New BMW X5 to be made in Chennai plant

Luxury carmaker BMW India will locally produce its new BMW X5 xDrive30d model at its Chennai plant in Tamil Nadu. Priced at Rs 70.9 lakh (ex-showroom India), it will be manufactured in diesel trim and will hit dealerships from June onwards.

The carmaker’s Chennai plant already produces the BMW 1 series, 3 series, 3 series Gran Turismo, 5 series, 7 series, X1, X3 and the Mini Countryman. Other countries where the X5 is locally manufactured are Russia, Thailand and Malaysia with the US being a large market for the luxury SUV.

This third-generation BMW X5, which is powered by a 3.0-litre diesel engine that develops 255bhp and 57.1kgm of torque, is 29mm longer and 5mm wider than its predecessor. Also, it is 5kg lighter than the previous model owing to the adoption of lightweighting techniques.

The new X5, a third-generation sports activity vehicle, is almost Rs 10 lakh cheaper than the previous and now discontinued X5 (Rs 80.60 lakh), which was brought in as a CBU. Some of the new features that added in the latest X5 are an aerodynamic package including an air breather, air curtains and aero blades to improve air flow. In the interior, there is automatic air-conditioning with four-zone control and extended rear air vents in the second row seats.

According to Philipp von Sahr, president, BMW Group India, there is immense potential for the growth of the luxury car market in India. He said the company, which is recording good growth expanding in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities, will launch the M3 sedan, M4 Coupe and the M5 sedan as CBUs during 2014.

Photograph: Sachin Tendulkar and Philipp von Sahr, president, BMW Group India at the launch of the all-new XF in Pune today.