BMW Sports Activity Series

The sports activity vehicle and coupe series is a marketing description by BMW to describe a line of vehicles that traditionally were in the crossover Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) class.^[1]

Unlike traditional SUVs which are derived from the body-on-frame construction of light trucks, vehicles in the sports activity family are crossovers that are based upon unibody car platforms. BMW emphasized their sports-car like on-road ability, helping to distinguish this new series from others. The sports activity nomenclatures are indicative of the reality that for the most part, the vehicles are more "activity" based than "utility". The sports activity family of BMW automobiles are grouped by their X-series branding.

The first official BMW to carry to sports activity series nomenclature was the 1999 BMW X5 as a Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) which debuted at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.^[2]

Vehicles currently produced within the BMW sports activity series include:

• The BMW X1 Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV)
• The BMW X3 Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV)
• The BMW X5 Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV)
• The BMW X6 Sports Activity Coupe (SAC)

Sports Activity Vehicle

As mentioned, the sports activity series debuted with the introduction of the X5 Sport Activity Vehicle (SAV) in 1999. Four years later, the series was expanded with the introduction of a second SAV, the X3 in 2003.

Sports Activity Coupe

In 2007, BMW expanded the sports activity series with the introduction of the X6 Sports Activity Coupe (SAC). BMW described the coupe nomenclature as result of combining the sporting elegance of a BMW coupe with the striking DNA of BMW X and the vision of a BMW sedan. This third member of the sports activity series of vehicles also served as a first for BMW, their first official crossover vehicle.^[3]

Progressive Activity Series

See BMW Progressive Activity Series for details, the first upcoming vehicle in this series is the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo.

References