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BMW testing new X5 Seven Seater

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Jan 182012

German Automaker road tests X5

Photographs of the new version of the BMW X5 are already doing the rounds on the internet as the German automaker road tests the brand new 7-seater ahead of release, which is expected towards the end of next year. Little is known about the 2014 edition of the popular X5 given tests were conducted with the body covered in swirl paint which was designed to camouflage the body detail.

BMW X5 - New 7 Seater in 2014

Lighter Weight

What we do know is that BMW is expected to bring the weight of the vehicle down by up to 200kgs courtesy of greater aluminum use in the body, meaning it should be more fuel efficient. New engine options are also expected to boost fuel efficiency. It is likely that BMW’s new ActiveHybrid engine will be an option, so too will the V8-powered engine in the top of the range version.

ActiveHybrid

The ActiveHybrid engine is a new concept at BMW that has increasingly been installed in many of the carmaker’s vehicles. The benefits include a smoother torque range so that maximum power is achieved from the word go. With greater fuel efficiency given the electric motor also acts as a generator to charge up a battery, this is a fully functioning hybrid vehicle. Petrol and diesel engine versions will almost certainly be available for the new X5 when it eventually comes onto the market.

Appearance

Although BMW has done well to hide the body of the vehicle, clearly it is going to adopt the wider grille already seen on the new X3, a mid-size SUV which recently came on the market. It will give the BMW X5 a slightly more regal, quality look from the front, with a less curvy grille, as seen on slightly older BMWs. The headlights look as though they will link directly to the sides of the vehicle.

Features All-Wheel-Drive

In terms of evolution, the X5 has come farther than any other SUV produced by BMW. It was the first crossover SUV manufactured by the German auto company when it first rolled off the production line in 1999. The latest version features all-wheel drive, a part of the overall make-up that has led BMW to describe it as a sport activity vehicle rather than a sport utility vehicle.

BMW X5 - 2011 Version of the All-Wheel-Drive MPV

2011 BMW X5

The 2011 model, the most recent, saw a revised front bumper plus air intakes along with a number of small cosmetic changes, the latter being something that BMW seems to be going farther with for the 2014 edition. There were changes to the engine last time round, too, including both straight-6 and V8 turbocharged editions that were not available previously. But these editions will likely only remain on sale for another 18 months or so until the new version hits the road.

The X5 seems to be a natural evolution in terms of exterior styling, something we have already witnessed in the, new BMWs recently, with the X3 being a good example. From the images available so far, it seems the German carmaker has once again done an excellent job of hiding the X5’s three rows of seats. All will be revealed in due time, however.

The current BMW from X5 has the third row of seats as an option costing just under £2,000. This is likely to be similar with the new 2014 BMW X5 Version.

Parking Your New 7 Seater Car

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Aug 172011

We can all park our cars but when it comes to driving a new 7 seater car, there are a few things you need to take into consideration when you roll into a parking spot. Driving a vehicle that is more like a van than a city car means you need to assess situations further in advance and know the boundaries that restrict you when driving an oversized car.

Most people drive straight into car parking spaces but in a large 7 seater MPV, that isn’t the best way. Think about it: On a busy Saturday in a supermarket car park it’s difficult enough trying to get out of the tiny spaces in a regular car, but once you’re high up in a vehicle that’s four or five metres in length you need to think ahead. Reverse parking into a space not only means it will be easier to see when you want to leave but in many cases, you can fill the boot space without standing in the middle of the road, blocking traffic with your trolley.

When you buy your 7 seater car, take it to an empty car park to practice reverse parking into spaces. If you can, turn off the reverse parking sensors so you know how to park without an electronic gizmo and it means you instinctively know where the corners of the car are without that incessant beeping. The mirrors on a MPVare big enough and wide-angled enough to make it easy for you to see. If you must, get out and inspect how far away you are from the kerb and ask yourself why is there six-foot of space left over? Once you crack parking backwards in a huge vehicle, then you will be more confident in placing it on the road, ultimately making you a better driver.

Audi Q7 - People Carrier with Parking Sensors

If your home doesn’t have a drive or a garage and you need to park on the street, practising your parking is even more important. You’ll notice that again, driving straight into the parking spot means the vehicle is out of place and not parallel to the kerb, unless you have at least three or four car-lengths spare. Some MPVs, such as the Audi Q7, have cameras in the bumper to show you how close you are to the kerb but these can be confusing. It’s better to get back to basics and park the car as you would have done before the electronic aids were featured on cars.

Buying a 7 seater shouldn’t be about how many people you can fit in and if it has cup holders. You should determine whether you can drive it and whether you need to invest some time in practising manoeuvring it as it’s very different to driving a small car. If you’re really serious, it might be a good idea to take a 7.5-tonne vehicle test to learn how to drive a bigger, heavier and larger vehicle with qualified instructors than a regular car license test.