BMW X5 2013 News

Manufacturers including BMW, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), Peugeot and Citroen have issued recalls via the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has announced another round of safety recalls, with models from Mazda, Holden, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Jaguar affected.

The New York motor show in April will see the announcement of which vehicle has won the 2014 World COTY, and there looks to be a tough -- and very varied -- field of finalists.Last year's winner was the Volkswagen Golf, which also took awards in pretty well every country on the globe. But this year it could be anything from the little electric BMW i3 to the offroading Jeep Cherokee and even the Citroen C4 peoplemover, judging by the shortlist.A panel of 69 motoring experts from around the world -- including Carsguide's Paul Gover and National Motoring Editor Joshua Dowling -- will choose the winner from: Audi A3, BMW 4 Series, BMW i3, Cadillac CTS, Citroen C4 Picasso, Ford Fusion/Mondeo, Infiniti Q50, Jeep Cherokee, Lexus IS, Mazda3, Peugeot 308 and Skoda Octavia.The 10 finalists for the 2014 World Luxury Car are the Bentley Flying Spur, BMW X5, Cadillac ELR, Cadillac Escalade, Maserati Ghibli, Maserati Quattroporte, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Porsche Macan, Range Rover Sport and Rolls-Royce Wraith.Due to a tie, there are 11 finalists for the 2014 World Performance Car: Alfa Romeo 4C, Audi RS 6 Avant, BMW M6 Gran Coupe, Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, Ferrari 458 Speciale, Ford Fiesta ST, Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Roadster, Mercedes-Benz A/CLA45 AMG, Porsche 911 GT3, Porsche 911 Turbo and Volkswagen Golf GTI.A separate panel of five 'green' experts will choose the 2014 World Green Car from Audi A3 Sportback e-tron (+ Audi e-gas), BMW i3, Honda Accord Hybrid, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and Volkswagen XL1.Similarly, a panel of five design experts will decide on the 2014 World Car Design of the Year, from among: BMW i3, Cadillac CTS, Citroen C4 Picasso, Mazda3, Lexus IS, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Volkswagen XL1.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

Need to do the school run, but worried about having to dodge bullets -- and possibly machine-gun or mortar fire? It's a war zone out there, and you need a rolling fortress like BMW's armoured X5.Based on the third-generation X5 arriving here in November, the X5 Security Plus offers what BMW says is the world's first armoured 'Sports Activity Vehicle' to have a VR6 rating, meaning it's able to withstand attack from weapons like the AK-47 and simultaneous detonation of two DM51 hand grenades under the body.You'd never know, at a casual glance. The BMW X5 Security Plus  -- and its VR4-rated sibling, the X5 Security -- discreetly look like normal vehicles, and it would take a trained eye to spot the armoured enhancements.For the VR6 rating this means an armoured passenger cell built from high-performance steel, including sealed joints in critical areas to stop bullets or shrapnel. The glass is a security laminate about 3cm thick with an inner polycarbonate coating to prevent cracking, and the engine electronics are protected by ballistic-warding aramid mats.But there's no point in warding off an attack if you can't get away, so under the bonnet is a 330kW twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine with drive going to all four wheels. They're shod with run-flat tyres,  foiling any plans to puncture tem and stop your escape, and giving you a range of 150km -- easily enough to get well away from even the toughest supermarket carpark altercation.The extra wardrobe brings extra weight and a higher centre of gravity, but BMW has adapted the chassis, electronic management and brake systems to cope --  and claims the Security models perform and handle similarly to normal X5s.There are also optional LED flashing front lights and rear LED messaging board, and while we can all think of some uses for these, they're available only to official authorities.The armoured X5s are already being used here and overseas by government departments, but are also being bought by private owners, BMW Australia says -- although they stop short of revealing how many are sold."It's quite low numbers -- it's quite a specialised area," BMW spokesperson Lenore Fletcher says. "They are used by governmental organisations around the world, but some of them do go into the private sector."Obviously the majority of people who buy those cars don't necessarily want us to talk about it -- they have high-security, high-profile clients and they need their privacy to be respected," she says.Fletcher says that the handover process for the Security models goes well beyond the full-tank-and-carwash you'll get from a normal new car dealer."We have our own special vehicles division here in Australia who have the knowledge of the vehicles and are able to do a fairly comprehensive handover to the client," she says. "But on an international basis there are also specialised areas, like a  security driving school with different levels of expertise -- because if you are going to buy one of the cars, you'll need to know how to operate them correctly."Fletcher would not be drawn on the full specifics of the training, but said it covered a range of terrains and conditions -- including night-driving, rain, snow and ice  -- all with a focus on a safe exit."The training is specifically designed to ensure the ongoing security of your passengers if you are in a situation that may compromise their security," she says. "It focuses on avoidance of accidents and intervention by other vehicles."However she is unable to give an idea of what this level of vehicular confidence will cost you, saying that the price depends on individual specification. And while the adage is that if you have to ask, you can't afford it, we think that if you have good reason to be asking the price of an armoured BMW, you probably can afford it.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

