BIMMER IN THE NEW YEAR

THE BMW 2 SERIES GRAN TOURER AND BMW X5 ENSURE A GREAT START FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY IN THE NEW YEAR.

Portrait of Tammy Strobel

THE BMW 2 SERIES GRAN TOURER AND BMW X5 ENSURE A GREAT START FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY IN THE NEW YEAR. 

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The Lunar New Year is a big occasion for the Chinese community. Beyond the feasting and festivities, it is significant because it symbolises an auspicious beginning. 

Lunar New Year is also a time for shopping and reunion dinners, and the best ways for families to accomplish these are with the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer and BMW X5.

Now, don’t be fooled by the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer’s compact appearance. There is plenty of space for everyone and their belongings in this seven-seater multi-purpose vehicle. 

With a luggage capacity between 645 and 1905 litres depending on the seat configuration, and an additional 80 litres under the boot floor, you will have no problem bringing home all those cartons of mandarin oranges and New Year goodies. 

The BMW X5 comes close with a cargo volume of between 650 and 1870 litres. Like the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer, it also has 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats that let you configure the cabin layout according to your needs. 

The front passenger seat in the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer even has a foldable backrest so you can transport stalks of pussy willow that are up to 2.6m long. The contactless opening/closing of the tailgate is exceptionally practical when you have your hands full. 

Meanwhile, the BMW X5’s dual-section tailgate makes stowing both small and large items a breeze. 

For smaller objects, you only need to open the upper portion. When opened, the lower tailgate creates a platform flush with the boot floor, which is handy for loading cartons of soft drinks or even several pots of orchids. 

Once the shopping is done, it is time to go visiting. This is where your extended family and friends will be glad that you’re driving one of these dynamic models, whose spacious cabins can be further accentuated by specifying the optional panoramic roof. 

Apart from the usual door pockets and centre console, the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer has an open compartment above the centre console to stow extra mandarin oranges, and more discreet compartments under the front and rear seats for stashing ang baos. 

Speaking of ang baos, getting behind the wheel of either the BMW X5 or BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer is better than receiving a big ang bao. The BMW X5 is agile and nimble despite its size, and the TwinPower Turbo technology ensures silky power delivery and amazing responsiveness, even with a full passenger load. 

While the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer may not have as powerful a drivetrain as the BMW X5, the 216d’s 1.5-litre 3-cylinder turbo-diesel engine produces ample torque of 270Nm from just 1750rpm, making it a sweet and punchy drive. 

The Lunar New Year means lots of driving around to visit relatives and friends, but with BMW EfficientDynamics, you don’t have to fret about clocking all those extra kilometres. 

BMW EfficientDynamics maximises driving pleasure while minimising fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, so there’ll be fewer visits to the petrol kiosk, giving you more time with loved ones. 

With their stylish designs, commodious and versatile cabins, and excellent driving characteristics, you can look forward to a great year ahead with the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer and BMW X5 models.