BMW green light for 4WD

NEW YORK: Well, it's now official.

BMW will build a sports utility vehicle (SUV) at its plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the same factory that builds the Z3.

The SUV will be based on the 5-Series. But BMW will not confirm whether it will be all-wheel drive, in the manner of the Subaru Outback and new Volvo V70 XC, or a full-blown four-wheel drive.

BMW officials have denied it has given the car the go-ahead because of the initial good response to Mercedes' new M-Class.