BMW Recreates Monza Track In The Sahara, Unleashes New X5

In order to give the all-new X5 a proper introduction, BMW Italy went about bringing the iconic bends of Monza to the rugged desert of Morocco.

The track was built in Merzouga, one of the most desert areas of Morocco, on a route that spans 5,793 meters (3.6 miles), among sands and rocks. The automaker also made sure to recreate Monza on a 1:1 scale, both in the radius of curvature and in distances.

It took two weeks and more than 50 people to get everything done – including engineers, surveyors, technicians, workers and pilots. Four bulldozers and 4 trucks worked for 9 days, digging 24 cubic meters at a time in order to prepare the soil and remove excess sand. In total, over 3,500 cubic meters of earth had to be moved.

Serving as a guide to the new X5 in Morocco was the new BMW R 1250 GS, an enduro motorcycle that recently received a new boxer engine.

Aside from being the most refined and the most technologically-advanced X5 ever built, this new BMW SUV also boasts improved off-road performance thanks in part to its Dynamic Damper Control system. By using air suspension on the two axles, X5 owners can adjust the ride height by up to 80 mm (3.1 inches).

Another novelty on the X5 is the Offroad Package, giving you a choice between four off-road driving modes (sand, rocks, gravel and snow), which automatically determine your ideal vehicle height settings, xDrive setup, throttle and transmission response.