BMW ups new X5 prices
Third-generation BMW X5 confirmed for mid-November local release, priced from $99,900BMW Australia has released pricing – including a higher $99,900 starting price, plus on-road costs – for the third-generation X5 range due on sale here from mid-November.
The sole sub-$100,000 variant is the X5 xDrive 30d diesel, which costs $7655 more than the model it replaces ($92,245), but $1500 less than its most direct rival, the Mercedes-Benz ML 350 BlueTEC diesel ($101,400 plus ORCs).
However, Merc’s local M-Class range opens significantly lower, with the entry-level ML 250 BlueTEC four-cylinder diesel priced at $82,900 plus ORCs and the ML 350 BlueEFFICIENCY petrol V6 costing $99,400 plus ORCs.
There are no replacements yet for the outgoing X5 xDrive 35i or 40d Sport, while the plug-in hybrid Concept X5 eDrive, which combines a twin-turbo four-cylinder petrol engine with a 70kW electric motor to consume a Toyota Prius-beating 3.8L/100km, is yet to be confirmed for production.
For now, the new three-variant X5 range includes the mid-range petrol V8-powered X5 xDrive 50i priced at $133,900 plus ORCs – $245 less than its predecessor, the xDrive 50i Sport ($134,145) – and the tri-turbo diesel X5 M50d at $147,900 plus ORCs -- $755 more than before ($147,145).
BMW Australia says standard specification levels are significantly increased across the range, however, in addition to new ‘Design Pure Experience’ and ‘Design Pure Excellence’ exterior packages and an extended range of BMW ConnectedDrive infotainment features.
Equipment upgrades for the entry-level X5 30d include 19-inch alloy wheels (up from 18s), BMW Individual satinated aluminium exterior highlights, the new Design Pure Experience exterior package, bi-xenon headlights, LED front fog lights, high-beam assist and anti-dazzle interior and exterior mirrors.
The base 30d also scores a head-up display and Driving Assistant package including lane departure warning, forward collision warning and pedestrian warning with light city braking function, a reversing camera, 360-degree surround view monitor, electric front seat adjustment and automatic tailgate, navigation system professional with voice control, internet functionality and HiFi loud speaker system.
Apart from twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 petrol performance, the X5 50i adds new-design 20-inch alloys, the Design Pure Excellence exterior and standard metallic paint on the outside, and the Design Pure interior package comprising ceramic surrounds for the controls and BMW Individual leather instrument panel cladding.
The 50i also gains a ‘professional’ adaptive suspension package that adds dynamic performance control and dynamic drive to the dynamic damper control and rear air suspension, as well as adaptive LED headlights and LED front foglights.
Inside, there’s surround view, head-up display and Driving Assistant Plus including active cruise control with stop&go, the comfort access system, automatic tailgate operation and front seat heating, as well as a harman/kardon surround sound system with internet functionality and DAB+ digital radio.
On top of all that, the X5 M50d adds a new ‘dynamic’ adaptive suspension package including M adaptive suspension.
As we reported when we drove the new X5 30d at its global launch last week , the cheapest X5’s 3.0-litre straight-six turbo-diesel now develops maximum power of 190kW (up 10kW) and peak torque of 560Nm (up 20 Nm).
While that results in 0-100km/h acceleration in just 6.9 seconds (0.7 seconds less than before), the new X5 30d returns combined fuel consumption of just 6.2L/100km – 1.2L/100km less than its predecessor. CO2 emissions are also reduced, by 33g/km to 162g/km.
X5 xDrive50i power output is up 10 per cent or 30kW to 330kW, while torque is up 50Nm to 650Nm between 2000-4500rpm, lowering its 0-100km/h sprint time by half a second to five seconds. Yet thanks to the addition of VALVETRONIC variable valve timing on top of twin-turbo induction, fuel use drops a whole 2.0L/100km or 16 per cent to 10.5L/100km.
Fitted with three-stage turbocharging, the range-topping X5 M50d’s 3.0-litre diesel six slams out the same 280kW/740Nm but can hit 100km/h one-tenth sooner in 5.3 seconds. It uses 0.8L/100km less fuel at 6.7L/100km.
Once again, all X5s will come standard with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Although its platform remains fundamentally unchanged, the new X5 is wrapped in an all-new bodyshell bearing a broader kidney grille, new headlight and tail-light designs and new paint colours, plus new ‘air curtains’ at the outer edge of the front bumper to reduce drag.
X5 sales continue to boom in Australia, where BMW has sold 2062 examples to July this year – up 22 per cent on the same period last year and enough to account for almost 20 per cent of the large luxury SUV segment. So far this year its nearest rival, the M-Class, has attracted 1523 sales, ahead of the Land Rover Discovery (1422), Lexus RX (1297), Volkswagen Touareg (1024) and Audi Q7 (912).
“The BMW X5 set the benchmark when it was first launched and has led the segment, both locally and internationally ever since. Today, sales are stronger than ever and we continue to outsell all other competitors,” said BMW Australia Managing Director, Phil Horton.
“This lead will only increase when the new BMW X5 arrives in November. With new styling, future-forward technology and a host of new features, the new BMW X5 is a more refined and sophisticated experience.”
2014 BMW X5 pricing (plus ORCs):
BMW X5 xDrive 30d (a) -- $99,900
BMW X5 xDrive 50i (a) -- $133,900
BMW X5 M50d (a) -- $147,900
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