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WEEKEND ROADTEST: Dynamic duo from BMW
publication date: Oct 24, 2009
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author/source: David Miles
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With the new-car industry apparently showing
green shoots of recovery, plus the fact that VAT will rise again to
17.5pc from 1 January 2010, all manufacturers are keen to exploit the
situation with new and revised models.
BMW in the UK,
after a strong September sales performance with an increase of 9.3pc,
has recovered the number one German premium brand sales position
temporarily held by Audi with Mercedes-Benz still a distant third
position. However BMW’s share of the UK’s new car market, 4.89pc, is
still down on this time last year while Audi have increased theirs to
4.7pc.
Audi’s growth has come about by introducing new models in
new-to-them sectors, more choice equals more sales. BMW is also
adopting that policy with the arrival in showrooms this weekend 24
October of the 5-Series Gran Turismo and X1 ranges.
The 5 Series
Gran Turismo say BMW is the result of years of customer research. It is
aimed at owners who want something different, more versatile than an
executive saloon, better looking than an estate and not as bulky as an
SUV. The Gran Turismo takes all the best elements of these conventional
types of cars and combines them in one executive package. Styling
highlights range from a long wheelbase 7 Series platform with limousine
levels of legroom, sleek coupe-like silhouette, luxurious interior,
folding and reclining rear seats and a twin tailgate leading to a boot
space which starts at 400-litres and can be enhanced to 1,700-litres.
Prices start at £40,810 and rise to £53,490.
There is the choice of
three engines, 530d, 535i and 550i, all are linked to a new eight-speed
automatic transmission and each available with SE and Executive trim
and equipment levels. BMW say the 245hp 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel
will take 85pc of UK sales with the two petrol units, 306hp and 407hp,
taking an equal share of the remaining 15pc. The five seat SE versions
should account for around 90pc of sales but initially 20pc of ‘early
adopters’ have ordered the four seat Executive specification.
Michelle
Roberts, BMW’s UK 5 Series Product Manager said at the first UK media
test drive this week, that in a full year, once production was up to
speed, they expect to sell around 2,500 Gran Turismos in the UK in a
full year and ahead of showroom sales, starting this weekend, the new
car had already been shown to 25,000 potential customers. She added
that like the latest generation 7 Series BMW UK retain ownership of
dealer demonstration vehicles to ensure they are available for test
drives and also to remove the cost burden of dealers having to fund
their demonstrators.
The BMW X1 is the final piece of the BMW X
family of Sports Activity Vehicles jigsaw to slot into place. Based on
the compact 1 Series platform the X1 joins the larger X3, X5 and X6
models. Unlike its 4x4 xDrive stablemates, the X1 offers models with
two or four wheel drive.
Martin Sloan, BMW’s X Series Product
Manager said at the media launch, "The X1 is a logical extension to our
model portfolio and enters the market as the only ‘premium’compact
Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) currently on sale in the UK”.
Competitors
are currently seen as Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) such as the, Ford
Kuga, Nissan Qashqai, Toyota RAV4, and Volkswagen Tiguan and in future
the proposed Audi Q3 and ‘baby’ Land/Range Rover. The Land Rover
Freelander, being a larger 4x4, is not seen as a sales contender but
Martin Sloan admits that some current owners of their X3 SAV, as it
nears the end of its current life, will inevitably down-size to the X1
but overall he feels 65pc of X1 sales will go to conquest customers.
The
five door, five seater X1 takes its styling cues from the X3 and X5 but
shrinks it into a more compact and affordable package. It has a
‘softer’ less aggressive visual appearance more all wheel drive estate
to move it away from the less acceptable, for some, current SAV/SUV
image.
Sloan added that once supplies of the new vehicle were fully
available and more engine and transmission options were added to the
range, in 2011 he thought annual UK sales would be in the region of
6,500 units with the rear wheel drive sDrive versions taking 54pc of
sales.
The line-up is only offered with the choice of 2.0-litre,
four cylinder diesel engines, because that is choice of the vast
majority of UK buyers who buy this type of vehicle. The 143 and 177hp
power output versions are available with two wheel sDrive and four
wheel drive xDrive option with a six speed manual transmission. The
204hp version is xDrive only with a six-speed Sport automatic gearbox.
Start-Stop technology is available on all manual transmission models -
the first time on an X product. CO2 emissions range from 136 to 167g/km
which will attract running costs and tax conscious customers.
All X1
models have SE levels of trim and equipment with xDrive versions having
additional equipment such as roof rails and sill guards. There is a
wide range of extra costs options. Prices range from £22,660 to £29,055. |
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo – first of its kind and first UK drive |
Grand Turismo, or Grand Tourer, by name and by
nature, offers unbeatable space, specification and performance and it
is also unbeatable because it is arguably the only car of this type on
sale.
