3 Minutes
BMW has been playing catch-up in the spotlight this year, but the quiet spell is almost over. While Mercedes has been flooding the stage with fresh metal, from the all-new electric C-Class to updated performance and luxury models, BMW has only shown the i3 so far. That’s about to change fast.
The Bavarian brand is lining up a busy second half of the year, and the next big headline is likely to be the new X5. The current G05 generation arrived in 2018, which means the replacement is right on schedule for a full redesign. Now, after several rounds of speculation and a few imaginative CGI previews, the next X5 and its electric sibling, the iX5, are starting to take shape.
Neue Klasse styling, but sized for an SUV
According to the latest chatter from the rumor mill, the 2027 BMW X5 will borrow heavily from Neue Klasse design language, much like the new iX3. Expect the familiar clean surfacing, sharper lighting signatures and a more minimalist front end, though the proportions will clearly be adapted for a larger SUV body.
The regular X5 will reportedly arrive as a hybrid-focused model, while the iX5 will serve as the fully electric counterpart. BMW is expected to unveil both versions together, a move that would make perfect sense in a market where premium buyers increasingly want both choice and flexibility. One badge, two paths. Classic BMW thinking.
Inside, the changes should be just as dramatic. The cabin is expected to adopt BMW Panoramic Vision and the latest Operating System X, both already tied to the Neue Klasse family. That means a more digital, more open layout, with information projected in a way that feels a long way removed from the old-school BMW cockpit formula.
Two platforms, two personalities
Underneath, the split between the two models will be just as important as what you see on the surface. The combustion-powered X5, including plug-in hybrid versions, is expected to ride on an updated CLAR platform. The iX5, meanwhile, should move to BMW’s Neue Klasse architecture, designed from the ground up for electric power.
There is also another twist. BMW has already hinted at a hydrogen-powered iX5, and this time the company suggests it could become more than a science project. Don’t expect huge production numbers, though. Hydrogen remains a niche play, and for now it looks more like a strategic statement than a volume seller.
If the timing holds, the new X5 and iX5 could become two of BMW’s most important launches in years. One will carry the brand’s traditional strengths into a new era. The other will show how far BMW is willing to push its electric future. Either way, the next X5 family looks set to be a serious answer to the latest Mercedes and Audi challengers.
Comments
mechbyte
Looks like BMW wants to cover all bases: hybrid, EV, hydrogen... ambitious. Hydrogen seems like PR flex, production will be tiny. Panoramic Vision better not be bloated UI, meh
v8rider
Wow BMW finally firing back? X5 redesign sounds great, hope they keep the driving feel tho. Dont turn it into a gadget on wheels, please. excited!
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