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The BMW X5 Sports Activity Vehicle has been acknowledged as the
best new design in the off-road category, by readers of popular German car
magazine “auto motor und sport”. The second generation (E70) BMW X5, which
arrived locally in April, asserted itself well ahead of its class competitors.
“The results confirm that the unique Sports Activity Vehicle not only
impresses through superior driving characteristics, but is also perceived by the
general public as an attractive and stylish vehicle,” said Tom Noble, General
Manager Marketing, BMW Group Australia.
“In Australia, the new X5 has again become the most sought after Sports
Activity Vehicle and our customers tell us that its design plays an important
factor in their purchasing decision, just like many other BMW models,” said
Noble.
The reader survey, by respected car magazine “auto motor und sport”
determines the most appealing new vehicles launched within the last twelve
months. Voting was solely on visual criteria, whereby readers allocated plus and
minus points for the design of the vehicles they assessed. No vehicle in any
other segment was mentioned as often and judged as positively as the BMW X5.
Those taking part in the survey also gave noticeably high marks for the
design of other new BMW models. The BMW 5 Series won second place in the luxury
class category. The BMW 1 Series and the BMW 3 Series Convertible were also
readers’ favourites, managing to seize third place in the classes for compact
vehicles and convertibles respectively. Moreover, the new MINI contributed to a
further class victory for the BMW Group, becoming clear winner of the small car
category.
BMW Group designers always aim to design vehicles that both appeal to people
at first glance as well as achieving a sustainable visual effect over time. BMW
chief designer Adrian van Hooydonk explains: “We designers wish to make owning a
BMW an experience, and we aspire to establish a relationship between people and
their product that is continually deepened.”
According to van Hooydonk the design of a BMW must reflect authentic product
substance as well have an aesthetic appearance reflecting the identity of the
premium brand. Design, he says, is an emotional factor that binds customers to
the product. In this way, design becomes a success factor for BMW.
In addition to this latest recognition, BMW recently received the
internationally recognised red dot award 2007 for outstanding product design,
and at the same time the BMW Group was also presented with the prize for the
“Design Team of the Year”.
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