At a recent press conference, BMW officially announced the prices of the BMW X5 long-wheelbase version and i3. Here are the prices that everyone is most concerned about:
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BMW X5 xDrive 30 Li M Sport Package – RMB 605,000 (imported version RMB 699,900)
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BMW X5 xDrive 30 Li Exclusive M Sport Package – RMB 635,000
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BMW X5 xDrive 40 Li M Sport Package – RMB 705,000 (imported version RMB 754,900)
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BMW X5 xDrive 40 Li Exclusive M Sport Package – RMB 775,000 (imported version RMB 839,900)
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i3 eDrive 35 L: RMB 349,900
Domestic Long-Wheelbase X5, BMW Takes the Lead
Since its launch in 2018, the BMW X5 has maintained its top spot in the sales charts for its class. Taking 2020 as an example, the BMW X5 sold 48,829 units in China, which means that an average of 4,069 units were sold each month.
For comparison, the Mercedes-Benz GLE sold 42,135 units, the Porsche Cayenne sold 36,157 units, and the Audi Q7 sold 10,196 units.
The most complained issue of the imported BMW X5 is undoubtedly the cramped rear space under the standard wheelbase. It is easy to find online keywords related to this issue, such as:
Due to its longitudinal layout, the rear longitudinal space of the standard wheelbase BMW X5 is even close to that of the extended X1 Li. Naturally, the price reduction of the domestic X5 is a good thing, and the more significant meaning is that BMW has finally increased the wheelbase from 2,975mm to 3,105mm, an increase of 130mm.
After increasing the wheelbase, the BMW X5’s wheelbase is now the same as the X7’s. For reference, the Mercedes-Benz GLE has a wheelbase of 2,995mm and the Audi Q7 has a wheelbase of 2,996mm.
Huachen BMW has two factories in Shenyang: Dadong Factory and Tiexi Factory. The Tiexi Factory’s production quality needs no introduction, and BMW introduced the Dadong Factory where the domestic X5 was born at the beginning of the press conference.At the Da Dong factory, the production of the new BMW X5 is equipped with a 10,000-ton stamping workshop. In addition, as the largest white body among BMW’s domestic models, more than ten giant robots named “Titans” are also installed in the body workshop, capable of grabbing weights up to 1.3 tons. In the R&D and testing phase before the model went into production, there were also a large number of computer virtual tests and actual car tests. Since 2010, the total investment in the BMW Brilliance Shenyang production base has exceeded 73 billion yuan, making it the largest production base of the BMW Group worldwide.
The product quality of BMW Shenyang factory can already be compared with overseas factories, and even more advanced in the application of some new technologies.
The appearance of the new X5 is not much different from the imported model. The front bumper adopts a new design with an inverted L-shaped layout on both sides to enhance the visual width of the front of the car. The chrome decoration and air inlet grille complement each other, lowering the visual center of gravity so as not to appear top-heavy. The 130 mm longer wheelbase does not seem out of proportion, but instead gives the X5 Li a bit of the X7’s style.
In addition, the new X5 comes standard with an M Sport package, and the high-end models can provide M Performance performance components.
The interior of the new X5 is not much different from the imported version, equipped with dual 12.3-inch screens and HUD heads-up display. The car still uses the previous generation iDrive 7 system, supporting third-party applications such as Tmall Genie, Tencent Little Scene, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Baidu CarLife.
The metal buttons at the steering wheel and door, the Harman Kardon sound system’s metal speaker grilles, crystal interior components, and the ambient light system all create a luxurious “elegant” style. The retained physical buttons and elegant wooden panel are considered a rare exception in the age of large screens.
The addition of the “Angel Wing” welcome light carpet, intelligent ambient lighting, and panoramic sunroof make the X5’s interior atmosphere refined, although not as “luxurious” as the S-Class.
It should be mentioned that the imported version with hard seats has also been upgraded to a softer material and filling, which is an exclusive feature for Chinese consumers. Comparing with the hard-built Audi Q5L, BMW indeed does a good job of listening to consumer feedback.
The new BMW X5’s door handles and central armrests are also heated. The backrest angle of the rear seats has been increased to 31 degrees, with comfortable headrests and a redesigned central armrest, as well as heated seats for both the front and back rows. Import X5 owners, are you jealous of this large-angle adjustable new rear seat?
In terms of driver assistance, the new BMW X5 is equipped with BMW’s Pro automatic driving assistance system and Plus automatic parking assistance system with the following hardware configuration:
- 7 cameras (consisting of three front-facing cameras and four surround-view cameras, of which the front-facing cameras are involved in perception)
- 5 millimeter-wave radars
- 12 ultrasonic radars
- Equipped with the Mobileye EyeQ4 driving assistance chip, with a computing power of 2.5 TOPS
According to our previous 42Mark’s test of intelligent vehicles, the basic driving assistance performance of the import version of BMW X5 with this system ranks 7th among the tested cars, and even surpasses XPeng P7 and NIO ES6 in the automatic parking test.
