Moving to side profile, the X5 retains the upright stance and strong road presence. The pronounced shoulder line and sharp creases on the lower part of the doors help in reducing the visual bulk of the vehicle. The rear retains the distinctive X5 looks; however the new tail lamps stand out, while the twin exhausts lend a sporty character to this muscular SUV.
The 2014 X5 measures at 4886 mm in length, 1938 mm in width and 1762 mm in height and is 32 mm longer, 5 mm wider and 14 mm taller than its predecessor. The luxury SUV in spite of its size is now lighter compared to the older version thanks to the use of high tensile steel. The SUV tips the scale at 2070 kgs, 80 kgs less than the older X5. You also get adaptive damping and BMW’s Dynamic Performance Control system with a mechanically operated torque vectoring system on the rear axle for added agility.
The interior receives a major upgrade and feels more premium than the older versions. The dashboard remains simplistic but is now more induced in leather. The iDrive has also been updated to a cleaner and better looking interface. The increase in length also shows on the rear seats as well and the rear passengers are sure to receive more legroom this time round. The rear passengers also get individual climate control. The overall cabin provides ample of headroom as well and gives roomier feel to the cabin. You can now also split the rear seats in a 40/20/40 setup and increase the boot capacity from 650 litres to a whopping 1870 litres.
The X5 will be available with a turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 petrol engine capable of churning out 444 BHP of power that will be seen on the xDrive50i and a turbocharged 3.0-litre, in-line 6-cylinder common rail diesel engine with 254 BHP of power will be seen on the xDrive30d. Both the engines are mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission to offer better power and fuel economy. 0 – 100 comes up in 6.9 seconds on the X5, nothing short of sports car.
The new model gets a significant change under the hood with the introduction of the turbocharged 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder diesel engine capable of 215 BHP of power and is offered with rear-wheel drive only. The model is called the sDrive25d making it the base model in the line-up. BMW hasn’t revealed anything about the successor to the X5 M, but will launch the updated version later in the year. The 2014 X5 will be brought in via the CKD route with prices for the base xDrive30d starting at Rs. 70 lakhs (ex-showroom). The car is expected to be launched in the second half of the year in the country and will be targeted towards the affluent who do not want to comprise on the pleasure of driving.
