It's tough to imagine where BMW might have been had it not launched its first SUV, the E53 X5, back in 1999. In 2026, the German automaker will once again show boldness with the debut of the first Neue Klasse-based X5, and based on these new spy shots captured by our photographers in northern Sweden, the G65 BMW X5 won't simply exaggerate the styling of the smaller iX3 revealed in 2025. Shot during winter testing near, the images show the X5 with its production headlights, but also its finalized taillights, and the latter are particularly interesting.
2027 BMW X5 Will Be a Handsome SUV
SH Proshots/Autoblog
At the front, the narrow, visor-like headlight and grille configuration draws inspiration from the Vision Neue Klasse X concept, with slanted daytime running light graphics in the clusters and a pair of narrow upright kidney grilles in the middle. Just below these, a pair of horizontal openings sits above the lower intake grille, while thing, vertical openings on either end of the front fascia will cool the brakes. With cladding on the hood, there's still a lot of testing to be done before BMW is willing to reveal more of the vehicle's true design. Moving backward, we can see a large panoramic glass sunroof between the protruding rails, and on the doors, flush handles.
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All the way at the back, the sloping roof ends with a contoured spoiler, and the tailgate it sits on appears to retain the split opening that makes the current SUV so practical. Finally, the taillights reveal a unique DRL graphic that does not simply repeat the design of the iX3. Instead of slanted vertical vanes, this design accentuates width, helping reinforce this as the bigger, more luxurious SUV in the lineup. Between these lights is where the BMW roundel will sit, and further down, we're still waiting for a production-spec bumper to be fitted.
Several X5 Variants Will Be Offered
SH Proshots/Autoblog
When the G65 X5 debuts in 2026 (for the 2027 model year), it is expected to be available in 40, 40 xDrive, 50e xDrive, M60 xDrive, and M60e xDrive flavors, while its all-electric iX5 counterpart is likely to be offered in 50 xDrive, 60 xDrive, and M70 xDrive trims. The X5 M60e is particularly noteworthy, as this will ditch the mild-hybrid technology of today's X5 M60i and gain a plug-in setup. Unfortunately, it will also ditch the 4.4-liter V8 and use a straight-six engine like the M760e luxury sedan, but on the plus side, that will mean an increase on the current 523-horsepower output, with over 550 hp said to be on the table. Range-extender options are also said to be under consideration, but with this much camo still on prototypes and a full winter testing session ahead of us, a full reveal with all the details is only expected several months from now, with production to begin in October 2026.
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