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Production of the Next-Generation X5 Sports Activity Vehicle Begins at BMW Manufacturing Co.


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SPARTANBURG, S.C.--The first next-generation X5 Sports Activity Vehicle was produced at BMW Manufacturing Co. in Upstate South Carolina on Wednesday.

The 4.8-liter (eight-cylinder) Titanium Silver X5 comes with Nevada Black leather interior with Walnut Burr wood trim. The new X5s will be held at the factory until there are enough so that each dealer in the United States can have a vehicle to show to potential customers.

The 2007 X5 should be in dealer showrooms just after Thanksgiving. It will be available in the U.S. with either a 4.8 liter engine capable of producing 350 horsepower or a 3.0 liter in-line six cylinder engine capable of producing 260 horsepower.

The latest X5 is the only vehicle in its segment available with Active Steering, a technology developed by BMW, and AdaptiveDrive, a combination of Active Roll Stabilization and Electronic Damping Control, which offers greater handling capability and ride quality. It is also the first SAV fitted with run-flat tires as standard equipment.

With sales of approximately 580,000 units worldwide since its launch in 1999, the X5 SAV has become an international success. Its greatest impact has been in the U.S. market where sales exceed 240,000 units since its debut.

The X5 Sports Activity Vehicle is produced exclusively at BMW Manufacturing Co. for distribution to more than 120 worldwide markets.

BMW Manufacturing Co., a subsidiary of the BMW Group based in Munich, Germany, is the exclusive manufacturer of the Z4 and M Roadster, Z4 and M Coupe in addition to the X5. Its website address is www.bmwusfactory.com. In addition to the South Carolina manufacturing facility, BMW's North American subsidiaries include sales, marketing and financial services operations in the United States, Canada and throughout Latin America, and a design firm in California.