Audi BMW

Richard Aucock continues its coverage on the 2011 BMW X5 LCI and shares with us some more insight from BMW’s suspensions specialist, Heinz Krusche. Topic of the day: steering feedback based on different road conditions.

“ROADS are rough in the UK. We know that, and so does BMW’s Heinz Krusche.

Indeed, it is a characteristic that is almost unique in the world. ‘You sometimes find similar surfaces in France – but rarely.’

Our roads are also distinctively narrow, which means drivers have to concentrate far more here. ‘Cars must therefore have good steering feedback, because drivers need fine control.’

This is why steering feel is so vital in the UK! This is why we obsess about it: we go OTT, sure, but there’s method in our madness!

What about other countries, though? Krusche uses two examples by way of comparison:

Germany – speeds are higher, and there are more large-radius bends. Roads are not so narrow either, so lateral acceleration levels can be much higher. We have lots of cobbled roads, which are a special case as they can give a terrible ride. Here, you have to deal with certain frequencies to avoid trouble. At high speeds, stability is, of course, paramount, and a big priority.

LA – high camber and high temperatures (leading to warm, sticky tyres) mean it is very difficult to set up here! It is hard for yaw sensor calculations, for example – it is not a natural thing and has led to new models in our logic systems. If we use our normal models, it thinks things are wrong! These extreme parameters are unbelievably interesting for us, and prove the importance of testing all over the world.”

Continued at www.richardaucock.com

Miami, Florida hosted the International Media Launch of the 2010 BMW X5 LCI, short for Life Impulse Cycle or facelift. During a one day event, several automotive journalists had the opportunity to spend some time with the new X5 xDrive35i, both in a city environment and off-road.

While our full test drive review is still in works, we thought we would share with you some photos from this event, portraying the X5 LCI in different situations, some quite extreme. As some of you might recall, the 2010 BMW X5 follows the path of its “brother”, the X6, by introducing turbocharged engines in the North American line-up.

Most of the cosmetic changes are visible at the front-end where the new the lower bumper/fascia appears have been lifted and given a little redesign from the X6. To go along with what BMW has been doing lately for the 3 Series facelift, 335is, and F10 5-Series, the X5 features corona rings, or halos as most like to call them, that are full LEDs. The rear taillights get a new L-shaped LED design.

The outgoing X5 had three engine types, the X5 xDrive30i, xDrive48i and xDrive35d. While the diesel xDrive35d survives, the 30i and 48i are replaced by the N55 twin-scroll single turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 making 300 hp and 300lb-ft of torque, as well by the twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 making 400hp and 450lb-ft of torque. So it will now be the X5 xDrive35i and xDrive50i, same with the X6. Zero to sixty times are estimated at 6.4 seconds for the 35i and 5.3 seconds for the 50i.

More on our driving impressions tomorrow when we will talk in detail about the exterior design changes and the performance improvement as seen by us in the xDrive35i.

Our New York Auto Show coverage begins with the 2011 BMW X5 LCI, a North American debut.

The changes in the model year 2011 are quite significant, both in terms of exterior design, but most important, underneath the hood.

The front-end goes through an extensive facelift, the lower front bumper/fascia have been lifted and given a little redesign from the X6, offering an appearance that makes the front end look lower and more aggressive. It also allows for wider air openings to feed the larger and more powerful engines more air.

To go along with what BMW has been doing lately for the 3-Series LCI, 335is, and F10 5-Series, the X5 features corona rings that are full LEDs. The rear taillights get a new L-shaped LED design as well.

The outgoing X5 had three engine types, the X5 xDrive30i, xDrive48i and xDrive35d. While the diesel xDrive35d survives, the 30i and 48i die are being phased out.

In to replace the outgoing naturally aspirated 3.0-liter inline-6 and 4.8-liter V8 are the N55 twin-scroll single turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 making 300hp and 300lb-ft of torque, as well as the twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 making 400hp and 450lb-ft of torque, similar to the engine in the X5 and X6 M models. So it will now be the X5 xDrive35i and xDrive50i, same with the X6.

Zero to sixty times are estimated at 6.4 seconds for the 35i and 5.3 seconds for the 50i. Which is drastically faster than the past engines.

In order to reign all of this power in, an all-new 8-speed steptronic automatic, of which you see in the 5-Series GT and the 760Li. The new transmission weighs no more than the 6-speed model it replaces, and offers better gearing for lower speeds and rpm to make the X5 faster from a dig. It also adds the two extra gears up top to help with efficiency at highway speeds.

You can also select gears manually, as always before, by pulling the gear shift closer to you and pushing and pulling the shifter forward or back (-/+).

We will have a chance to test drive the X5 LCI in two weeks and we’ll make sure to report back our findings.

Photos credit Shawn Molnar

While the photos posted below seem to indicate that we are looking at the facelifted version of 2010 BMW X5, we decided to leave the question mark in the title until a second and third source confirm the story. Without a doubt the car has been photoshoped into that setting, but the details corroborated with previous spy photos and information we received, point to the actual facelift.

Also, several BMW forums on the web claim that the below photos represent the X5 LCI, the refreshed SAV that will be unveiled at Geneva Motor Show next month.

Judging by these photos, everything we assumed turned out to be true. The LCI X5 receives new front and rear bumpers, new headlights as the X6 model and the taillights with LED technology seen across the line-up.

The most important changes take place under the hood. The engine line-up receive a much needed makeover by importing the powerplant range from the X6. The 2010 BMW X5 xDrive35i is powered by a 3.0 liter six-cylinder twin-turbo engine outputting 300 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque (400Nm). The high-end xDrive50i gets the same engine from its “brother”, X6 50i, the 4.4 liter V8 engine producing 407 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque (600Nm).

The European market also sees the addition of a new model: 2010 BMW X5 xDrive40d powered by the same the 3.0-liter engine found in the 740d. The engine delivers 300 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque (600Nm).

With weeks before the official unveiling and with some of these alleged photos leaked on the web, we should expect an official press release in the very near future.

[Source: Motor-Talk.de ]

Even though not officially confirmed, sources close to BMW place the new X5 Facelift version in the showroom at the Detroit Auto Show next month which means that official photos are just days away. In the mean time, Palbay, returns with some new spy photos of the X5 LCI.

While the photos give us the same front-end as seen in previous shots, the most interesting piece of news could come from the lower part of the front-end, in the right side air intake, where we believe we’re looking at a turbo intercooler.

Now we don’t want to jump in a speculative game, but this could indeed give us the first clue that a twin turbo engine will be powering the facelifted X5 and our bets are on the six-cylinder powerplant. The second clue might come from the rear-end of this test mule where again for the first time, we are seeing the round twin exhaust seen on the 335i model as well.

Here is a comparison photo with the X6 xDrive35i:

As we mentioned several times before, at the rear-end, the 2010 BMW X5 facelift model will receive LED taillights. Looking at these spy photos, we can also see the turn signal moving from the bottom corner up to the top corner. The hatch/tailgate combo will remain the same as in the current model, not a single lift hatch as some expected.

The front-end is where the most action will happen. The X6-style headlights will replace the current ones and a new set of signal indicators similar to the ones found on the 3 Series Sedan facelifted model. A more aggressive front-bumper will be available as well.

Inside, the one upgrade that will satisfy many BMW owners is the new generation iDrive which features the hard drive based navigation system, a revised iDrive knob controller and a larger, crisper LCD screen.

The 2010 BMW X5 LCI will be available in the U.S. in March-April 2010.