Armoured vehicles are a necessary form of transportation in certain parts of the world. The occupants need to be protected, so they turn to vehicles that offer up a sense of comfort as well as a sense of security and safety.These vehicles don't have to be large, military-based monstrosities either. In fact, the modern armoured vehicle looks very normal from the outside. It's only when you start taking a closer look that you realise something different is going on under the skin.BMW has some customers in various regions of the world that need more protection than seat belts and airbags can provide. They now have a vehicle that's up to the task in the form of the X5 Security Plus concept.The BMW X5 Security Plus, based on the latest 2014 X5, features a body that's been built around an armoured passenger cell. It's constructed of high-strength steel and is capable of protecting four occupants from an assault by AK-47 machine guns.The panel gaps are backed by sealed joints which prevent bullet fragments from sneaking past, and the windows are made from a polycarbonate material which can also handle attacks from blunt weapons. The glass will not shatter into the cabin.Of course, it's still a BMW, which means it can also use its performance to get the driver and passengers out of harm's way. Under the hood is a turbocharged V8 engine that produces 335kW.BMW has worked to refine the chassis and engine management so that it handles the extra weight from the security features. The automaker has stated this allows the X5 Security Plus to handle just as a standard X5 would. That's important, because escaping the second round of attacks is just as important as surviving the first round.www.motorauthority.com

