Thursday May 31, 2007
BMW unveils new X5
KUALA LUMPUR: BMW Malaysia Sdn Bhd yesterday launched the second-generation BMW X5 sport activity vehicle (SAV), which it is confident will be more popular than its predecessor given the better driving dynamics, flexibility and exclusivity.
Managing director Wolfgang Schlimme said that in Malaysia, the new BMW X5 came in three new engine variants offering more power and enhanced efficiency that combined “the best in technology and luxury.''
“With all its offerings, I am very confident the new BMW X5 will be more popular than the previous model,” he said at the launch yesterday.
The BMW X5 was launched in 2001 as the marque's first offering in the SAV segment.
The second generation BMW X5.
“The X5 was so successful that it accounted for sales of more than 600,000 units worldwide,” Schlimme said.
He said while the segment had grown over the years with competitors coming up with similar concepts, the first-generation X5 continued to dominate the segment in Malaysia with a market share of 76%, or 532 vehicles, since 2002.
“This means that three out of every four vehicles sold in this segment over the last five years had been an X5,” he added.
The new BMW X5 is nearly 7.5 inches longer than its predecessor and comes with a third row of seats for two passengers.
The engine variants are two petrol and one diesel engine.
The top-end variant of the new X5 is a 4.8-litre V8 petrol engine, while the 3.0si features a six-cylinder petrol engine.
The diesel-powered 3.0d offers 160kW/218hp from a three-litre engine. The retail prices (on the road, without insurance) for the BMW X5 4.8i is RM888,000, BMW X5 3.0si RM548,000 and 3.0d, RM558,000.