In terms of power, the new BMW X5 30 Li model is equipped with a 2.0T high-power engine with a maximum power of 180 kW and a peak torque of 400 N·m; the 40 Li model is equipped with a 3.0T engine with a maximum power of 245 kW, maximum torque of 450 N·m, and a 48V mild hybrid system, with acceleration of 0-100 km/h in 6 seconds.
With X5 introduced, let’s take a look at the “mysterious model” that BMW brings tonight.## BMW i3: Reasonable Price, Lack of Power
As the second domestically-produced pure electric vehicle of BMW, the i3 is undoubtedly expected to be as impressive as the ix3. I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw the price tag of 349,900 yuan, thank goodness BMW didn’t repeat the “mysterious operation” of the i4 with a price higher than that of the ordinary 4 Series.
First of all, let’s answer a question that everyone often asks, is the i3, or even the ix3, considered a conventional gasoline car converted into an electric vehicle?
The answer is no. Both the i3 and the ix3 are based on BMW’s CLAR platform, and BMW has made special development plans for the production of electric vehicle models on the CLAR platform since the beginning of its research and development.
In contrast, the “gas-to-electricity” platform in the traditional sense refers to a platform that is designed for the production of gasoline-powered cars only during the research and development process, but is forced to be used to produce pure electric vehicles. Such vehicles often have problems such as battery protruding from the chassis, poor space optimization, and inability to accommodate high-capacity batteries.
Exterior: Can’t Really Pull off a Sporty Look
The brand new i3 design is closer to that of the gasoline 3 Series, with only minor adjustments made to exterior components and headlight groups. The i3 also previewed the “boomerang” LED headlights that were yet to be released on the gasoline 3 Series, with a closed intake grille and a BMW logo in the blue loop that represents electric and environmental consciousness.
The i3’s tail is also basically the same as the new 3 Series, using silver/blue decorative strips to outline a diffuser-like contour, and the air circulation opening on both sides of the tail of the ordinary 3 Series is eliminated. There is no M kit, and the black small tail wing is nowhere to be found.
Does the i3 look good? If I had never seen the ordinary 3 Series, my answer would be “not bad.” But the i3, modified based on the ordinary 3 series, gives me a feeling of “awkwardness,” which may stem from the closed air intake, the various black decorative panels that have become black plates for optimizing the wind resistance, or the low-resistance wheels specially designed for the i3.
BMW repeatedly emphasized the i3’s “sporty genes” at the press conference, but to be honest, without the M kit, the i3 with large black plastic trim makes me lose any desire to drive it boldly.### Fortunately, the Interior of the i3 is Exceptional
Upon seeing the interior of the i3, my initial disappointment subsided. The i3 has taken a step ahead of the X5 and is the first to adopt BMW’s latest family interior design.
The traditional gearshift knob has been replaced by a sleek and compact selector lever. The integrated curved surface display consists of a 14.9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel. The vehicle features the all-new BMW iDrive operating system 8.0, with driving modes that include Comfort, Sport, and Eco.
Although the initial impression is good, upon closer examination, the infotainment screen borders are too large. BMW, don’t you think so too? However, this is not just a problem for the i3, as BMW’s flagship electric SUV, the iX, has the same issue:
According to colleagues who’ve test-driven the iX, the display quality of the two large screens in the iX is satisfactory, and we hope that the i3 can inherit this advantage while still having to retain the black borders inherited from its older sibling.
The G28 chassis code for the i3 is the same as the older model i3, but the wheelbase is longer than the long-wheelbase version of the 3 Series by an additional 5mm. Naturally, there will be no concerns about the interior space, my only concern is that the addition of the battery pack will raise the floor height and affect passenger comfort.
Welcome Back, Rear Anti-Roll Bar
In terms of powertrain, the i3 is equipped with the fifth-generation BMW eDrive electric drive system, with a single-motor layout and a rear-mounted excited/synchronous motor, with a maximum power of 210 kW, a maximum torque of 400 Nm, and a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 6.2 seconds.The power parameter of i3 is slightly higher than that of the rear-wheel drive 330i with a high-power B48 2.0T engine. With a 70 kWh battery, i3 has a curb weight of 2,029 kg and can provide a CLTC range of 526 km. In comparison, 330i only weighs 1,610 kg. i3 is 419 kg heavier, equivalent to the weight of 6-7 adults.
Therefore, as for the doubt that i3 has greater power than 330i but slower acceleration by 0.3 seconds, can’t we now see the reason? As a remedy, i3 still offers some enhancements to handling, such as adding front sway bars and rear adaptive air suspensions on the basis of the rear sway bar that is downgraded on 330i. However, this air suspension cannot be controlled manually for lifting and lowering, but is more meaningful in increasing stability according to the changes in the vehicle load and the transfer of the body’s center of gravity during movement.
The price of 349,900 yuan comes with rear air suspension and rear sway bar, which makes 330i owners sigh with regret.
