2000 BMW X5...Continued

Still, the X5's road manners are superb. In the Cumberland Mountains there are a number of areas that would have caused problems with less taut vehicles. A chance to sample the active safety of the X5's excellent steering and brakes came when a rather small dog ran into the road looking for a piece of a rather large tire. His and our survival owed a lot to Teutonic engineering.

A racecourse is not a good venue for tall, high center of gravity vehicles but BMW had proved it could handle the worst of roads and now showed it could shine on the best of roads. High-speed cornering will point out the weaknesses of an SUV quicker than almost any other activity. The X5 manages to keep the center of gravity low, keeps unsprung weight to a minimum, and provides a 50/50 fore-and-aft weight balance.

Most SUVs have the engine above their front driveshafts. BMW chose to route the driveshafts through the oil pan. This allowed a lower engine and preserves a lower center. Use of strong lightweight fully independent suspension components allows the unsprung weight to be kept down. This improves steering feel and handling, vital to good performance on the racetrack.

This balance becomes apparent in the S curves. Cars that are nose heavy become a handful here, but the X5 showed its heritage. BMW set the torque split of the all-wheel-drive to 32% front, 68% rear which provides a similar feel to traditional BMW rear wheel drive vehicles.

Large four-wheel disc brakes and an Antilock Braking System (ABS) handle the demands of stopping the substantial 4800 lb. X5 from high speeds. This combination of horsepower, handling and brakes allowed speeds in excess of 100 mph on the Road Atlanta backstretch. The X5 charms with its balance and ability to sustain sports car speeds.

For those who eschew the dirty bits of our country, X5 will be available with a Sport Package. Priced at $2,470 it includes 19 x 9.0 inch front and 19 x 10.0 inch rear cast alloy wheels, performance-rated tires, sport suspension calibration, 8-way power sport seats, shadowline trim, titanium-colored grill insert, and white turn-signal lenses. Also available is an "Activity Package" which includes a high-pressure headlight cleaning system, rain-sensing windshield wipers, three-stage heated front seats and a ski bag. It will be offered at $850.

In other markets the inline six and a diesel will be offered, but not in the U.S. for now.

X5's width and low center of gravity enhanced its stability in crosswinds. Itās a pleasure to use a display that provides the right information rather than a lot of useless graphics. The optional navigation system with a pleasant female voice can keep many exits from being bypassed.

The X5 survived a number of specific challenges and met them all with aplomb. The Little Creek Farms stage proved that BMW could build a hybrid SUV. Road Atlanta proved they could build a hybrid SUV that is a BMW.

The X5 is a well-balanced vehicle indeed, worthy of its blue and white propeller badge. BMW has set the bar very high for their competitors.

Hugo Becker contributed to this report.