2014 BMW X5 – third-generation F15 breaks cover

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It wasn’t just long ago that we saw a rendering of it, but no more speculation is needed on what it looks like, because the first details and photos of the 2014 BMW X5 have come about – the third-generation F15 is slated to go on sale starting from November, after its public debut, presumably in Frankfurt.

Dimensions-wise, the F15 sits on the same 2,933 mm-long wheelbase as the current E70, but is slightly longer at 4,886 mm (E70, 4,854 mm). It’s also marginally wider at 1,938 mm (E70, 1,933 mm) and lower at 1,762 mm (1,776 mm).

The new car also features more usable cabin space. Interior width for the front occupants has been increased from 1,551 mm in the current second-gen to 1,562 mm, while the rear is essentially unchanged. There’s also a marginal increase in distance between seat height to the interior roofline. Weight is down too, with the help of extensive use of ultra-high-tensile steels in the body structure, an aluminium bonnet and magnesium instrument panel support as well as thermoplastic side panels.

The company says that the F15 is an evolutionary development of body design from the E70; it’s certainly softer-looking – and shapelier – than the outgoing vehicle. Cues on the silhouette are an eye-catching swage line over the wheel arches and plenty of horizontal lines and taut surfaces at the rear, as well as design elements for the Air Curtains and Air Breathers, which make their debut on a BMW X model.

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The usual variety of engine models abound, paired to a standard eight-speed automatic transmission, with the option of two- or four-wheel drive (sDrive and xDrive) configurations. At point of launch, the range will be made up of three variants, the X5 xDrive50i, xDrive30d and M50d. A month later, the X5 xDrive40d, xDrive35i, xDrive25d and sDrive25d models will join the lineup, making it seven derivatives.

Power output is up by 10% in the xDrive50i’s 4.4 litre TwinPower Turbo V8, the unit now making 450 PS at 5,500 rpm, and torque is up by 50 Nm, to 650 Nm at 2,000 to 4,500 rpm. Fuel consumption is down by 20%, and CO2 emissions have been cut by 50g/km compared to now. Performance specs include a 0–100 km/h time of 5.0 seconds and a 250 km/h top speed.

As for the X5 xDrive30d, the revised six-cylinder in-line diesel unit offers a power and torque increase of 13 PS and 20 Nm respectively, while being 19% more fuel efficient at that. Output numbers are now 258 PS at 4,000 rpm and 560 Nm at 1,500 to 3,000 rpm. It’s good to give the model a 0–100 km/h time of 6.9 seconds and a 230 km/h top speed.

The M50d M Performance variant is powered by a tri-turbo six-cylinder 3.0 litre diesel offering 381 PS at 4,000 to 4,400 rpm and 740 Nm of torque at 2,000 to 3,000 rpm, and it does the sprint to 100 km/h from standstill in 5.3 seconds, going up to 250 km/h.

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When it arrives in December, the 2.0 litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine will be new to the X5, and it will feature in the sole two-wheel drive model, the sDrive25d, as well as the xDrive25d.

There’s a raft of EfficientDynamics features, as expected – the X5 will come with ECO PRO, Auto Start-Stop, Brake Energy Regeneration, on-demand use of auxiliary units, electric power steering and low rolling resistance tyres as standard fitment. Ditto ConnectedDrive, of course.

Elsewhere, driver assistance features such as DSC, DTC, CBC, Dynamic Brake Control and an Automatic Differential Brake are to be found, and Brake Assist, Brake Standby, Hill-Start Assistant, Brake Fade compensation, Brake Drying and HDC – on xDrive versions – also come as standard. The xDrive system has also been revised, and is now 1.4 kg lighter.

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Buyers will have a choice of four suspension packages – Adaptive Comfort suspension, Adaptive M suspension, Adaptive Dynamic suspension and Adaptive Professional suspension – to pick from. All versions will be equipped with electronic power-assisted steering, with Active Steering available as an option for the X5 xDrive30d and xDrive50i.

The interior features newly-designed front seats, with the option of comfort or sport seats, and the third-row seats can be lowered into the floor individually. The folding backrest in the middle row is now split 40:20:40, and cargo space volume is 650 litres, going to 1,870 litres with rear seats folded, an increase of 30 and 120 litres respectively.

Also to be found, a 10.2 inch free-standing Control Display screen linked to the new iDrive Touch Controller operating system, and black-panel tech for the climate control and ventilation displays.