Some crossovers and SUVs have gone through seemingly radical transformations as of late, perhaps risking rugged reputations in favour of a little more on-road finesse and dynamic vigour. That's not so much the case with the all-new 2014 X5; BMW keeps the focus of the X5 remarkably close to that of its original 'Sports Activity Vehicle' mantra--except there's more technology and style, warmer cabin appointments, and a little more lean performance.While the second-generation model that was introduced for 2007, BMW introduced more power, better handling, and an array of in-cabin luxury and technology features that was more in sync with what you might find in the automaker's flagship sedan models. The all-new third-generation X5, which will reach US dealerships beginning in the fourth quarter of 2013, takes it a step further.Initially, there will be three models in the X5 lineup. The familiar 220 kW, 3.0-litre TwinPower Turbo in-line six-cylinder engine is the base engine, in the xDrive35i, while the X5 xDrive50i includes the 4.4-litre TwinPower Turbo V8, making 330 kW and 650 Nm of torque, as low as 2,000 rpm. Then a few months later, an xDrive35d model will join the lineup, powered by a 3.0-litre TwinPower Turbo in-line six-cylinder diesel engine, producing 190 kW and 560 Nm. Acceleration times are improved throughout, with V8 models capable of getting to 100 km/h in just 5 seconds and xDrive35i models making the dash in 6.2 seconds. And for the first time--perhaps eyeing the success that Infiniti has had with its FX--BMW is adding a rear-wheel-drive sDrive35i model.Curb weight is reduced by up to about 100 kg--enough of a difference that we expect to feel behind the wheel. There's also new electric power steering throughout the model line. All models include an eight-speed automatic transmission, and all but the base sDrive35i have xDrive all-wheel drive. Click into Eco Pro mode, and the X5 will recalibrate a host of systems for better fuel-efficiency, with Auto Start/Stop included.There's plenty of emphasis (and some important option boxes to check) on road performance. Go for the Dynamic Handling Package, and you'll get Active Roll Stabilization in addition to Dynamic Damper Control and a rear air suspension. Opt for the M Sport model and you can get an Adaptive M suspension that pairs Dynamic Damper Control and the air suspension with a stiffer, sport-tuned setup.One chassis advancement is Dynamic Performance Control (part of the Dynamic Handling Package), a system that manages xDrive and more finely controls the power split for the system, taking “handling dynamics and directional stability to new levels,” according to BMW.The new X5 has been nipped, tucked, and far more gracefully sculpted than the models before it—and you can see influences from the latest X3 along with BMW's latest sedans. The combination of tapered roofline and somewhat lowered beltline give the X5 a bit more of a sport-wagon look than before. Meanwhile, the front airdam design is complex, with several levels of detailing that come together in a way that's possibly overwrought (we'll wait 'til we see it in person).The front kidney grille is “thrust forward,” as BMW puts it, while it's supplemented with a smirk of a horizontal intake just below—and a larger intake down below. Headlights are set high up, and better-detailed than ever. Meanwhile, alongside BMW succumbs to the side-gill look, with a character line swooping upward to the LED taillights, which notch inward at a cleanly styled hatch.Those side gills, however, are functional—part of new drag-reducing Air Curtains that guide airflow around wheel arches. Meanwhile, the X5 is the first BMW to feature so-called Aero Blades—air-channeling elements that work together with the roof spoiler.Inside, the design will be instantly familiar to anyone who's been in other late-model BMWs. Only here the horizontal-shelf layout, with a cockpit-style instrument zone, is wrapped over (and just behind) by a separate layer that merges in with the rest of the dash at the door trim. Poplar wood trim is standard, and Dakota leather upholstery is standard on the xDrive50i and available on the other models. For the first time, two interior design packages (Ivory White and Mocha) bring lighter or warmer interior combinations than what's been previously offered by BMW.Luxury Line and xLine packages bring more personalization, with coordinated interior trims that are a step more attention-getting—with Satin Aluminum and high-gloss finishes in the xLine and a blacked-out grille chrome strips, and some sporty cues for the Luxury Line. The M Sport adds a body kit, Shadowline trim, high-gloss roof rails, sport seats, an anthracite headliner, and various other high-performance cues.The second-row seat in the X5 can now be split 40/20/40, for more flexibility, and they're adjustable for rake. If you get the optional third-row seats, there's separately a new Easy Entry function. Overall cargo capacity is up seven percent versus the previous model, BMW says, and there are new storage and door pockets that can hold larger bottles. The tailgate is still split in two sections, with the upper section including power operation. Get the power tailgate system, and it can be opened from the keyfob or the driver's seat.Active-safety features are heavily represented in the X5's hefty list of options. LED front foglamps are included across the model line; all X5 models now include Adaptive Xenon headlamps, while Adaptive LED headlamps are optional. New features include the Active Driving Assistant (Lane Departure Warning, and a pedestrian collision system with braking), plus ACC Stop & Go (full-range camera-radar cruise control), and a new Traffic Jam Assistant that maintains following distance and keeps the vehicle at the center of its lane by providing steering input. BMW Night Vision and a head-up display remain on offer, as well as a Parking Assistant, Surround View system, and Active Blind Spot Detection.Advanced Real Time Traffic Information is also available as part of a BMW Assist Convenience Plan, and BMW Apps (now with various audio-app options) are now standard. And buyers have a choice of two premium-audio systems—Harman Kardon or Bang & Olufsen. A BMW Navigation system is standard in all U.S. X5 models, and it has a new freestanding 10.2-inch screen and touch pad.http://www.thecarconnection.com 

Free M suspension and dress-up bits will help maintain BMW’s average of one in every two cars being sold with an M Sport pack.Anyone who picks up a 5 Series or Z4 between now and March 31 will get a free M Sport deal, which runs from stiffer suspension, lightweight wheels and an aero package to sports seats, alloy interior highlights and a leather-wrapped sports steering wheel. That’s a saving of up to $7900 on the entry level BMW 520i.Buyers of a 1 or 3 Series coupe and convertible will gain the same tweaks, along with differing alloys and gloss-black kidney-bar grilles rear light surrounds and for 1 Series buyers. Step up to a 3 Series and the deal includes chrome kidney-bar grilles, metallic paint as a no-cost option, sports seats, alloy pedals and black-backed exterior mirrors.BMW has dubbed the promotion the “Festival of M” and says the savings range from $2500 to $7900. BMW spokesman Scott Croaker says it isn’t so much of a run-out as it is a value adjustment as the model dates.“The 1 and 3 Series coupe and convertible won’t be run out until the end of the year and the upgrades reflect the corporate policy of adding value as the vehicles near the end of their production run, Croaker notes. “The specific M Sport offer recognises that 50 per cent of our customers already take the option and reacting to that.”BMW is also selling a new X5 M Sport Limited Edition based on the three-litre turbodiesel. The pack costs $99,000 driveaway against a regular $72,600 price for the 30d and adds a body kit, 20-inch alloys, chrome tailpipe, auto tailgate and bi-xenon headlamps with high-beam assist. BMW says it adds more than $15,000 to the donor car.

