We’ve all heard the age-old adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” While this may be true in many aspects, it only goes so far in the automotive industry. Just because a car continues to sell at about the same pace it did when it first debuted should not give automakers the right to delay redesigning said automobile. What happens when a redesign is not radical enough, though? This is precisely the problem with the 2014 BMW X5.
Upon first glance, the redesigned model looks awfully similar to its predecessor. As one of the most dynamic automakers on the road, why would BMW choose to make such a safe move?
Is it because the X5 is essentially one of its volume products that outsells most of its other models? Perhaps. Could it be because they have plans of entirely redesigning the model from the ground up the next time around so they felt a simple facelift would suffice this time around? Maybe. Whatever the case may be, the 2014 BMW X5 has room to become considerably more dynamic and exciting than it is.
One way in which BMW is trying to pique consumer interest in vehicles like the 2014 BMW X5 is by using the latest in automotive gimmicks – ambient lighting. More and more automakers are incorporating ambient LED lighting in the interiors of their offerings. Buick, for example, has recently incorporated a wrap-around LED lighting system around the doors and dashboard of its LaCrosse and Enclave models. Truth be told, the mellow lighting system does add an air of newness and innovation to automotive interior design. It is one of the rare cases where a gimmick has quickly transformed into a useful option that not only helps with visibility inside the cabin, especially at nighttime, but also one that makes the interior more aesthetically please as well.
Technically speaking, what the ambient lighting package does with its various LED light sources is enhance creature comfort in regards to both indoor and outdoor space. All of a sudden, the cabin is transformed from simply a luxurious place to be to one that serves as more of a lounge, of sorts. The direct and indirect ambient lightning provide a relaxing and soothing environment, incorporating three different color schemes and nine different preset functions that manipulate the lights in their own unique configurations.
Specifically, these ambient LEDs are located along the center console, in door compartments, and in the door frame upon opening the door to exit or enter the vehicle. Additionally, passengers get to enjoy LED lighting in the sunshade mirrors, the front and rear foot wells, and also the headlining of the front headrests that face the rear seat, along with the decorative strip. On the vehicle’s exterior, LED lighting is carefully placed in the door handles, the housings of the door mirrors, and the rear hatch door.
Bottom Line: Sometimes fixing something that ain’t broken opens our eyes to things we previously didn’t know that we wanted/needed. Buick and BMW are a step ahead.