2007 MDX and X5 Hype

[asawadude]

Went by the dealer today to test drive a Z4M, but no dice. So I ended up having coffee with the CPO manager. Here's what he told me about the X5. Apparently BMW is keeping the X5 info under wraps intentionally. In dealer meetings with BMWNA several weeks ago, there was plenty of info reviewed about every other BMW line, but not the X5. No pictures or specs have been given to the dealers, but they were informed that the new X5 does not look like the spy shots and that the new X5 would be a very big seller. That was all the official information they received.

He also said that he had some off the record information that two years after introduction, the X5 would get an M version with the V10 engine. There are already X5M mules going through testing in Europe.

That was it for X5 news. The V5 is coming, it will match up with the R series. The 1 series will be moved up by a year and should arrive in 2007 hastened by the gas price situation. Both the E60 and E90 sedans will get the E92 engines in 2007 - there will be a 528i and 535i (twin turbo). The 335i twin turbo will get 34 MPG.

It's all secondhand info, so take it for what it is.

Of the two Z4Ms sitting in the lot last week, one was in the showroom and blocked in; the other was sitting on a display lift. Getting to drive one would have been a major ordeal, so I decided not to ask.