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There’s also new scope for individualisation – besides the usual SE and M Sport packages, two new design packages called Design Pure Experience and Design Pure Excellence means that exterior and interior features can be ordered in almost any combination.

The Design Pure Experience package includes a mix of brushed stainless steel and high-gloss black exterior elements, and the interior can be had with Nappa leather with contrast stitching in dark Mocha and Black, black leather on the instrument panel/upper arm trims with Nut Brown contrast stitching, topped up with Fineline Pure textured wood trim.

As for the Design Pure Excellence kit, the underbody protection and wheel arch surrounds go with the body colour, with gloss black and chrome bits peppering the exterior. The Nappa leather interior features extensive areas in Ivory White with contrast stitching, American Oak interior trim and Atlas Grey leather instrument panel and door panel coverings. All sounds rather heady, doesn’t it?


GALLERY: BMW X5 F15

GALLERY: BMW X5 xDrive30d

GALLERY: BMW X5 xDrive50i

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Anthony Lim

Anthony Lim believes that nothing is better than a good smoke and a car with character, with good handling aspects being top of the prize heap. Having spent more than a decade and a half with an English tabloid daily never being able to grasp the meaning of brevity or being succinct, he wags his tail furiously at the idea of waffling - in greater detail - about cars and all their intrinsic peculiarities here.

 

Comments

  • Alpha on May 30, 2013 at 2:10 pm

    Sorry to BMW fans, but I just don’t get it. Few years back, each BMW series have their own characteristics that make them distinguishable from each other. Look at the E36/46 and the E39/E60 and E65/E66. They are unmistakably the 3-er, 5-er and 7-er. But now, I find it hard to distinguish between F30 and F10. They look too similar. And now, this new X5 looks exactly like a bigger X1.

    Don’t get me wrong. The designs are good. But they should do more to give each series their own characteristics.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 53 Thumb down 91
    • yes i agree. THey are becoming like Audi.

      hopefully mercedes doesnt follow them

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 5
      • BMW Malaysia Kelentong on May 31, 2013 at 4:08 pm

        This car is ONLY about USD$47,500. That comes to about RM150,000. You plus the maximum tax and excise of 130%, the price cannot come to close to what it is sold in Malaysia. In Malaysia, it is sold for RM600,000. Got logic? Only car dealership in the world with such a high margin of RM300,000 profit per X5 sold. Only a fool will give free money to BMW Malaysia, unless the money you earn is corruption.

        Somemore, the pariah BMW Malaysia ONLY gives a mere 2 years warranty. It is the only car company giving 2 years warranty in Malaysia. You know why? Because they know, after 2 years, the gearbox sure to kong and the price to repair it alone is RM100,000. Isn’t time BMW Malaysia give 5 years warranty? Even Mercedes has gone up to 4 years. Most Japanese have gone up to 5 years. Even Proton and Perodua give more warranty than BMW.

        Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 122 Thumb down 60
        • Good try Audi salesman, what type of logic when you just complain about X5 selling price, how about ML, Q7, Cayenne, They selling at about the same price in Malaysia, Don’t think we are stupid OK.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 38 Thumb down 5
    • Very clean design and a little sporty. Same family and same DNA that’s ok… just like the new Vios and the new Altis looks alike?!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 7
    • You’re right. There is too much family resemblance.

      I think the designers are just lazy. x1 to x3, just zoom it by 150%.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 4
    • bmw-bore on May 31, 2013 at 9:01 am

      Getting bored with BMW nowadays. Too much resemblence even if it’s called family face design. And the dasboard, duh , it looks same for entire bmw cars. Buy X5 you get same dashboard, buy f10 also you get same dashboard.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 1
    • drrif on Jun 01, 2013 at 11:37 am

      BMW is doing reverse evolution design…the previous versions look better.

      X5, 5-series both look better and “newer” in the old shape. I was going to get a X5, but now will just buy 2nd hand.

      And, I also dont like it when screens are not smoothly integrated with dashboard…yuk.

      Also just came back from US, new Accord already on sale there. Horrible and boring. If you want to buy an Accord, buy the current shape fast, as the new one, is also reverse evolution.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • Angry Bird on May 30, 2013 at 2:11 pm

    0-100kmh in 5 sec….that is evo x quick!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 2
  • ABTguy on May 30, 2013 at 2:21 pm

    Looks quite boring, come on BMW, you can design a better car than this !!

