derBayerische September/October 2021 - 28

T H E
the " somewhat " green benefits. While
the all-electric range is 30 miles, the
hybrid powertrain benefits come from
providing V-8 performance with outstanding
fuel economy. During our
1000-mile evaluation, combining
California freeway driving (keeping up
with the prevailing traffic which was
well above the speed limit), city
driving (San Francisco, Sacramento,
and Silicon Valley), and trail driving
(Marin Headlands), we achieved an
average 28 miles per gallon. Not only
did we never achieve that average fuel
economy with our 2007 X5, that's
about the average fuel economy we
achieve with our 2021 X3 3.0!
In terms of charging, the hybrid
powertrain does come with some
challenges. Some Northern California
Shell stations have installed " smart "
charging units, but they are not
compatible with the X5 45e charging
port. Using the provided portable
standard wall plug charger, a full
charge is achieved in about eight
hours. But again, smooth V-8-like
power delivery and outstanding fuel
economy are the major benefits from
this powertrain.
To paraphrase the words of
Bernhard Kuhnt, the BMW NA CEO,
the boss is back. From its 1999 entry,
it has evolved to ensure its market
leadership position. While the manual
transmission and third-row seating
are no longer available, the X5 has
been refined and redesigned to delight
today's luxury performance SUV
owner. The G05 redesign included
2 0 2 2
B M W X 5
4 5 e
(Above) An inviting trail for our X5. (Below) Why people flock to the California coastline.
providing the X5 an off-road
capability to rival that of the Range
Rover III. In short, the 2022 BMW
45e will provide a family of five with
decades' worth of ultimate mean,
serene, and (somewhat) green driving
pleasure.
One more thing: As we are
traveling again, a week trip to San
Francisco is delightful. In addition to
the " standard " tourist attractions,
we highly recommend two " off-thebeaten-path "
locations.
The first is Stanford University
and its Rodin sculpture garden. It's
one of two locations in the United
States where one can stand in front of
the " Gates of Hell " - the other being
in Philadelphia. You'll see quite a few
Rodin sculpture " studies " that he
incorporated in to the " Gates of Hell, "
and when you wander into Stanford
University's famous quad, you'll see
his famous " Burghers of Calais "
sculptures. If you like those sculptures,
you can see them in the
Smithsonian Hirshhorn museum's
sculpture garden across the street.
The second is the Marin
Headlands, which are on the Marin
County side of the Golden Gate
Bridge. You'll be rewarded with
breathtaking views of the Golden Gate
Bridge and opening of the San
Francisco Bay to the Pacific Ocean.
For our BMW CCA members who
work or have worked at NSWC
Dahlgren, you'll have a chance to
climb reinforced concrete structures
that were to have held 16-inch naval
guns. The guns were intended for
World War II coastal defense. By the
time the structures were ready for gun
installation, the tide of the Pacific
theater had turned in favor of the
United States, eliminating the need for
these guns. While ready to be
installed, the 16-inch gun barrels
were later destroyed and sold for
scrap. One can still tour Fort
Cronkhite, the former World War II
military post that stands at the edge of
the Pacific Ocean. Fort Cronkhite is
one of the few examples of these
World War II " mobilization posts "
remaining in the country. The fort's
barracks, mess halls, and other structures
are preserved to tell the story of
the soldiers who waited here for an
enemy that never came. Today, Fort
Cronkhite's buildings are used as
offices and housing for the National
Park Service and its park partners.
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