BMW charges R$ 5,6 for a piece of stone in the new X5 — and you can’t refuse

The new generation of the BMW X5 arrived causing controversy not only for the external design, but also for a curious — and not cheap — decision by the German automaker inside. Those who want to be one of the first owners of the SUV will have to bear a mandatory extra cost of R$ 5,596, equivalent to about 1% of the initial price of the vehicle, to take the “Individual Clear & Bold” package.

The amount is intended for an unprecedented finish: a piece of natural slate applied to the center console, around the new gear lever. In addition to the stone, the kit includes seat adjustment controls, door controls, and center console switches made of crystal glass. According to BMW, the X5 is the first production car to use slate as a finishing material, in an alternative that, the brand claims, is superior to the ubiquitous black piano. In Germany, the SUV starts at € 95,750 (about R$ 564 thousand).

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The problem, which has been generating criticism from potential customers, is the impossibility of refusing the item in the initial production units. There is no way to deselect the optional in the official configurator, which forces the buyer to accept the cost. The good news for those who were not excited about the novelty, or the price charged for it, is that the obligation has an expiration date.

BMW has confirmed that, from December, it will start producing units of the X5 without the slate and crystal package. That is, the buyer who does not insist on showing off a stone on the console has a simple way out: hold back anxiety and wait until the end of the year to order a model configured to his liking.

In addition to the controversy of the finish, the new X5 arrives with a wide range of engines. The line debuts with diesel and gasoline options, including a 3.0-liter six-cylinder in-line turbocharged with 399 hp, and two plug-in hybrids: the X5 50e AWD, with a combined 490 hp and 71.4 kgfm of torque, and the more powerful M60e, with 620 hp and 81.6 kgfm. There is also the all-electric iX5, with two motors that add up to 578 hp and 82 kgfm. The brand also confirmed that V8 versions and a hydrogen-powered iX5 will enter the lineup later on.