Design tweaks over the standard BMW X5 include 20-inch alloys, a more aggressive front bumper, cross-drilled brake discs grabbed by blue calipers and quad exhaust pipes.
Under the skin, the X5M will use the latest version of the BMW M 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8. It features variable valve timing and a higher compression ratio,which should help it to deliver around 570bhp – up from the current car’s 555bhp.
The new X5M will also weigh less than the old model, which tips the scales at 2,380kg. That should mean the 0-62mph time drops to around 4.5 seconds, while fuel economy should improve from the current figure of 20.3mpg.
The first pictures of the all-new BMW X5 reveal a familiar profile but a mixture of design cues borrowed from BMW’s current and future models.
The more rounded front end, featuring headlights that flow in to the double kidney grille, is a feature of the new 3 Series, while the shapely air vents either side of the bumper are borrowed from the 4 Series Coupe.
The new X5’s interior will focus on improved quality, with better materials used throughout, and tech features like selectable dampers, iDrive and a large widescreen display for the internet-connected infotainment system all to be offered.We’re expecting the X5 to grow considerably over the car it replaces to
help distance it from the smaller X3. A longer wheelbase will free up
even more space in the cabin, so we’ll almost certainly see the return
of the seven-seater variant.
The car’s nose appears more upright than before, with a more prominent, larger version of BMW’s trademark kidney grille. Larger doors, a longer wheelbase and a longer-looking roof should give extra interior space, including the possibility of a seven-seater option this time around.
The engine range is expected to mirror that of the current car, with 3.0-litre six cylinder diesels and eight cylinder petrols, while a downsized four-cylinder turbodiesel, to take on the Mercedes ML250 CDI, is possible, along with a petrol-electric hybrid.