Successor in sight, but X5 is still king

BMW’s second-generation X5 may be just six months away from its global debut at the 2006 Paris motor show in September, but the six-year-old original remains king of the luxury SUV hill.

Last year X5 attracted 3225 buyers to claim 22.1 per cent of luxury SUV sales, easily out-selling the Lexus RX330 (2563 sales, 17.5%), Volvo’s XC90 (1365, 9.3%), Jeep’s Grand Cherokee (1346, 9.2%) and the Mercedes-Benz M-class, which found 1240 sales for an 8.5 per cent segment share.

The latter two models were renewed relatively late in the 2005 calendar year, but only the new ML has gone on to attract the popularity of its forebear by finding 375 homes so far in 2006 for a 13.9 per cent market share – bettered only by Land Rover’s Discovery, which swayed 467 customers (17.3%) to become this year’s top-selling luxury SUV following sizeable retail incentives.

The aged X5 is still selling strongly after the first two months of this year, however, with its 2006 tally of 345 sales (12.8%) just 30 vehicles behind the new M-class, and well ahead of the recently upgraded Lexus RX350, the newer XC90, the newer-still Grand Cherokee – despite limited-edition enticements for the latter – and a host of other would-be luxury SUV kings.

But it seems X5’s enduring popularity both here and in its key market, the US, won’t stop BMW attempting to improve on the successful 1999 formula, with the redesigned E70 X5 set to bring a host of new engines and bigger new body capable of accommodating up to seven seats.

Due on sale here in 2007 following its September reveal, the E70 will be based on the E60 5 Series, just as the original E53 X5 was based on the E39 5 Series.

The entry-level X5 3.0i version will adopt BMW’s new 190kW 3.0-litre six-cylinder that debuted in the E90 3 Series sedan.

Likely to expand the new X5 range to include two V8 options will be a new 225kW/390Nm 4.0-litre V8, first seen in the facelifted 740i last June and released in the upgraded 540i in January.

It will be dubbed X5 4.0i, while the 5/7 Series’ new 270kW/490Nm 4.8-litre V8 will replace the current X5 4.4i (the only remaining model to employ BMW’s 4.4-litre V8) to become the X5 5.0i.

BMW is also believed to be working on a 300kW-plus 5.4-litre V8, which would replace the current 4.8is flagship and could be called X5 5.4is.

Of course, the addition of a third row of seats within a larger new bodyshell will be the new X5’s most obvious departure from the original concept, and will also allow it to compete with this year’s new Audi Q7, Mercedes GL-class and Jeep Commander – all of which offer seating for seven.

But also expect a 7 Series-style steering column-mounted gearshift stalk, which has also been adopted by M-class and now S-class, plus an even more effective version of BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive system, which was first seen as part of X5’s midlife facelift in January 2004.

The current X5’s 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine and six-speed Steptronic auto are not expected to change significantly - and don’t expect revolutionary exterior design changes for the new X5, which will continue to be built at BMW’s Spartanburg plant in South Carolina alongside the Z4.

Meantime, BMW’s E93 3 Series coupe is also expected to surface at Paris in September, as a precursor to the next-generation, 4.0-litre V8-powered M3 due to appear in 2008, while a redesigned version of the E83 X3 is not expected until 2009.

Closer to home, a revised and more powerful Z4 range (including the born-again M Roadster) arrives in April and the final iteration of BMW’s 1 Series hatch, the 120d turbo-diesel, arrives in May – the same month BMW’s new E91 3 Series wagon appears here. An oil-burning 320d will complete the E90 3 Series sedan range in June.

What’s coming from BMW:

E85 Z4 2.5si/3.0si – April 2006
E85 Z4 M Roadster – April 2006
E87 120d hatch – May 2006
E87 1 Series M Sport pack – May 2006
E87 130i Sport auto – May 2006
E91 323i Touring – May 2006
E90 320d turbo-diesel – June 2006
E85 Z4 coupe – August 2006
E70 X5 – 2007
E92 3 Series coupe – 2007
E92 M3 coupe – 2008
New X3 – 2009E89 Z4 redesign - 2010