Free from its former Land Rover constraints, BMW is preparing a massive assault on the 4x4 market with a full portfolio of ultimate off-roading machines.
A new performance edition 2002 X5 HP, an X5 that pushes power up from 282 horsepower to an M-worthy 347 horses is close to market. To achieve these impressive gains, an exclusive 4.6-liter version of the V-8 engine has been prepared. With a five-speed Steptronic transmission, the 354 lb-ft of torque can be harnessed in automatic mode or shifted manually. The exterior will sport distinct, body-color trim and the barrel-sized wheels will wear 20-inch tires when the X5 HP goes on sale in fall 2001.
Looking further down the Bavarian pipeline, two all-new models will flank the successful X5 Series at opposite ends of the BMW spectrum. First off the drawing board will be an X3 sport/utility vehicle in 2004, followed a year later by a luxurious X7. Product planners reportedly submitted two different design proposals for the small 'ute, including a "softroader" based on a modified 330xi wagon, similar in concept to a Subaru Legacy Outback and Volvo V70 Cross Country. BMW is also considering a vehicle more in the Land Rover Freelander vein. This concept utilizes fewer 3 Series components, as it emphasizes adventure with a dramatic exterior and off-road components, such as heavy-duty suspension and a low-range transfer case.
In either guise, the X3 will likely be offered with a choice of four- and six-cylinder engines, just as with the sedan, according to BMW insiders. Full-time four-wheel drive, featuring the sophisticated electronic systems ASC+T and DSC 3 to optimize its off-road ability, will be standard, together with independent suspension for accomplished on-road dynamics.
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