New BMW X5 Refines Look with Same Size and Flatter Rear

BMWBMWGermany, 1918 > present87 models
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has revealed the new, third generation X5BMW X5 Gen.3Germany, 2014 > present12 versions
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and aligned its style with its siblings the X3BMW X3 Gen.2Germany, 2010 > present26 versions
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and X1BMW X1Germany, 2009 > present51 versions
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. The muscle-bound first generation X5 is gone in favor of a more svelte evolution of the second generation's style.

The first thing to notice about the X5 is how similar it looks from the front and side. There are now LED light rings with LED running lights along the top. There are optional LED fog lights and optional full LED headlights.

BMW clearly did not see a problem with the design and simply evolved it for the third generation. The new car is 5mm (0.2in) wider, 26mm (1.0in) longer and 14mm (0.6in) lower than the previous gen. The wheelbase remains the same at 2,933mm (115.5in). The most obvious change is in the rear, which has been flattened to look more like the X3 and X1. There have been some small changes to improve economy. The front air intake includes vertical cutouts that create air curtains around the front wheels to lower drag.

Inside, there are not many changes over the previous generation. Most of the interior lighting has been replaced with LEDs that can be switched among blue, white and orange in the iDrive. The iDrive display has been enlarged to 10.25in. There are also two packages that specify specific interior material layouts - Pure and Excellence.

At launch, it will be offered in three engine variations - the X5 xDrive50i with a 450hp 4.4-liter V8, X5 xDrive30d with a 258hp 3.0-liter diesel inline-six and the X5 M50d M Performance with a tri-turbo 3.0-liter diesel inline-six with 381hp. In December, it will add the rear-wheel drive BMW X5 sDrive25d with 149g/km of CO2 emissions together with the BMW X5 xDrive40d, BMW X5 xDrive35i and BMW X5 xDrive25d.

All of the cars come standard with an eight-speed automatic transmission and stop/start. They also all have electric power steering with optional variable ratio steering.

There are four adaptive suspension options with Comfort, Dynamic, Professional and Adaptive M modes. The Comfort package adds rear air suspension, and the Dynamic package adds active roll stabilization to keep the car upright during very aggressive driving. The Professional option combines Comfort and Dynamic.

The safety systems also come in together in two optional packages. The basic Driving Assistant package includes lane departure warning, active braking for pedestrians or collisions.  Driving Assistant Plus further adds active cruise control and traffic jam assistant.

All of the new X5s will be built at BMW's factory in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and it will go on sale in November.