This month we got our first look at another BMW that’s massively important, but has stayed out of the limelight so far: the CLAR-based 2027 X5. The head- and taillights are just placeholder items on this early test vehicle, but the prototype does give up one interesting design secret. BMW has moved to flush door handles on its latest cars, but the X5 appears to be getting rid of traditional handles altogether. In their place are two lipped plates that extend from the base of the B- and C-pillars, a bit like the ones on the Ford Mustang Mach-E.
A wide, flat hood and the shape of the
slim, wide grille show strong similarities to the Vision Neue Klasse X concept
BMW revealed this spring, and which was designed to prepare us for how the iX3
will look when it debuts next year. The X5 will share the iX3’s design
language, but it’ll be much larger, of course, in order to fit the optional
third row of seats BMW needs to offer to compete with rivals like the
seven-seat Audi Q7.
Unlike the iX3, the next X5 will both use BMW’s CLAR platform, enabling it to offer gas engines
alongside conventional, plug-in hybrid, and electric powertrains (iX5). The
tailpipes just about visible under the rear bumper tell us this one is
combustion-powered, and almost certainly features some kind of hybrid
assistance, either a simple mild-hybrid system or a full plug-in helper.
BMW hasn’t revealed an exact timeframe for
the arrival of the new X5 and iX5, but our money is on a fall 2026 debut as a
27MY.
