Mike in Chi

Just received the BMW house magazine. Their cover article is on a new model in the X-5 range.

They basically are taking the V-8 out of the M-5 (!) and putting it in the X-5. It's called the "X-5 4.6is".

340 hp
350 lb-ft
20" wheels (they're gorgeous)
275/40 front, 315/35 rear
14" front, 12.8" ventilated brakes
All Wheel Drive, Dynamic Stabilty Control

0-60 in 6.2 seconds, top speed of 149mph (no limiter)

That's nothing to sneeze at.

M in C

Adrian

Dear Mike,
There is a whole swag of remodelled or new SUVs hitting the roads next year to do battle with the Cayenne. No forgetting the VW version of the same SUV, with its high tech interior and gadgets. They have one version which is a mobile office.
Should be an interesting challenge for Porsche,
Ciao,
Adrian
911C4

Mike in Chi

Hi Adrian

this new Bimmer is on the US website, but it hasn't been promoted much here. They are asking $66,000 (US) for it. It will be interesting to see what price points PCNA is at. Last report I saw was the V-8 launched first, then the Turbo V-8, then the entry level six.

M in C

Adrian

Dear Mike,
Nobody knows the prices really. We know a US citizen living in Europe can purchase or order a base model Porsche SUV, right now for $US41,000. This is without taxes and charges.
We are led to believe that the on road cost of the VW version in base form will be around 80,000DEM and the Porsche version 100,000DEM maybe a little more. However options are going to drive the price even higher. Rumour has it that the V8 TT will reach around 200,000DEM. However we really have to wait and see,
Ciao,
Adrian
911C4

Mike in Chi

Thanks, Adrian, for the further info.

I guess anything Porsche turbocharges will be at least $100,000/200,000DM. So it will be a twinturbo, huh? I've seen references to both "turbo" and "twin turbo".

Cadillac has been running a lot of advertising overhere saying their 345 horse SUV is the most powerful on the planet. (Bimmer is 340).
I guess that will change soon.

Mike

Adrian

Dear Mike,
Maybe even a Diesel. If they want to sell them here in Europe (except Switzerland) they have to go diesel. The new generation of turbocharged diesels are getting up to the same power output as petrol engines. Switzerland is in brackets because strangely enough, diesel is more expensive here than petrol,
Ciao,
Adrian
911C4

SGOGT4

The truely scary thing about it is that the 4.6is is not the end all be all Bimmer SUV... there is going to be an actualy M-X5. God help us all. The article I read estimates it to be the fastest SUV on the planet, even after the big boy porsche is unveiled.

ked

what is there to be afraid about? it is no secret that BMW can drop large displacement, high performance engines into ANY chassis they build. how 'bout a "M-spec" V12 in the X5?

the die is cast, Porsche must introduce the Cayenne, suceed, & evolve the product. Porsche must infuse all of its products w/ the essence of its distinct engineering & user experience. BMW does the same. If they do their jobs really well, we win.

Turbo-Look

The 4.6Is is great. It's gorgeous, it's fast, and it handles exquisitely for an SUV.

However, more and more I feel the need to question the motives for such a machine. With 20-inch rims, 275/40 front and 315/35 rears, its off-road capability is reduce to almost nil. This being the case, why not just buy the M5?

deni durrell

kevin:
v12? been done! (experimentally anyway).. schumacher (hans?) drove one at nurburgring and finished under 8 min.

also: I don't believe that the x5 was ever intended to go off road from the get-go.

could a cadillac achieve "performace" numbers with the weight that it carries, plus (lack of) suspension?.. probably not. raw horsepower means little without handling + weight.

here's a link.

sample text (translated, of course):

Geneva, 13 March 2000. How far the technical potential of the X5 actually extends in extreme cases, a quite impressing study is to show: The X5 Le Mans experimental vehicle is propelled by the V12-Motor of the Le Mans Siegerautos and offers accordingly competitionless road performances, thus BMW. In numbers expressed: The engine of the X5 Le Mans of experimental vehicle carries out over 700 HP and has a torque of 720 Nm with 5.000 rpm. Thus this vehicle accelerates 100 in 4.7 seconds on speed and achieves a top speed of 278 km/h (172 mph)

(i used thissite...)

Gonzo

OMFG!
this is outa control!!!

Anir

I couldn't agree more. Most of these SUV's only seat five, so what's the real advantage? It must be purely emotional - in that people like the looks of SUV's and the higher seating position.

The only reason I'd ever buy a truck/SUV would be to haul the future dedicated track car/trailer, or all the relatives when they come to town.

Turbo-Look

However Anir, as a counter-point, the original X5 4.4 or even the 3.0 isn't much of an off-roader, and it still sells like hotcakes. You're right - it's not about the towing capacity or the Off-Road capability that makes an SUV an SUV anymore. It's about image more than anything else. That's why BMW loves to call it the "Sports Activity Vehicle".