Whether a restaurant, gift shop, car dealership or clothing store, street and brand visibility can be a very important component of sales strategy. Thus it was that Bill Wiggins happened to drive past a BMW dealership many days to and from his workplace in North Carolina. He was driving a nice model Jeep, but, in his words: “It was a Jeep.” Those BMWs were calling his name, and he only had variance in his middle initial, which is not M.
In June of 2017, Wiggins purchased a new 2017 mineral white metallic BMW SUV X5 with a heated steering wheel and heated seats (front and back), luxury accoutrements and premium package items like a superior navigation system, Harman Kardon surround sound, panoramic moonroof, Fineline oak wood trim and satin aluminum roof rails.
“I bought it for the quality ride, style and dependability,” he relates. “It has the best driver-friendly package of technology to ride in comfort and handles smoothly on the road. It hugs the curves, and when driving at night, the headlights focus around the curve, not just straight ahead.”
It is, as the slogan goes, The Ultimate Driving Machine®, but it is super fun just to sit in it, browse all the onboard computer gadgetry or listen to music from multiple high-performance speakers and a powerful DSP multi-channel amplifier offering a unique, three-dimensional sound experience. And all the while, if you are in the front, you are enjoying warm, 14-way power seats with 4-way lumbar support. This is much more comfortable than any kitchen or office chair.
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG a.k.a. Bavarian Motor Works a.k.a. BMW celebrated its 103rd anniversary on March 7, 2019. Its early history is a bit complicated, but its commitment to and reputation for designing and producing high quality equipment and “ultimate driving machines” is undisputed. From aircraft engines and motorcycles to cars, MINIs and luxury SUVs, BMW reigns in its class.
The SUV is the new kid on the block for BMW, having been introduced in 1999 and now in its 4th generation of design. Bill’s vehicle has a 3.0-liter BMW TwinPower Turbo inline 6-cylinder, 24-valve gas engine with variable valve control. It is all-wheel drive with an automatic transmission, though the SUVs are also made with rear wheel drive, V-8 engines and/or manual transmissions.
The wheels are 20″ light alloy, and the front tires are 8″ wide, while the back tires are 10″ wide. Alloy wheels offer performance advantages over steel wheels. They can weigh several pounds less per wheel, and lighter weight promotes faster acceleration and quicker stopping. Wiggins, a Blacksburg resident for the most recent five years, has been known to enjoy both in appropriate conditions. “The all-wheel drive technology is an amazing communication network under the vehicle like the transmission talks to the wheels and everything important there exchanges information. If one wheel spins, the other three take over. Safety features are exceptional,” he adds.
Wiggins emphasizes that the BMW SUV X5 is just a pleasure to drive and that it is truly the Ultimate Driving Machine®. So smitten is he with this vehicle that he has his eye on the new 2020 BMW SUV X5 model in metallic green. He is like a walking advertisement for what BMW calls its own SUV X5: “The original Sports Activity Vehicle®: a fearless leader and stylish benchmark.”
Text by Joanne M. Anderson
Photos by Tom Wallace
