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BMW X5 Sports Activity Vehicle Outperforms All Other Utility Vehicles

15 September 2000

BMW X5 Sports Activity Vehicle Outperforms All Other Utility Vehicles in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Bumper Test

    WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., Sept. 14 The BMW X5 Sports Activity
Vehicle far outperformed a number of SUV's in a recent 5 MPH bumper test
conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.  The X5 received a
rating of "acceptable" by the institute.  In fact, it is the only utility
vehicle ever tested to date to achieve a rating that high.
    Of the performance of the 2001 BMW X5 in this test, IIHS president Brian
O'Neill noted that it "is the only SUV in this group with halfway decent
bumpers.  The rear bumper is good.  It allowed only about $200 damage in the
pole impact, which usually is the toughest of our four bumper tests.  The X5
also performed well in the rear-into-flat-barrier test."
    Although it is a light truck the X5 utilizes the same bumper technology as
BMW passenger cars including collapsible tubes, front and rear, which are
designed to limit body damage up to 9 MPH.  Mr. O'Neill noted "the bumpers on
most SUVs ... don't have anything effective to absorb energy," adding that,
"the BMW X5 does."
    "BMW is pleased with the performance of the X5 in this test," said
Karl-Heinz Ziwica, General Manager, Environmental Engineering for BMW of North
America.  "Our engineers take this aspect of vehicle performance into
consideration and design for superior incremental crash protection, even at
speeds higher than the test speed used by IIHS.  Our primary focus is on
excellent overall crash protection, particularly at higher speeds.  With the
latest IIHS bumper test of the X5, BMW is gratified to see that our ongoing
efforts in this area continue to pay off."