    Recently BMW & Audi design on especially SUV is going downhill. Look at what Mercedes as in mind for the GLA !!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 29 Thumb down 7
    • venven81 on May 30, 2013 at 3:18 pm

      this so-called new X5 is so unattractive! on the contrary, the BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupe is such a beauty. what’s up with the designer?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 3
  • A bit conservative. Looks like a facelift rather then a new model. Guess I’ll just wait for the new range rover sport. X5 not in my list….

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 6
  • I like BMWs current design language, I like the F10 5er, F30 3er and especially the F12/13 6er. They are all amazing looking cars compared to their German segment counterparts. But lately with the F20 1 series, 3GT and now this, I really don’t know what BMW is doing in the design department.

    The previous X5 has a really handsome executive feel to it, this is nothing more than a bloated up X3. The thicker kidney grills and Huge headlights just makes one big ghastly face. the X5 used to lead the German big SUV in looks, now the new Merc ML replace it for that role. Than there’s that dashboard, is it me or did BMW just dig through their design archives and took the old E90 3er’s dash and put it there, but that big screen does looks good.

    But I guess this time is more what’s going underneath that matters, just look at the M50d numbers ,they are just juicy.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 8
  • Is this a completely new X5 from the ground-up? Or is it something like a heavy facelift just like how the new bentley continental GT is just a heavily revised version of the previous car.

    If is completely new then is a shame the design remains similar, I do believe this design will not age very well.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 8
    • qwerty on May 31, 2013 at 9:41 am

      from what i’ve read from BMW’s press, it’s built on the previous gen architecture, so it should mean that it’s not brand new.

      if u ask me, i won’t call it a super facelift too. Drivetrain is the same, no really new technologies are put inside.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Fussy and many unnecessary design elements and lines on the face. Best attributes are the back and the profile. However, even the best attributes are bland and nothing special. It is an instantly recognizable BMW, if that is what the designer is going for but it is big let down. The whole face of the car need a thorough erasing to rid it of the ugly and bulbous headlight and the poorly place tiny spot lights.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 4
  • razza on May 30, 2013 at 5:41 pm

    Really disappointed, going from the current generation X5 looking to upgrade don’t think its going to happen anymore! Looks like a giant X1 with an X3 upgrade. Interior great, but its the exterior that the public sees and i don’t think i want to be seen driving this! audi sq5 me thinks…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 4
  • Look like asx. =(

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 6
  • neutral on May 30, 2013 at 8:04 pm

    OMG, I never thought i’m ever gonna say this on a bmw… but the rear really looks like copy paste of the old hyundai santa fe! Talk about kimchi crap huhh lol.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 12
  • vwowner on May 30, 2013 at 9:37 pm

    Everybody has d right to voice out his or her opinion but i just cancelled my intention to book the current X5 performance edition..to wait for this new X5…esp the M Sport version…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 1
    • audiowner on May 30, 2013 at 10:33 pm

      I will sell off my recon Q7 and get this new X5, the 3.0d is good enough for me.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 3
      • Gegary on May 31, 2013 at 10:14 am

        I just cancelled my wish to make bookings for the special-order Porsche Cayenne Hybrid, Lamborghini Urus and the Range Rover HSE Dynamic to book 3 models of this X5. I didn’t actually make the bookings, I just thought about making the bookings. So I cancelled the thoughts in my head. I want to announce to all of you. Range Rover can go suck it (in my head). By the way, I will probably book another M5 with matching carpets, and make them supersize the M emblem.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 15
  • razif bakar on May 30, 2013 at 10:15 pm

    hmm.. without the lines, sort of look like Kembara Nautica.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 10
  • Robert on May 31, 2013 at 12:38 pm

    I think it looks great ! More upmarket than the outgoing model, although I’m still not sure about the X3-esque back end. Interior quality and design is also a step up from current model. If I had the cash, I’d probably get one of these in the 3.0d guise. Cheers.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
  • Rahman on May 31, 2013 at 8:23 pm

    hopefully proton extra will use the x5 chasis.
    Proton perdana is improving as they are now having the same design chasis of accord .
    Well done proton . You definitely very near with BMW in near future.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
  • I will waiting the F15 X5 M sport look great…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Gone r da days wen bmw used to lead da way in automotive design. However they stil design da best engines in da world. Da numbers in the upcoming M5.0d (3 litre tri turbo) its a beast.

    But I’m very disappointed with both da interior & exterior design its dull & boring to say da least. If I had da cash I wud wait for the Range rover sport dats da father of all suv’s!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
 

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