News/Fellowship
BMw X: Testing the ‘Sports Activity Vehicle’
What’s more, no doubt
with the aid of its eight-
speed
automatic
transmission, the BMW X1
x28i had an EPA rating of
22 mpg in the city and 33
mpg on the highway. Its
combined fuel consumption
of 26 mpg was respectable,
especially given its athletic
performance attributes.
In BMW-speak, the small
x meant all-wheel-drive.
By Frank S.
Washington
DETROIT – Some of the
labels put on vehicles these
days are interesting. In the
case of the BMW X1, they
call it a sports activity vehi-
cle, or SAV. That can mean
almost anything; the reality
is that the X1 was a sub-
compact sport utility and a
very good one.
It has been on sale in the
U.S. since the fall of 2012
and it has done very well.
One of the reasons is its
styling. The 2014 BMW X1
had a sweeping hood, a long
wheel base and it sat low to
ping and shift characteris-
tics of the transmission. It
also would regulate seat
heating, climate controls
and side mirror heating.
However, given the summer
climate that equipment was
not needed. Coupled with
the stop/start function
meant we drove nearly 150
miles in an urban setting
and still had more than one
half tank of fuel.
2014 BMw X1
the Sport Line package. It
had 18-inch alloy wheels,
side view mirror caps in
black, sport seats and high
gloss black trim. Its Valen-
The vehicle had an
aerodynamic look that
said speed
the ground. The vehicle had
an aerodynamic look that
said speed.
From the front, BMW’s
iconic kidney grille was
prominent, along with the
twin round headlights,
another BMW trademark.
The side featured skirts that
are characteristic of all
BMW X models, of which
there now are three. Hori-
zontal lines in the rear and
the LED taillights made the
X1 look wider with more
substance. It was a good
looking vehicle.
Our test vehicle featured
The system had an electron-
ic multi-plate clutch that
allowed it to transfer power
between the front and rear
wheels. In normal operation
it was rear-wheel biased,
sending 80 percent of the
engine’s torque to the rear
and 20 percent to the front
wheels.
The X1 also had what
BMW called ECO PRO. It
optimized accelerator map-
cia orange paint job was a
standout and it contrasted
nicely with the black
leatherette interior with red
French stitching.
Despite its good looks,
BMWs have always been
renowned for their drivabil-
ity and it was no different
with the 2014 BMW X1.
We had the BMW X1
xDrive28i. And that is not a
typo; there are no spaces in
the alphanumeric of the
model line.
The test vehicle had a 2.0-
liter,
turbocharged
four-cylinder engine that
made 240 horsepower and a
very healthy 260 pound-feet
of torque from 1,250 rpm to
4,800 rpm. The horsepower
translated into quickness
and the torque enabled our
X1 to accelerate with
authority from just about
any speed.
Coupled with an eight-
speed Steptronic automatic
transmission (BMW’s lan-
guage for manual shift and
sport shift capability), the
X1 had responsiveness sim-
ilar to a sports car, it could
accelerate and generate a bit
of G-force and it could get
from a standstill to 60 mph
in 6.3 seconds.
The X1 cornered well and
though low to the ground it
was never overwhelmed by
traffic. The suspension had
BMW’s balance of smooth-
ness with just enough
stiffness to let the driver
know what the vehicle was
doing and it could get off
the dime as they say. It was
really a fun drive.
Page 10 The Portland and Seattle Skanner August 20, 2014
Obituary
L.C. Oddie
L
.C. Oddie of Portland, Ore. (orig-
inally from Jackson, Miss.) died
Aug. 9, 2014. He was 66 years
old. L.C was a great community leader,
father, and friend to have. He leaves
behind Debby Oddie, L.C. Oddie, Valo-
rie Oddie-Smith, Daydrina Oddie,
Yamina Oddie, 12 grandchildren and 5
great grandchildren. He will be greatly
missed.
Obituary
geri ward of the Lovely Ladee Beauty Salon
1923-2014
Sunrise: March 7, 1923 Sunset: Aug. 11, 2014
G
eraldine G. Ward
was born on
March 7, 1923 in
Independence, Mo., and
passed away in Portland,
Ore., Aug. 11, 2014.
She was the only
daughter born to Quin-
della and Hobart Sage.
Her education was in
the public schools of
Independence.
Graduated from Hir-
man Young High School;
attended Phillips Jr. Col-
lege and later graduated
from Madame C.J.
Walker School of Cosmetolgy in Kansas
City, Missouri. Her life’s work was as a
beautician and she retired in 1993. She
moved to Portland, Oregon in 1958.
That same year she united with Bethel
A.M.E. Church under the pastorate of
Rev. Harley Akers. A proud member of
various organizations such as The
Matron’s Club, The
Alter Guide Finance
Committee, A Class
Leader and a Mis-
sionary
on
“Churchwomen Unit-
ed.”
Geraldine was unit-
ed in marriage to
Joseph P. Ward on
Dec. 4, 1966 in Port-
land; no children
from this union. He
preceeded her in
death in 1995, as did
her parents, two
brothers, two nieces
and one nephew.
She leaves to continue celebrating her
life: one nephew, 13 great nieces and
nephews, 11 great great nieces and
nephews and friends. Geraldine is rest-
ing peacefully after dedicating her life to
God, His Church, her family, communi-
ty and friends.