(2000 - current) BMW invented a new word when they introduced their SUVs to the world: Sport Activity Vehicle. Sportier and with more car like agility than the standard SUV, with all of the hauling perks for a more active lifestyle. Introduced in 1999, the X5 continues to be a hit. The younger sibling, the X3, was born in 2003.
The first generation of the X5, with the chassis code E53, made its debut in 1999. It was BMW's first SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) which featured 4WD all-wheel drive and was available with either manual or automatic transmission. In 2006 the second generation X5 was launched, known as the E70, featuring the torque-split capable xDrive all-wheel drive system mated to an automatic transmission, and in 2009 the X5 M performance variant was released as a 2010 model.
