German Car Forum

LOL, completely wrong. Go read why the 1st X5 was the first ever of it's kind technically. Every other SUV followed suit AFTER the X5.

Are you referring to the monocoque construction of the X5 where else the first gen ML iwas a semi monocoque type?

Technically? Please elaborate on that, enlighten me please.

Nah, I'm not sure how to say it in English. But technically, the X5 was the first of it's kind. Something to do with the way the body is put on the chassis or something.

Someone else here might be able to. Sorry.

Yeah, exactly. The X5 was the first. ML, Q7, Range, Cayenne, Touareg all came with this after the granddaddy X5.

^^^^^WRONG.

As for the way these vehicles were built, the Lexus RX was the first completely unibody luxury SUV, not the X5.


The ML came first, but it was more truck than most needed, with its body on frame construction (i.e. the way a real truck is built). Then came the softer RX with its unibody construction, then came the X5 with the same type of construction....but it was sportier to drive than either the ML or RX. BMW added sportiness to an existing segment. All this about they invented a segment is ridiculous nonsense.


Mercedes started the segment with the ML, then came the RX and the X5. Each bringing something new to the segment, but BMW didn't event the segment. BMW pushed the needle on sportier driving as usual.


M

Well deserved .. the X5 is a great SUV..and the previous one was aswell..

But the difference is that regarding the X5, BMW claims that it is another segment and many will agree that it is if not a completely different segment it is definetley a new take on an existing segment. The ML was much more Rover-like, a traditional tractor/jeep with an attempt to add luxury. The X5 was more of a sport SUV and that was new. How ever ridiculous such a segment may be...

That can't be said about the 7-series vs the S-class. BMW have never said that the 7-series is anything else.

Right a different take on an existing theme or segment, not an entirely new segment, that is my point about the X5. Nor was the ML as crude as you try to make it sound either. Only the construction of it and some of its off-road capability was Land Rover like, nothing was "tractor-like" about it. The ML was far more on-road capable than anything before it, hardly anything like a tractor or crude Jeep.


M

I agree. But there was nothing sporty about the ML. Much like the Rover, which in turn derives directly from a 16:th century ox cart.

BMW did not create an entirely new segment but a different one enough to justify calling it the start of something new.

True, nothing sporty about the ML but it didn't drive like other suvs of the time either. It was progress compared to Jeeps, Ford, Chevys and Land Rovers of the day. I didn't have live axles and leaf springs like all the rest.


M