X5 2002 Press release (very long) (archive)

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Press Kit MY 2002: X5
8. November 2001

X5 FOR 2002: NEW HIGH-PERFORMANCE 4.6is MODEL LEADS AN EVOLVED SERIES OF SPORTS ACTIVITY VEHICLES
Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, October 15, 2001... Right from its introduction in 1999, the BMW X5 was destined to transform expectations of what a sport-utility vehicle could be and do. Indeed, the concept was so new that BMW decided to call the X5 a Sports Activity Vehicle, not an SUV. As it had done in the 1960s with the sport sedan, BMW created a whole new category of vehicle.

Here, in an all-new vehicle, were the traits that people value in SUVs: the high, commanding driving position, the feeling of robust strength and safety, ease of loading cargo into the vehicle, and ample ground clearance. All of these are familiar SUV characteristics; what was so unfamiliar about the X5 was its embodiment of traditional BMW virtues: brilliant performance, precise handling, unparalleled quality, exciting yet tasteful design, and certainly "last but not least" the pure pleasure of driving. And BMW had made certain that that "feeling of strength" was more than just a feeling.

Critics and customers alike immediately recognized the validity of BMW's concept. Among critics, here's what Automobile Magazine, for example, wrote in conferring its All-Stars awards for 2001:

"Of all this year's All-Star nominees, the BMW X5 was one of only two vehicles that were evaluated on both the racetrack and our off-road course."

"On the track, the X5 possessed everything we have come to expect from a BMW: a perfectly balanced chassis, a flawless powertrain, quick reflexes, and tenacious grip. Even when pressed to the limit, the composure of the X5 never wavered. Not once did the BMW feel like a fish out of water, or a sport-ute on a racecourse."

"The BMW SAV displayed the same unflappable confidence on our off-road course. There, the X5 delivered what we expect from an exceptional sport-utility vehicle: excellent traction on even the slipperiest of slopes, good ground clearance, and ample wheel travel to tiptoe over moguls."

Road & Track, January 2000: "...the Munich-engineered, Spartanburg, South Carolina-built X5 is the most enthusiast-friendly sport ute, er, Sport Activity Vehicle yet."

AutoWeek, January 10, 2000: "Yes, we were... skeptical about a BMW-ute, but the X5 is incredibly good."

As for the customers, in just two model years the X5 became BMW's third best-selling Series. So far in 2001 - through September - the two-model Series surpassed all of 2000 with 28,550 units - an 83.8% increase, period-over-period, from the '00 pace. Addition of the 4.6is model for 2002 further increases X5 sales potential, though it must be noted that this is an exclusive, not volume, model.

What all this means, succinctly, is that BMW indeed achieved the goals it set for the X5. Now, as the X5's third model year begins, BMW has added a new high-performance model, the 4.6is, to the X5 Series and given the entire X5 line some appealing new features.

Actually, there is more to report than just what is happening for 2002, as some significant new developments occurred in the 2001 model year:

- Addition of the second model, the 6-cylinder X5 3.0i
- Addition of inflatable head protection to the optional rear-seat side-impact airbags
- Optional BMW Onboard Navigation System updated with -
- A larger, easier-to-read color monitor in 16:9 format (the ratio between width and height); rearranged
- Optimized controls, facilitated by a swing-out panel that reveals the cassette player. This arrangement leaves more space on the panel for the controls.

Now, the 2002 model year brings another round of evolution. The highlights include:
- The X5 4.6is, a new sport high-performance model, makes its debut. Its features include a larger-displacement, more powerful engine, a specially programmed automatic transmission, standard sport suspension, 20-inch wheels and tires, unique exterior styling elements, a specially upholstered and trimmed interior, and standard equipment so extensive that its option list is quite short.
- The 4.4i model's V-8 engine delivers more power than before.
- Adjustable ride height, achieved by air suspension all around, appears as a new option on the 3.0i and 4.4i models.
- New wheel-and-tire options are offered.
- Automatic headlight control, a new feature for all models, appears in the 3.0i and 4.4i Premium Packages and as standard on the 4.6is. The headlights and all related lighting are switched on automatically according to ambient light conditions.
- An in-dash single-disc CD player is newly standard in all models; it was formerly optional. The previously standard cassette player becomes a no-extra-cost option.
- Power lumbar support can now be combined with sport front seats
- Power-adjustable rear-seat backrests are a new feature, included in 3.0i and 4.4i Premium Packages and standard in the 4.6is.
- The 3.0i Premium Package has been expanded, and a Premium Package has been created for the 4.4i model.
- Other option Packages have been renamed and/or reconfigured. (See Options & Accessories, later in this text.)

X5 3.0i - 6-cylinder, 225-hp model, available with manual or automatic transmission, at $39,545 including destination charge.

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* Please download the attached file to find the full details on the "X5 Story" for 2002.

Other files available to download will provide information about:
- Highlights
- Standard and Optional Features
- Specifications
- Pricing.

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