Could it be the ultimate...
Could it be the ultimate high-performance 4x4? A 280bhp go-anywhere Unimog, developed by German tuner Brabus, was unveiled at the Dubai Motor Show. Based on the standard U500, it has a 6.4-litre engine which produces a huge 1,100Nm of torque - three times that of a Jaguar X-Type 2.2-litre diesel. It doesn"t come cheap, though, at around ÷£156,000.
While the newcomer has...
While the newcomer has still to be officially christened, it"s known inside BMW as the RFK - short for "raum funktionales konzept", or functional space concept. It will be the first MPV to wear the blue propeller badge and, as our images show, it uses a number of the company"s traditional styling cues. Note the "flame-sided" panels, and headlights in the mould of the smaller 1-Series.
But the 3 MPV seen in the mag will have a couple of other radical new features to go with its double doors. First, the car will be four-wheel drive. Our spies have already caught mules testing the new model"s chassis - as revealed in issue 824 - and they clearly showed how the MPV will benefit from a development of the xDrive system fitted to the X3 and X5 SUVs. It will also have a versatile interior, with seating plans that will make the most of the car"s long wheelbase.
The BMW will offer drivers a choice of six or seven-seat cabins, with the former expected to be the preferred choice, as it will offer greater luxury and individual passenger space. The seating layout will be diverse, with sliding and removable chairs that fold into the rear deck, giving a flat load bay if necessary.
Engine choices will closely follow those of the forthcoming 3-Series, with the top-selling cars powered by either 2.0-litre diesel or 2.2-litre petrol units. A new 2.4-litre four-cylinder Valvetronic petrol motor is also tipped to figure prominently in the line-up.
Six-cylinder 2.6 and 3.0-litre petrol models are likely, while diesel fans will be catered for by a 3.0-litre straight-six or the new 3.5-litre V8, which makes its debut this month in the 5-Series.
With an expected entry-level price of around í‚á£26,000, the car will battle the forthcoming Mercedes R-Class and Audi Q7 in a new luxury compact MPV sector. However, it will be longer and lower than its rivals, a look that will mark it out as a sporty alternative. A performance iS variant has not been ruled out, but it"s unlikely that a hot model would appear at launch. That"s because BMW will be focusing on stealing sales from SUV rivals such as the Land Rover Discovery and Mercedes M-Class. Owners who"ve chosen a 4x4 for practicality rather than off-road ability will be key targets.
But even the base-model 3-Series MPV promises to be a great driver"s car. The engineers will work hard to ensure it has near-perfect weight distribution, while the steering and handling balance will be up to the dynamic standards we have come to expect from the firm.
Bosses are remaining tight-lipped about the model"s debut, saying only that it doesn"t figure in the manufacturer"s plans for the next two years. That means the car will probably be revealed in concept form at 2007"s Geneva Motor Show, with a view to reaching full-scale production in time for the Frankfurt exhibition in the autumn of that year.