January 15, 2001

Reinventing the sports car
BMW X coupe

Based on the BMW X5 SUV platform, the X coupe concept car offers sports car performance, on or off pavement

In a surprise debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, BMW unveiled the X coupe concept sports car with styling that's dramatically different from anything BMW has ever produced before. BMW says the X coupe points to a new design direction for the segment of sporty, lifestyle-oriented vehicles. The aluminum-bodied X coupe is based on the X5 SUV platform, and incorporates many of the X5's mechanical features such as all-wheel-drive and stability control.

Under the X coupe's long, one-piece hood is an advanced BMW turbodiesel engine: a 3.0-liter, six-cylinder unit from the European 530d model, which develops 184 horsepower. The X coupe's powerplant has been modified to produce 332 ft-lb. of torque for off-road ability, and top speed is around 200 km/h (125 mph.)

A 5-speed Steptronic automatic transmission routs power to the X coupe's four wheels; shifting is programmed for sporty performance and driving pleasure and the driver can control shifts via "paddles" on the steering wheel.

The X coupe has All Season Traction (AST) with all-wheel drive, Dynamic Stability Control, and Hill Descent Control (HDC).

Fabricated from aluminum, the X coupe is only 1480 mm (58.3 inches) in height, not much taller than the 3 Series coupes. Massive 20-in. wheels carry 255/50 tires at the front and 285/45 at the rear. Run-flat tires make a spare tire and wheel unnecessary.

Stability at speed is enhanced by a rear spoiler beneath the bodywork. Normally flush with the vehicle's bottom rear edge, the spoiler extends downward automatically at 110 km/h (68 mph) to generate aerodynamic downforce.

The headlights steer with the wheels for effective illumination of curves and additional input from the GPS Navigation system actually causes the headlights to anticipate curves ahead.

Another innovation is the brake lights, carried in the dual rear lighting clusters under glass covers. They indicate to following drivers how hard the X coupe's driver is braking: On the basis of an electronic signal of deceleration, under light braking only the lights' outer rings illuminate; as deceleration increases, the illumination spreads inward until, under full braking, their entire area is illuminated.

A unique feature of the X coupe is an entire rear section that opens and tilts rearward, revealing the cargo space and rear seats. The hatch includes the entire rear window, creating a huge opening that makes loading cargo and entering/exiting the rear passenger space, from the curb side, very easy.

The cockpit has adjustable pedals for large or small drivers. Sport front seats offer ample lateral support at the back and thighs, and because of the high ground clearance, the seats are relatively high easing entry and exit.

Everything near the driver is oriented to the driver whose "working space" is clearly delineated from the front passenger's space. As some instruments are of interest only to the driver, they are arranged and designed to be visible only to him or her - for example the engine-temperature and fuel readouts in the left door.

When a low-mounted lever on the centre console is moved downward, the flexible surface of the dash changes its shape, opening up like a sort of "mouth" and giving the driver a view of the colour monitor of a multi-function control system. The controller on the centre console, gives the driver and front passenger control over multiple functions. By moving, turning and pressing downward on the controller, one selects which category of functions will be displayed on the monitor. This concept was first shown in the Z9 coupe.

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