We’ve captured the next generation X5 M prototype on video for the first time and despite all its camouflage and cladding, still impresses with its furious sounds on the Nurbrugring test track. Have a look and listen inside.
It’s the start of a big testing week for BMW at the Nurburgring, where we’ve just spied the next generation BMW X5 M (F15) in testing. Check out the photos inside. Expect the X5M as a 2015 model year.
A couple of 2014 X5 (F15) prototypes flashed their grilles for the first time during one recent test run and our quick acting spies managed to capture it before their camouflage were reattached.
As we’ve reported previously, the grilles are indeed larger, wider, and bolder than those on the current X5. It retains the 7 slat design, but the grilles now dominate more of the front fascia and has a much thicker grille surround than the current X5 - see the comparison image below.
The hoodline has been moved to above the kidney grilles and taking up recent design cues a la F30 3 series, the headlights will connect with the kidney grilles. Although the headlight shape is still obscured by the camouflage on this prototype, we’ve … CONTINUED
We’ve just spied the next generation BMW X5 M prototype beginning its testing! Although still clad in full camouflage, signature M features leave no doubt that we are looking at the next X5 M.
The most conspicuous items are the quad M exhausts, active differential and blue brake calipers, which have become the signature color for M model brakes (i.e. F10 M5 and F12/F13 M6). Seen behind the blue M brakes are drilled rotors, the first for any X5 model. Hiding behind the front end camouflage are huge air intakes and we get a very clear look at how the headlights will connect to the kidney grilles, in the same fashion as on the F30 3 Series.
This prototype comes just 6 months after the regular F15 X5 … CONTINUED
World Car Fans comes through again with some great shots of the upcoming X5 M. Look at those fenders!
Read the rest of this article, view the photos and make comments here ==> http://www.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=226327
Someone must have gotten lazy at the Nordschleife and didn’t remember to cover up the new nose on the twin-turbocharged V8-powered 2010 BMW X5. In this latest round of spy shots from the folks at KGP, we can clearly see the dramatic, M3-inspired front air dam and big new wheels to match the upgraded styling. This marks the second application for the twin-turbo eight cylinder which debuted in the BMW X6, and in the X5 it will be making 408 HP and providing a 0-60 time of just 5.5 seconds. The one thing it won’t be doing is wearing the “M” badge.
BMW’s high-performance-but-not-quite-M-worthy X5 prototype has now shown more of its face, free from its normal frontal camouflage. The once-mysterious X5 program has … CONTINUED
These are the first engine shots of that mysterious BMW X5
prototype which started all those X5M rumors. Although the rather
roughly finished engine bay doesnt give away the cylinder count and
the displacement, it looks to us that this prototype is twin-
turbocharged. The dual air-intake treatment looks similar to the
ducting on BMWs 3.0-liter twin-turbo engine. Given all of this X5
prototypes high-octane modifications, were assuming this is a larger
displacement engine, perhaps even a twin-turbo V8. Regardless of the
specifics, were just glad to finally see a little deeper inside this
beefy X5 prototype to get a glimpse at the heart of the beast. It
still doesnt fully confirm whether or not this X5 will be M-badged,
but our gut tells us that it wont. Were leaning toward other
reports that say this version will slot in where the … CONTINUED
BMWs high-performance X5 mule has hit the Ring again, this time
showing some interesting changes compared to earlier prototypes.
While prior prototypes always had a more aggressive front bumper, the
headlight design remained pure X5. On this newest prototype, the
headlights appear to have been switched out with X6 headlights. If
there are any changes to the X5s deeper front bumper, we cant
discern them through the camouflage.
This latest prototype also features a new rear treatment. Earlier
prototypes used the standard X5 rear valance, mocked-up to accommodate
its new M-style quad exhaust set-up. The X5 shot yesterday, however,
gets a new, larger rear … CONTINUED
Currently sitting atop BMWs X5 range is the 4.8is but if these latest spy shots are anything to go by there may be a new top dog in the X5 lineup and this one could get an M badge. A performance SUV doesnt really fit in with the M philosophy of increased performance through reduced weight but the allure of the two-ton sports market could be too strong even for BMW and its famed M division to resist.
After witnessing Porsche and AMG rack up thousands of sales with their respective Cayenne and ML models, BMW is now primed to launch its own high-performance version of the X5 SUV. We now have images of a prototype version of such a car being offloaded from a truck in Germany.
The test-mule was sporting … CONTINUED
