• New pricing announced for revised X5 range
• More powerful, frugal V8 petrol and turbo-diesel engines
• Six-speed automatic transmission for X5 3.0d and X5 4.4i
• Innovative xDrive 4WD system
• Muscular and masculine exterior freshening
• Five-star Euro NCAP crash test safety rating

BMW Group Australia has announced pricing for its benchmark setting X5 range. The revised range will commence at $81, 400 for the manual X5 3.0i petrol engine and $84,000 for the five speed automatic.

The phenomenally successful, sporting and luxurious X5 Sports Activity Vehicle created a new segment in the 4WD market when it was launched in Australia and today dominates sales of premium market vehicles in this increasingly crowded segment, with just over 5,800 vehicles sold since its introduction in 2001.

With the arrival of the face lifted models, the BMW X5 will be hoisted head and shoulders above the crowd, thanks to a selection of high-power engines, including a new turbo-diesel six-cylinder that offers the performance of a muscular V8 with the frugal fuel consumption of a four-cylinder.

In addition to subtle exterior and interior modifications, under the skin, the X5 boasts new, intelligent all-wheel drive hardware for even better off-road traction.

Pricing for the X5 4.4i will be $111,800.

The new muscular 4.4-litre V8 engine is adapted from the 7 Series and develops 235 kW thanks to VALVETRONIC electronic timing control, Bi-VANOS and fully variable intake system.

A new six-speed adaptive shift automatic gearbox rockets the X5 4.4i from rest to 100 km/h in just 7.0 seconds, and on to a top speed of 210 km/h.

The six-cylinder 3.0i petrol engine X5 comes with a new six-speed manual transmission, while the upgraded 3.0d turbo-diesel comes with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions.

The new 150kW, 480Nm 3.0d turbo-diesel X5 will be $81,900 for the manual transmission and $84,500 for the six-speed automatic.

The sporty, powerful 3.0d straight six turbo-diesel engine also in the new E60 5 Series in Europe appears in the upgraded X5s. It will instantly impress with its 150 kW of power and mighty 480 Nm of torque, adding 15 kW and a substantial 90 Nm more torque. This cuts the 0-100 km/h acceleration time to 8.8 seconds, while the engine is marginally more frugal than the previous model. Top speed also rises from 190 km/h to 210 km/h.

BMW Australia introduced its first diesel-powered vehicle only this year, the X5 3.0d. This met with immediate success, exceeding BMW's internal sales expectations. The 3.0d provided incremental X5 sales through 2003 and accounts for more than 30 percent of overall X5 sales.

Interest in the new, invigorated turbo-diesel X5 is already extremely strong even though deliveries will not commence before the beginning of next year.

The new engine features second generation common rail direct injection and in train with the adoption of a six-speed automatic gearbox, propels the revised X5 3.0d to 100km/h in 8.8 seconds with a top speed of 210 km/h. Fuel consumption is a miserly 8.6-litres per 100 km according to ECE cycle testing.

The Nürburgring-taming X5 4.6is is to be further enhanced next year, and renamed X5 4.8is. Pricing for the new model will be announced at a later date.

The six-cylinder petrol engine in the 3.0i continues unchanged in the facelift model, while the X5 4.4i gains the VALVETRONIC-equipped V8 from the 7 Series, rated at 235 kW and 440 Nm of torque, an increase of 25 kW over the previous 4.4i.

In addition to shaving half a second off the 4.4i's acceleration times in the 0-100 km/h sprint (now 7.0 seconds), the new engine cuts fuel consumption by almost one litre to 13.1 l/100 km (13.9 l/100 km previously).

Directing this abundance of engine power safely to the road is the all-new intelligent xDrive 4WD system. It delivers improved road holding, agility and safety, and super fast division of drive between front and rear axles.

Drawing data from wheel sensors as well as the Dynamic Stability Control stabilization system, xDrive considers yaw rate, vehicle speed and steering angle when splitting drive torque between axles, thus minimising the chances of oversteer in bends.

Lightning fast reaction to the multitude of data inputs enables xDrive to cut wheelspin and assist stability. The xDrive system works as well on low-grip surfaces, such as during step-off on icy roads, as it does when attacking rough, twisting mountain roads.

New standard equipment helps to reinforce the value proposition of the face lifted X5 model range.

All models gain a soft-close function for the upper portion of the tailgate and a rain sensor coupled with automatic headlight control. Bi-Xenon headlamps are now standard on the V8 model

Subtle changes to the exterior of the X5 help identify the upgraded models.

A new bonnet pressing with bolder character lines meets enlarged kidney grilles, while the revised lower skirt has flared air inlets.

Redesigned headlamps add more beef to the X5's road presence and adopt the 5 series' illuminated ring feature for each of the four large circular lamps.

Changes at the rear are limited to new style lamp lenses. Inside, a new standard colour option for the Dakota leather is Truffle Brown, while three new optional Exclusive Nappa leather trims are offered, Light Beige, Lava Grey and Black.

A new range of light alloy wheel designs will also be introduced.

The up-graded X5 model range is scheduled to arrive in Australia late in 2003 or early in 2004.

Confirming BMW's original design and safety philosophy, the X5 recently aced the world's toughest independent crash test and scored a maximum Five Star rating from the European New Car Assessment Programme.

Already acclaimed as 'the best car ever tested' by the American Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and the critics' choice for its engaging driving dynamics, the X5 has now received the ultimate recognition for occupant safety.

The Five Star Euro NCAP result is derived from frontal offset impact testing at 64 km/h as well as side-on and pole impact tests.

Test data confirms occupants would be spared serious injury in the 64 km/h frontal 40 % offset impact.

The X5 possesses a myriad of state-of-the-art active and passive safety systems, including a strong monocoque survival cell and impact energy absorbing crumple zones, DSC (Dynamic Stability Control), all round independent suspension and powerful brakes.

Class leading features such as the high sill design, door reinforcements and side airbags, including the enhanced ITS head bag, provide excellent protection in side and pole impact testing.