Trying to describe what the 5 Series Grand Turismo is
not easy. It is aimed at a niche customer, a market sector not yet in
being so only around 2,500 of these new models will be sold in the UK
in a full year. The product is a mix of some of the desirable elements
a saloon, estate or SUV can offer. |  | Elegance inside and out from a luxury BMW saloon, long
legroom and huge load capacity from using the 7 Series platform,
limousine ride comfort but with near 5 Series agility although it
adopts the 7 Series adjustable rear air suspension and the command
seating positions, versatile sliding and folding rear seats and twin
tailgate openings from the X5. The GT has boot space of 440-litres
which can be enhanced, by folding the rear seats down, up to
1,700-litres.
Bringing luxury and versatility together in one
product, that isn’t an out-and-out high-range 4x4’ is not an easy task
but the unique BMW Grand Turismo is an interesting product. Only time
will tell if UK ‘premium brand’ customers are convinced a long
wheelbase five-door hatchback meets their needs.
There are three
engine options for the GT, the main selling 530d, 3.0-litre, six
cylinder common-rail direct injection turbocharged diesel which will
take 85pc of sales. It produces 245hp with a massive 540Nm of torque
and accelerates from zero to 62mph in 6.9 seconds before going on to a
top speed of 149mph.
The combined cycle official; fuel economy is
43.5mpg and we achieved a real-life 27.5mpg during some very hard and
fast driving on the wind and gale lashed roads in the very north of
Scotland. Emissions are 173g/km so the annual road tax is a modest
£175, not bad for a do-it-all luxurious limo.
Like the other two
engine options this unit is only available with BMW’s new fuel
efficient eight-speed automatic transmission but with its tiptronic
type sequential gear change function it works really well either in
full auto mode or by using the manual override.
There are two petrol
engines on offer, the 535i a new 3.0-litre six cylinder turbocharged
powerplant with 306hp, 400Nm of torque 0-62mph takes 6.3 seconds and
top speed is limited to 155mph. Average fuel economy is officially
31.7mpg but somehow we only achieved 19.3mpg during our test drive.
Working the petrol engine harder to achieve the same response as
offered by the better 3.0-litre diesel unit took its toll on fuel
economy. The emissions are 209g/km meaning a road tax cost of £215.
The
last engine option for those which must have the largest and most
powerful on offer is the 550i, a 4.4-litre, V8 with twin turbochargers.
Zero to 62mph takes 5.5 seconds, top speed is limited to 155mph with
25.2mpg being the officially combined cycle figure and 263g/km will
incur the largest VED bill of £405 but £950 from April next year.
The
GT with this engine option was not available at the press launch so no
comment, but some company chief executives will want one for status
reasons.
With prices starting at a reasonable £40,810 for the five
seat SE 530d version and the likely best selling model, which is very
keen for a sporting luxury limo, there is more to like than dislike
about the new 5 Series Grand Turismo.
With prices going up to
£53,490 for the V8 Executive variant it looks less of a good buy for
what has yet to be established as a new and acceptable sector of the
new car market.
I cannot fault the looks, space, command seating
positions, versatility and high level of standard specification, or the
brilliant road holding and agility considering the car’s long limousine
length, so for a limited number of people wanting something different
it will tick most of the boxes.
| MILESTONES.
| | BMW 5 Series 530d SE
Grand Turismo Price £40,810 (Best selling model). Engine/transmission:
3.0-litre, 6-cylinder, common-rail, turbocharged diesel, 245bhp, 540Nm
of torque from 1,750rpm, 8-speed auto, rear wheel drive.
Performance: 149mph, 0-62mph 6.9 seconds, 43.5mpg (actual 27.5mpg)
CO2 173g/km, VED £175, BIK tax 25pc.
Insurance group: 18.
For:
Interesting combination of design cues, roomy, versatile, well built
and high standard equipment level, great diesel engine, big car with
lots of agility.
Against: Pioneers a new concept
in the ‘premium’ executive segment, rear seats do not fold completely
flat, not convinced the rear tailgate needs the separate opening top
section, no all wheel drive version for the UK so it could lose out to
Audi’s quattro offerings. |
 |
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
New BMW X1 – Joyfully extending their X-factor |
he new X1, based on the current BMW 1 Series platform, completes the X line-up of X3, X5 and X6 models.
