BMW X5

2001 BMW X5

DETROIT - Amid glowing sales reports, BMW unveiled its new X5, calling it the "world's first Sports Activity Vehicle" or SAV.

Well, technically, the word ''unveiled'' might not best describe how BMW pulled the covers in through the sunroofs instead of the traditional yanking them upward with wires. And again, technically (no matter what BMW says), the X5 is actually the world's umpteenth sports utility vehicle. They just had to give it the "SAV" acronym because at various auto shows last year, BMW officials vowed the company known for building great road cars would never lower itself and build an off-roading SUV.

And while we're on semantics, BMW officials explained that they built an SAV and not an SUV because they already own the best SUV company in the world-Land Rover. We were also told not to call the mid-sized four-wheel-drive X5 a crossover car/truck hybrid. "The X5 is NOT a hybrid-it's a thoroughbred!'' BMW insisted. It's an SUV, folks, so forget the marketing hype.

Of course, if you get your automotive information from Edmund's, you would have read about this so-called SAV back on November 13th, when Edmund's® revealed BMW's first official photo of the new X5 in our News section. Unlike reports you may have read elsewhere, however, the X5 is NOT based on the 5-Series, but on its own, unique platform.

Power comes from either an inline six, a V8 or a six-cylinder diesel. The X5 employs the latest in BMW four-wheel-drive traction technology, called ASC+T and DSC 3 (Automatic and Dynamic Stability Control), as well safety equipment, featuring up 10 inflatable restraints. Look for it in BMW showrooms this fall for around $50,000 a copy.