BMW demonstrates off-road prowess with all new X5

Set against a backdrop of scaling mountains and a sea of volcanic ash, BMW has yet again demonstrated the driving dynamics of its all new X5 at the Bromo xDrive Adventure 2014.

Away from the hustle and bustle of the city of Surabaya, Indonesia, Mount Bromo is an active volcano that stands at 2,329 metres.

It is surrounded by the Laut Pasir, also known as the 'Sea of Sand', which serves as the perfect proving ground for the X5's off-road prowess.

BMW's clever off-road technology, xDrive, enables the X5 to shift power distribution variably between the front and rear axle for maximum traction.

Under normal circumstances, 60 percent of the power is sent to the rear wheels to provide handling characteristics that are typical of rear-wheel drive models.

The four-hour drive to Mount Bromo also demonstrated the X5's superior urban performance. Amidst the heavy traffic, the SUV managed to hold its own and pull off a commanding stance, and at the same time offered occupants a temporal relief from the exterior world. Within the muscular body also lies a roomy cabin that is fit for five in comfort with two additional seats at the rearmost row for shorter commutes.  

Propelling the BMW X5 xDrive35i - the star of the drive adventure - is a 3.0-litre in-line six unit that delivers a maximum of 306bhp and 400Nm of torque. This enables the X5 to launch from nought to 100km/h in 6.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 235km/h. In city traffic, there is more than adequate performance for the X5 to pull away from the crowd with ease. Likewise, coupled with the xDrive all-wheel drive system, the X5 manoeuvres with great agility on the soft volcanic sand.

At press time, the BMW X5 xDrive35i retails at $371,800 in Singapore.