When it hit the market 20 years ago, the BMW X5 helped pioneer the luxury utility segment, which remains one of the market’s hottest to this day. Now, this highly-competitive segment counts products from virtually all of the world’s luxury automakers among its offerings.
Today, the X5 is fresh into its fourth generation on sale and, for the first time in its lengthy history, there’s an off-road package on the options list.
Most drivers of luxury utility vehicles don’t use them in an off-road setting, much less an off-road setting that might require a special package of hardware and software enhancements designed for added capability when travelling over severe terrain.
In fact, some data indicates that vehicles like this are unlikely to see much off-road action at all, until they’re many years old, and possibly being used as the customer’s second or third vehicle. In other (rarer) cases, some shopper lifestyles make challenging off-road use a regular occurrence.
In any case, BMW’s choice to offer X5 shoppers an Off-Road package now, after 3 previous generations and 20 years on sale, seems an interesting one.
Why now?
I asked Marco Moeller, X5 Product Manager at BMW AG, for some insight.
“Customers, and some markets, were asking for this new feature for a few years now,” he comments.
As the popularity of luxury utility vehicles continues to grow globally, more types of shoppers are buying vehicles like this one. This means an increased likelihood of use in an off-road setting, by some shoppers.
But aside from customer demand, Moeller also notes that the X5’s Off-Road package may have been partly prompted into existence by the introduction of a new-this-year technology that debuted with the latest X5.
“As we introduced the two-axle air suspension with this new X5 generation for the first time, we seized the opportunity to introduce the xOffroad package. So far, we had very good feedback from countries like South Africa, Australia, and Russia, for example,”
The two-axle air suspension allows the X5’s driver to change vehicle ride height with the click of a button. Driven by a built-in air compressor, the shock absorbers can be set to various height positions: from hunkered down low for easy access, to lifted up high, for additional ground clearance.
The system is fully computer controlled: just tap the button to toggle between the various height settings.
The lowest of these is not intended for use while driving, but rather, to make it easier to load people and gear in and out. The highest height setting adds plenty of ground clearance, but can only be used at low speeds.
Switching between the lowest and highest suspension height settings takes just a few seconds, with an on-screen message confirming the requested height has been achieved.
Other height settings are available too, and the vehicle can automatically tweak ride height without driver input in some situations-- for instance, lowering the X5 for improved aerodynamics at highway speeds.
Further, if the driver forgets to reset the ride height after a change to their driving situation, the system makes the change automatically.
All said, this new two-axle air suspension laid the foundation for improved off-road capability, and additional hardware and enhancements built on this, in creation of the new off-road package.
Those additional enhancements include frontal underbody protection, by way of special ‘skid plates’ that protect the X5’s undercarriage and driveline from damage in an off-road setting.
Regarding the skid-plates, Moeller comments “these are made of steel and located in the front end of the car. They are meant to protect the lower part of the engine compartment, especially the cooling system”.
Also included is an electronically-controlled locking rear differential.
Using technology and hardware from BMW’s high-performing M cars, this differential offers extended traction when needed, by mechanically ‘binding’ the rear wheels together when excessive slippage is detected.
This prevents wasteful wheel spin, and helps mitigate the tendency of a vehicle to ‘dig’ itself into trouble, on loose or greasy surfaces.
It’s one of several tools in the X5’s off-road toolkit that intends to help drivers handle even challenging terrain with confidence. Electronic control over rear-axle power distribution is also used to enhance the X5’s handling response on paved surfaces, too.
Drivers also benefit from a unique on-screen display with special off-road displays, and new drive modes, which include an Off-Road setting. When engaged, this triggers various changes within multiple vehicle systems that optimize traction and progress over mud, ruts, sand, deep snow, and the like. At the press of a button, Off-Road mode signals the X5 to provide as much traction as possible ahead of challenging terrain.
Moeller also mentions two other systems likely to find favour with the off-road driver — starting with the xView Camera.
“It helps to navigate in rough terrain,” Moeller comments.
Using the X5’s four body-mounted cameras and image processing software, drivers can call up a custom, high-resolution view of their surroundings, for more confident navigation.
“Your co-pilot can stay inside the car too, and doesn’t have to step out-- which avoids dangerous situations” Moeller adds.
With a few taps on the central screen, drivers can call up live images that display their current tire position against nearby obstacles, or, to check their selected line as they travel across mud ruts, all without having to exit the vehicle.
It’s like a parking camera, but for off-roading.
“Another feature called xDrive View shows you all various angles the car is actually experiencing while driving offroad,” Moeller says.
At a glance, this gives drivers a visual representation of the current attitude, inclination, and position of the X5 atop its wheels, which can help eliminate second guessing while climbing an obstacle, or mounting a hill for a steep climb.
Notably, both the xView camera and xDrive View systems re-interpret vehicle and image data already available from existing sensors and cameras. Put another way, these two functions give drivers new features, but without adding any physical hardware to the vehicle.
“With both features, you can better assess the driving situation and conditions in off-road situations,” Moeller says.
There’s one seemingly-logical thing missing from the off-road package, however: off-road tires.
Modern advancements in electronics and chassis control technology (including the locking rear differential) make off-road tires more optional than ever in applications like this. Today, vehicles like this are able to make better-than-ever use of available traction, mitigating the need for most drivers to run a typically noisier off-road tire, which may negatively affect ride comfort and fuel efficiency.
Simply, standard tires and the numerous off-road package enhancements should prove sufficient for most off-road situations, though Moeller notes that shoppers can order an off-road wheel and tire package separately, if they wish.
He provided one example, with General Grabber AT3 mud and snow-rated tires on BMW M-Sport rims, available for about $4,800 at the time of writing.
Ultimately, the X5’s new off-road package seeks to give shoppers around the world an additional option in tailoring the vehicle to their specific needs, while also making the X5 compete more readily with other off-road capable luxury utility models from competitors like Land Rover.
“Prototype testing was undertaken in various extreme locations for research and development — from South Africa to Death Valley, and from southern Europe to northern Europe”.
At writing, the off-road package is available on select X5 models for $2,950.
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