Next up was a display of chassis build quality with the X5 up on three wheels. Chassis flex is a common phenomenon when alternate wheels at the front and the rear are in contact with the ground, almost sort of articulating the car’s body. Making a stiffer monocoque chassis is more expensive, but it prevents flexing, which can be ascertained simply by opening a door. If the door opens and shuts with ease, the chassis is fine.
Of all the cars to be in for the dirt-slalom, I just happened to jump into a 730Ld. Yes, the 5.2-metre-long 7 Series limousine with a 258-PS straight-six diesel under the bonnet. Of course, this was a good thing, because it goes to show that even a luxury barge with rear-wheel drive and aircraft-style tray tables can hold its own, dynamically, when up against 4×4 luxury off-road siblings like the X3 and X5. The slalom course saw the lighter and xDrive-enabled X3 set a time of 23.3 seconds. What did I do with the 7? A time of 24.1 doesn’t sound too bad, does it? Albeit in ‘Sport’ mode.
The BMW Experience Tour will move across India giving customers and potential owners a chance to push themselves and their cars on a closed course with professional guidance, as well as let them have a closer look at the rarer breed of fine motoring, the likes of the the Z4 Roadster, the M4 Coupé and the futuristic i8 hybrid.