The German SUV hero is also being forced upmarket by the latest X3, which is the same size as the original X5, and there a strong rumours it will be available for the first time as a seven-seater. 

The twin-turbo V8 in the muscular new mid-sizer is stretching the friendship with the back tyres in the fifth-generation M5 and there are concerns about customer reaction in snow-belt countries around the world. An all-wheel drive upgrade is the logical solution and BMW M chiefs from Munich admit they are considering the move. "We are thinking about it," says Max Ahme, M5 project leader. "If you are increasing the power more and more, maybe you need it." The basic powerplant in the M5 is the same 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 already used in the M versions of BMW's full-sized SUVs, the X5 and X6, but is tweaked to unleash 412 kiloWatts of power and 680 Newton-metres of torque. "The block is the same, but the cylinder heads are new. The inlet track is new, it has double Vanos (variable valve timing) and more revs. So, more power," says Ahme. He refuses to go into much detail but it's clear that BMW M is making a serious assessment of its first all-wheel drive passenger car. "It's a good idea, but it would add 120 kilograms to the car and it's all over the front axle," says Ahme. Other companies have made all-wheel drive conversions successful, including Ferrari with the lightweight system fitted to its new FF supercar. Ahme admits BMW has had an FF in its workshop, although he believes the system would not be suitable for an M5. "We have looked at this car. We do some swaps with Ferrari." But Ahme is totally black-on-white on one potential stretch of the M5, into a new Touring wagon. "This will not happen," he says. There have been three M5 Touring models in the past but the sales record of the car is not good, and numbers dropped dramatically in the previous-generation car. "It does not make any sense. Just look at the numbers," says Ahme.

The upcoming 520i, priced from $77,900 instead of the previous $82,000 for a 520d, comes after an earlier move on the 3 Series down under. BMW Australia says its objective is to provide better value, as well as a 'stepped' approach to equipment levels that mirrors bottom-end brands from Hyundai and Kia to Holden and Ford. It began the change with the 3 Series and is now moving on the Five with a claim of up to $7000 worth of extra value - most of it in standard equipment - on the 520i. There is also said to be more punch from the engine, which is a new 2.0-litre four with TwinPower turbo good for 135 kiloWatts and 270 Newton-metres of torque. "We've got power up, value up and fuel consumption down. Everyone is happy," says BMW spokesman, Piers Scott. A new four-cylinder 528i - replacing the previous six-pack - is also part of the 5 Series change, with more equipment in the 535i and 535d that means up to $7000 of extra value. Scott says the value boost comes thanks to the engine change but does not deny BMW's stronger emphasis on value at a time when it is taking a battering from Mercedes-Benz and Audi on both sides. "It's really just the fact that this is a brand-new engine that's available to us. That accounts for the 520 and the 528i," he says. "The other changes are to get a logical ladder into the price structure. "The jump from the 520i - which snuggles under the Luxury Car Tax threshold thanks to economy of 6.4 litres/100km and CO2 emissions of  149 grams/kilometre - to the 528i manes 180 kiloWatts and 350 Newton- metres, even though the four-cylinder basics are the same. The 528i is priced from $98,200, helped by also qualifying as a low-emission model under the LCT rules. Prices of the 535i and 535d now start at $115,600 and $120,900 respectively, with the diesel engine now boasting 230 kiloWatts and an eight per cent economy boost, with the 535i also getting a 0.7 litres/100km economy improvement. BMW Australia now also includes stop-start technology on all Fives except the 550i, with its new Active Safety package - closing the windows and sunroof, electro-mechanical belt tensioning and a crash- optimised position for the passenger-seat backrest - also part of the deal.