Mystery solved: Prototype is BMW X5 xDrive50i
April11

Over the past several months, spy photographers have captured a series of mysterious images of some X5 prototypes. Speculations have ranged from an M version of the X5 to a sportier X5 5.0is to a mule for an upcoming V10-powered X6. But, if the latest report is accurate, the mystery has been solved.

According to BimmerFile, BMW isn't keeping true to its word and the German automaker is not readying an M version of the X5. And while a V10 powerplant may be in the X6's future, we aren't looking at the test mule for it. Through the process of elimination, that leaves us with a prototype for the BMW X5 5.0is.

BimmerFile says the new X5 5.0is will carry on in the same vein as the previous X5 4.8is — a step above the standard SUV in sportiness but still not qualified to wear the M emblem. Underhood, the X5 5.0is will use the same twin-turbocharged V8 found under the hood of the BMW X6 xDrive 50i — tuned to produce 407 horsepower. However, it has been reported that BMW is having some lag issues with the turbocharged engine, which could explain the extra development time.

So while it looks like we have an answer to the X5 mystery, just remember that nothing is official in the auto industry until you see it on the road.

X6-style front treatment?
While prior prototypes had some styling changes, the headlight design remained pure X5. On this newest prototype, the headlights appear to have been switched out with X6 headlights.

This latest prototype also features a new rear treatment. Earlier prototypes used the standard X5 rear valance, mocked-up to accommodate its new M-style quad exhaust set-up. The X5 shot yesterday, however, gets a new, larger rear bumper that wraps around to the middle of the rear wheel well. The rear fascia on the new prototype looks like a more-finished production application compared to the initial test mules.

[Source: LLN]

Hey guys an X5 "M" and X6 "M" are in fact on the way.They are testing the X6 Hybrid,X5 and X6 "M" all after midnight here locally in South Carolina.My contacts here in the area confirm the X5 "M" and X6"M'" are testing .The local plant folks refer to the models as the "Motorsport" version,the proper BMW name for the "M" brand.They don't refer to any sort of "Sport" version of either car.It's always "Motorsport".Plans could change,but it sounds like "M"'s for both the X5 and X6.I saw a very strange looking X5 make one pass at the BMW Performance Center track a couple of weeks ago.It looked to have some sort of body kit and very strange looking "showcar like" large exhaust tips.Not like any X5 or X6 exhaust tips I've ever seen.I got one very bad clip of the car.BMW sent an X5 out to the area I usually shoot from at the PC. They were trying to intimidate me to leave.I stand on public property anyway. That's NEVER happened in all the hours I've shot vids and pics of the X6.Whatever that X5 was,BMW did not like me seeing it go down the track.The X5 made one pass and did not return.My guess, a Hybrid X5 test mule,or maybe the X5 "M",although this X5 did not have the quad exhaust tips like all the spy pic's from Germany.I'm going to try and grab some night shots of all this testing going on around here.That after midnight stuff is tough duty!!! Thanks.PalBay

HEY ALL:

Now that the mystery has been discovered, i made some chops of how i hope it will look, the first one is with the X6 headlights, and the second with the X5 headlights:

ONE LAST ONE:

Love the one with the X6 headlights!! Looks great!!

LAST ONE WITH X6 HEADLIGHTS:

omg those chopps is what i would like it to be..
especially those with the fixed headlights..
looks so much more agressive..

I had always thought about the possibility of an X5- M, but I think it is highly unlikely.

Why is everyone hung up on whether it'll be an M or not?
I'd say they have to put in a better engine than the 4.8 in order to more closely compete with the Mercedes-Benz ML550's output. So if they do jam in the twin turbo V8, I doubt they'd call it an M (they didn't refer to the X6 as an M).

As for the headlights...I don't think they look different enough to bother and certainly aren't necessary.

Little early for a facelift already in 2009 don't ya think?

New pics of the engine bay:
Looks like there is a twin turbo fitted

From Bimmerpost:

These are the first engine shots of that mysterious BMW X5
prototype which started all those X5M rumors. Although the rather
roughly finished engine bay doesn't give away the cylinder count and
the displacement, it looks to us that this prototype is twin-
turbocharged. The dual air-intake treatment looks similar to the
ducting on BMW's 3.5-liter twin-turbo engine. Given all of this X5
prototype's high-octane modifications, we're assuming this is a larger
displacement engine, perhaps even a twin-turbo V8. Regardless of the
specifics, we're just glad to finally see a little deeper inside this
beefy X5 prototype to get a glimpse at the heart of the beast. It
still doesn't fully confirm whether or not this X5 will be M-badged,
but our gut tells us that it won't. We're leaning toward other
reports that say this version will slot in where the X5 4.8is used to
be--plenty bad-ass, but not worthy of the hallowed M badge, if for no
other reason than it's SUV packaging creates to many compromises to
live up to the M heritage.

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