The BMW X5 shines in a replica of the Monza circuit, in the Moroccan desert

SUVs want to prove that they are vehicles truly capable of tackling any terrain, no matter how complicated. So BMW’s Italian division decided to put the BMW X5 to the test and sent it around the Monza circuit. Well, put like that, it doesn’t sound like much of a challenge for a crossover. A competition track with corners that is meant to be enjoyed, yes, but a challenge for an SUV like the BMW X5? Yes, if it is a replica of the Italian circuit built in Merzouga, one of the most desert-like areas of Morocco.

The replica has a length of 5,793 metres, the same as the circuit itself. And that’s not all: when we speak of a replica, we mean one excavated in the sand. Over 15 days, a full team made up of 4 bulldozers and 4 trucks removed the sand from the site, all managed by 50 people. Engineers, technicians, operators and the drivers themselves carried out this feat. And why?

To test the combination of speed and crossover capabilities of the model. The complexity of the terrain, made up not only of sand but also rock, with temperatures that can also cause discomfort for both car and driver. Alongside the BMW X5, a BMW R 1250 GS motorcycle, an endurance model that was also testing its new engine, served as a guide.

The BMW had to use every capability of the damping system, the Dynamic Damper Control. This allows it to change the ride height by 80 mm, which helps it move across this terrain. In addition, the German SUV has four driving modes: sand, rock, gravel and snow, which adapt the throttle response, ride height and transmission. With this system, what could have been a disaster for another similar vehicle was straightforward for the BMW X5 to negotiate this demanding terrain.

SUVs, although they are crossovers, are not all capable of driving over terrain this demanding. The BMW X5 has proven itself to be one of the most capable and, as you can see in the video, it can tackle this and other major challenges.

https://youtu.be/XBOt8LYcdk8

Technical specifications of this car

Off-RoadBMW X55 versions · from 96,150 €