To optimize the handling performance of i3, BMW has deliberately widened the front and rear wheel tracks. Thanks to the characteristics of electric vehicles, the center of gravity of i3 is also 33 mm lower than that of a regular 3 Series, theoretically allowing for more stable handling performances. Hopefully, these remedies can save the extra weight.
However, objectively speaking, the CLTC range of 526 km provided by the 70 kWh ternary lithium battery pack is only slightly satisfactory. Compared with the CLTC range of 556 km provided by Model 3 with a 60 kWh LFP battery, the larger and heavier i3 still falls short.
It is unknown whether it is due to cost and pricing strategy, but iX3 on the same platform uses an 80 kWh battery pack, which is regrettable that i3 does not use.
Energy Recovery System: Still Needs Efforts
BMW does not have its own charging network in China and currently partners with third-party public charging providers (except for charging stations set up by BMW in dealerships).By the end of February 2022, BMW had connected to 380,000 public charging piles with over 200,000 DC fast charging piles. In contrast, Volkswagen’s affiliated Kamistad charging station had 607 installed as of the end of 2021, while NIO had accumulated over 1,200 charging stations, including 605 supercharging stations, covering 226 cities in 2021.
It seems that BMW’s energy replenishment system still needs to make efforts.
In conclusion
Since it is a launch event for two car models, let’s summarize separately. First is the BMW X5.
Let’s take a look at the pricing strategy of X5’s competitors:
- Audi Q7 equipped with a 2.0T engine has a starting price of 701,800 yuan, and 3.0T is 773,800 yuan;
- The starting price of Mercedes GLE equipped with a 2.0T engine is 699,800 yuan, and 2.5T is 804,800 yuan;
- Volkswagen Touareg with a 2.0T engine has a starting price of 651,800 yuan, and the 3.0T is 743,800 yuan.
The all-new X5 with the same 2.0T engine has a starting price of 605,000 yuan, while the 3.0T engine starts at 705,000 yuan. I intentionally compared it with the Volkswagen Touareg, which is not a luxury brand. Does this not make you feel the momentum of BMW?
Moreover, the all-new X5 has the same wheelbase as the X7, and has also optimized the rear seat backrest inclination angle, increased comfortable headrests, and replaced more comfortable seats. The X5’s horizontal comparison with competitors is also close to impeccable in terms of product strength.
Some people may say that the all-new X5 is domestically produced, while its competitors are all imported, so this comparison is not fair. But whether luxury brands need to domestically produce mid-to-large SUVs is their own choice. In the past, luxury brands used “domestic technology is not sufficient to support the domestic production of mid-to-large SUVs” as a fig leaf and chose to use imports to increase selling prices and squeeze profit margins.
Now, BMW has taken the lead in the luxury brand mid-to-large SUV price war, which is a good thing for consumers.
The only expectation for the all-new BMW X5 is not to increase prices, not to increase prices, and not to increase prices.
Now let’s talk about the BMW i3.
Compared with the behavior of the imported BMW i4 selling at a higher price than the 4 Series, the pricing of the i3 is undoubtedly more reasonable. Comparing the i3 with Tesla Model 3 P, it can be found that Model 3 P has an advantage in terms of the three-electric and endurance, but the selling price is also higher than that of the i3.When comparing the i3 and the 2022 RWD Model 3, you will find that although the i3 is 70,000 yuan more expensive, it offers a larger body size, more spacious seating, an additional 10 kWh battery capacity, rear air suspension, not to mention BMW’s better assembly technology, interior level, and NVH control. However, objectively speaking, Tesla’s level of intelligence and self-built charging network are also major advantages.
Another phenomenon that needs attention is that many consumers have not yet established a perception of new forces. For example, based on the car-buying experience of my relatives around me, they changed from a Passat to an ID.4 without hesitation, as it was clear that they only wanted an electric car from a traditional brand. Therefore, you will find that the target markets of the BMW i3 and new forces overlap, but they are not entirely the same group.
Unlike those of us who are constantly focused on the development of new forces, many consumers’ attitudes are first “I want a BMW,” followed by “I want an electric car.” Therefore, for those who want a mid-size BMW sedan but also want an electric car, the i3 priced at 34.99 is somewhat attractive, but forming a phenomenon-level sales volume like the fuel-powered 3 Series is almost impossible.
Traditional luxury brands need to be vigilant that while they have a technical barrier in terms of mechanical quality, many new forces are quietly catching up. When the traditional consumer perception of new force brands is fully established and you do not have enough intelligence to compete, do you still have a chance to continue to dominate?
BMW must also be aware of these issues, which is why at the 2021 financial report meeting, we saw that BMW invested 6.2 billion euros in R&D in 2021, exceeding the funding reserves of many new forces.
In addition, BMW plans to launch 12 pure electric vehicle models in the Chinese market by 2023, covering almost all segmentation markets; by 2025, at least a quarter of BMW’s car sales in China will be pure electric vehicles.
“Large ships are hard to turn around,” but we are about to witness the story after the turn.
This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.