The future 2026 BMW X5 has been witnessed undergoing trials on public roads across Europe.
The aesthetic will be noticeably distinct from the current SUV design. Despite being observed in early development guise, extensively concealed with camouflage, the fresh X5 model will showcase a design that was hinted at by the Neue Klasse concepts. Initially, a Vision Neue Klass sedan concept provided a glimpse of the forthcoming design ethos in 2023, followed by an SUV named the Vision Neue Klasse X concept in 2024.
The new design ethos will retain the distinguished kidney grilles, which have progressively enlarged in recent years. This design upgrade will render them more elegant, slender, and horizontally oriented. The narrower headlights, in conjunction with the grille, emphasize the width of the X5. The concealed grilles in the camouflaged guise seem to be solid–and potentially house sensors for safety systems–with all air intake for the gasoline engine originating from the middle and lower sections of the bumper. The rear taillights, even in their initial prototype form, seem to seamlessly blend into the rear fenders as initially introduced in the XM crossover SUV.
The overall design is more refined and less intricate than current BMW models, aligning with the Neue Klasse language’s ethos. The doors are completely sleek with no traditional door handles or hand openers visible. There appears to be a small element resembling a miniature wing that may serve as a door opener, situated along the window line near the B- and C-pillars.
The X5 model has always boasted a divided tailgate, and there seems to be a distinct line on the rear hatch that could preserve this design characteristic. The rear hatch displays a more pronounced slope compared to the current X5, which might impact cargo capacity.
The next-generation X5 will persist in providing gasoline-powered engines. The prototypes reveal exhaust tips and mufflers peeping out from beneath the rear bumper region. Turbo-4, turbo-6, plug-in hybrid, V-8, and high-performance models are all poised to make an appearance. Each powertrain variant is expected to be upgraded iterations of those found in the current X5, as BMW has shifted its focus away from developing wholly new gasoline engines. In preparation for the electric era, BMW no longer manufactures engines in Germany.
Image Source: BoJack / Shutterstock
