The fifth-generation BMW X5 brings bold Neue Klasse design and advanced tech to the SUV lineup.
The story of the BMW X5 has, through its first four generations, been one of gentle evolution. But the fifth iteration, revealed this week, rips up its forebears’ design playbook in favour of a full ‘Neue Klasse’ reboot.
The all-new BMW X5 is set to go into production at the brand’s Spartanburg production facility in the US from August this year, with South African sales due to commence in early 2027. Three versions will be offered locally, kicking off with the diesel-powered xDrive40d, while ‘new energy’ options include the 50e PHEV and the first-ever fully electric X5, the iX5 60 xDrive.
It expands on the contemporary design language first seen on the new iX3, with its narrow grille reminiscent of those first ‘Neue Klasse’ models of the 1960s. A distinctive design feature of the new X5, however, is its X-shaped headlight motifs, effectively an optical effect created by layered LED strips, one that will instantly mark out this model on the road. Another unique feature is the door handles, or lack thereof. They’ve been replaced by ‘winglets’ that deploy when you unlock the car, providing a grip point for opening the door.