Unlike
the larger versions the X1 is available in rear wheel drive and
permanent four wheel drive forms. Because of the dominance of diesel
engines in the SUV/SAC (Sports Utility and Sports Activity Vehicles)
sector there is the choice of three power outputs, all using a core
2.0-litre, four cylinder power plant.
The 18d with 143bhp and
320Nm of torque and the 20d with 177bhp and 350Nm is available with
sDrive rear wheel drive and xDrive all wheel drive specification whilst
the third 23d, 204bhp, 400Nm unit is xDrive only. There is one SE level
of specification for all models and prices range from £22,660 up to
£29,055.
BMW say currently it is the only ‘premium’ compact Sports
Activity Vehicle currently on sale in the UK although the Audi Q3 and
the baby Land/Range Rover will be competitors in the future. Once the
range has additional specifications added around 6,500 of them should
be sold in a full year in the UK.
Owners of the current Toyota
RAV4, Volkswagen Tiguan , Ford Kuga and down-sizers from the BMW X3 are
likely customers an but BMW think 65pc of sales will go to conquest
customers. Just over half will opt for sDrive two wheel drive models, a
pattern already set by other brands of medium sized, 4x4 appearance
vehicles who are finding that two-wheel drive variants, because of
running costs, are more popular.
The five door, five seat X1
certainly takes its styling theme from other X models in the BMW range
but it is less obviously a bulky 4x4 or SAV to attract a car audience.
It has a softer styling so as not to put potential owners off buying a
4x4 type vehicle. It looks very much like what a 1 Series Touring would
be like if there was such a thing.
More estate with large wheels and
a bit more ground clearance. The long bonnet is classic 1 Series as is
the side wedge shaped profile. The xDrive all wheel drive versions can
be recognised by the additional roof rails and stain finish side sill
guards.
| Inside the styling and functionality evidence is more of an
X family member with semi-command seating positions and 40/20/40 split
rear seating which fold and a large tailgate allows access to the load
area as in conventional SUV, hatchback or estate manner.
Most of
the interior is excellent and reasonably well finished but certainly
you can see and feel it is built to a price.
The centre part of the
upper dashboard, home to the optional navigation system, looks a bit
cheap. |  |
The great thing about all BMW X models is just how well they
drive on the roads under all conditions. There is none of the body
roll, choppy hard and non compliant suspension characteristics. Road
holding, grip and steering is almost as sharp as most of their
passenger cars. The X1 drives like a really well sorted sports estate,
despite it extra height and weight.
During the first UK media test
driving in the absolute top of Scotland, lashed by gales and high
winds, the on road driving with huge amounts of standing water was safe
and sure even in rear wheel drive form.
Add the xDrive all wheel
drive function and the vehicle was even better especially when it came
to long sections of rough stone tracks and very wet gravel sections
such as you might find on a rally. In sDrive form X1 20d with 177bhp
and 350Nm of torque will be perfect for most users who do not need all
wheel drive traction.
With 53.3mpg the quoted official figure
(38.7mpg in testing) and CO2 emissions of 139g/km road tax will be £120
a year this is a sensible choice for most people whether it is the
school run, going shopping or travelling up and down motorways.
For
me, a country dweller, I’d go for the more powerful 23d, 204bhp, 400Nm
version with its standard fit auto transmission because it offers all
wheel traction and real performance whether dry, wet, mud, ice or snow
conditions.
It is only marginally faster and the fuel economy
averages 44.8mpg (35.7mpg in testing) and road tax is £175. But the
performance feels strong and the grip of its smart all wheel drive
system, which pushes the power to the wheels that need the grip most,
makes it handle fantastically well on tarmac or on rougher surfaces.
Do
not get carried away, the X1 will be no off-roader but it will handle
tough conditions. Shame this version will cost around £30k with a few
options, around £9,000 more than an Audi A3 Sport back 2.0 TDI 170
quattro. | MILESTONES.
BMW X1 sDrive 20d SE (Likely main selling two wheel drive model) £24,205.
Engine/transmission: 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder, turbodiesel, 177bhp, 350Nm from 1,750rpm, 6-speed manual, rear wheel drive.
Performance: 127mph (limited), 0-62 8.1 seconds, 53.3mpg (38.7mpg actual)
CO2 139g/km, VED £120. BIK/Insurance group: TBC.
Dimensions
capacities; L 4,454mm, W 1,798mm, H 1,545mm, luggage space
420-1,350-litres, towing weight braked 1,800 (4WD 20d/23d versions
2,000kg).
For: Size, choice of two or four wheel
drive models, softer exterior styling over a conventional SUV,
brilliant on-road handling in all conditions, comfortable, relatively
well priced.
Against: Poor interior quality in places.
©David Miles | | |
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