Designed for urban roads, BMW X1 conquers Tibet's challenges

The world is a book, said BMW Brilliance President and CEO Olaf Kastner, but those who do not travel read only one page.

Kastner struck a chord with media representatives who were to start a six-day journey on Aug 10 across the Tibet autonomous region.

What aroused more enthusiasm from the audience was the question of what matters most on such a trip. "Your company, of course," many shouted.

They were wondering whether those who shared the same vehicle would be easygoing and, more importantly, how the BMW X1 xDrive20i they were to test-drive would perform on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau, which is known as the top of the world and a litmus test for vehicles.

With the latest version hitting the market in June, the BMW X1 is a sport activity vehicle designed mainly for urban roads so many wondered how it would function on rocky roads and crossing creeks.

Others wondered if the engine would perform as well on the high plateau as it does at low-altitude. The worries were understandable as there is less oxygen in the air in Tibet, most of which is at least 4,000 meters above sea level.

The vehicles did not disappoint their test-drivers and their performance even wowed some media representatives as they ventured into the challenging terrain of Tibet.

"It really has great performance. It is really awesome for a vehicle designed for urban roads to cross creeks at the bottom of which are silt and slippery pebbles," said Liu Guodong, a senior reporter at Shenyang Daily, after he drove up mountain roads and across turbulent creeks in Nyingchi.

The vehicle's performance is thanks to its xDrive system, according to BMW. "Whenever it comes to comparisons with other all-wheel-drive systems, the advantages of xDrive are quite clear," said Ede Weihretter, BMW's xDrive expert, in a previous interview with China Daily.

"It is the perfect combination of all the advantages of the BMW rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive systems."

According to BMW, the xDrive has a super fast reaction time of 0.1 of a second, as well as a full variable power distribution. The result is precise driving characteristics, regardless of the road conditions, and BMW xDrive Performance Control enhances agility and dynamics on any surface, BMW said.

The BMW X1 is the benchmark in its class with premium quality and driving dynamics with its xDrive, and offers driving comfort combined with maximum safety under all road conditions, said BMW. The BMW X1 gave a full demonstration of its performance control as test-drivers drove the vehicles from Nyingchi to Lhasa along the G318.

Built in 1954, the G318 is a State road connecting Shanghai and Tibet, and the stretch from Nyingchi to Lhasa is known for its challenging twists and turns, ups and downs, as it runs and winds around mountains, with some sections poorly paved. The 450-kilometer trip usually takes experienced drivers at least 10 to 12 hours.

"I didn't expect it to be so powerful," said Gu Lingling, a motoring reporter at Liaoshen Evening News, as her vehicle sped up to cross the Mila Mountain Pass at 5,013 meters above sea level.

Performance

BMW said the secret lies in the BMW X1's N20 engine, which features a twin-scroll turbocharger, variable valve timing, valvetronic and direct injection. Combined with an eight-speed gearbox, the engine ensures a steady supply of power. The N20 was named on Wards Top 10 Engines list in 2012.

In addition to its xDrive and engine, its Harman/Kardon speakers are capturing the hearts of many as music is something almost indispensable for those who drive through vast and beautiful Tibet.

The top-class speakers enabled the drivers and passengers to enjoy such popular songs as Back to Lhasa, which has been a hit since it was released in 1994.

Harman/Kardon speakers are now standard in the X1, while the vehicle's price tag remains unchanged, according to BMW.

The BMW X1 is the youngest member of the X family. In 2009, the first compact premium SAV X1 was unveiled for city lifestyles, and local production of the model started in 2012 to better suit the demands of Chinese customers. More than 160,000 X1s have been sold in China.

The letter X indicates primary energies and endless possibilities, said BMW. The letter has been on BMW cars since the 1980s, symbolizing the carmaker's extraordinary innovations and future-oriented concepts, it said.

The X family created and led the marque's premium segments and has achieved legendary success, the carmaker said, adding that the X has become a symbol of unique driving pleasure.

The BMW X family has been constantly expanding over recent years, and offering an increasing large variety of choices for customers.

lifusheng@chinadaily.com.cn

Clockwise from top: BMW X1 cars on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, in front of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, navigating a rough road in Tibet, beside Yamdrok Lake and crossing the 5,013-meter-high Mira Mountain Pass. Photos Provided to China Daily