2011 BMW X5 Begins Production, Features Extensive Efficiency Upgrades
The 2011 BMW X5 has begun production and will be hitting dealerships in the very near future. This latest generation of the brand's flagship sport-utility vehicle makes a number of substantial improvements over the departing 2010 BMW X5. Immediately obvious are the changes that have been made to the SUV's appearance. The 2011 BMW X5 sports far more graceful sheet metal than any edition of the vehicle to come before it, with much of the 2010 BMW X5's anonymity having been purged from the design. The front aero package is both purposeful and sleek, and the truck's entire look has been cleaned up dramatically to present a much simpler and more engaging face to the world.
Of course, there are plenty of other reasons to like the new BMW X5. In addition to its fresh looks, the crossover SUV has been gifted with two new drivetrain options for the 2011 model year. The entry-level xDrive35i features a 300 horsepower 3.0-liter, turbocharged inline-six that has been redesigned to offer better response and reduced fuel consumption when compared to the unit found in the 2010 edition. The xDrive50i trim replaces the six-cylinder with a V-8 engine that features twin-turbochargers that together help to produce 400 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque. The final rung in the 2011 BMW X5 engine ladder, the xDrive35d, is unchanged with 265 horsepower and 425 lb-ft of torque on tap from its 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel.
Further improvements to the BMW X5 can be found when examining its overall efficiency. An all-new eight-speed automatic transmission provides far better management of driving situations, which in turn leads to reduced fuel use in each model. Boasting the same weight as the six-speed gearbox it replaces, the eight-speed transmission offers extremely tall cruising gears in order to maximize efficiency while cruising at highway speeds.
A unique brake energy regeneration system is also included along with each gasoline-powered version of the SUV, and its ability to displace the alternator as the vehicle's primary charging system allows for a fuel savings of between one and two percent. When combined with new front and rear differentials, as well as a revamped transfer case for the vehicle's all-wheel drive system, the result is an up to 10 percent reduction in fuel consumption and vehicle emissions across the board. Leading the way is the xDrive35d's diesel, which turns in numbers of 19 miles per gallon in city driving and 26 miles per gallon during highway cruising. This rating eclipses most other full-size luxury sport-utility vehicles.
Despite the amount of attention paid to reducing the carbon footprint and fuel thirstiness of the 2011 BMW X5, the vehicle still packs a serious punch when it comes time to put the pedal to the floor. The twin-turbo V-8 allows the heft SUV to launch itself to 60 miles per hour in just 5.3 seconds, which is competitive with many sport sedans and even several performance coupes. The diesel version of the X5 adds just over a second and a half to that performance number, which together with its frugal fuel consumption makes it a very appealing option to eco-conscious drivers.
The 2011 BMW X5 has managed to make use of the brand's high tech know-how and present a package that improves on the previous generation's capabilities while simultaneously making an appreciable leap forward in terms of overall efficiency.