BMW X5 (E70)

The BMW E70 is second-generation BMW X5 mid-size luxury crossover SUV. It replaced the BMW X5 (E53) in November 2006. It is manufactured alongside the new, 2009 BMW X6 at BMW's Greer, South Carolina plant in the USA and BMW's facility in Toluca, Mexico.

Design

The E70 BMW X5 was 60 mm (2.4 in) wider, 165 mm (6.5 in) longer; with a 110 mm (4.3 in) longer wheelbase, but remains at the height of the E53 X5 at 1,766 mm (69.5 in). Development of the E70 began in 2001 under Dr. Albert Biermann, with the design phase beginning in 2002. In 2003, Pierre Leclercq's design proposal was chosen by Chris Bangle and frozen for production in early 2004. Prototypes began testing in late 2004. Development ended in mid-2006.

Technology

The xDrive AWD system updates previewed in the facelifted X5 have continued with further detail improvements for the E70. It uses a double wishbone suspension at the front. The manual transmission is entirely dropped, leaving only the automatic transmission.

The E70 features many new technological advancements for this class as standard equipment including BMW's iDrive system, electronic 'joystick' gearshift (no mechanical connection to the gearbox to win space in the console), LED taillamps, the first ever all-polypropylene single module fender module, and options such as head-up display HUD, active steering, active damping, and Dynamic Drive which uses active anti-roll bars which use a hydraulic servo in the middle to actively counteract body roll. The X5 has a rollover risk of 17.4%.