Here it is, the 2019 BMW X5, the all-new version of BMW’s big SUV stalwart. These pics that were spotted on a Chinese car forum by Carscoops and a BMW rep confirmed their authenticity to us. It’s a tasteful evolution from the outgoing model, with bigger nostrils, an interior looks slightly fancier, and taillights that look totally different than those of X5s of yore. The new X5 looks great.
The new X5 is expected to show its face this summer, prior to its official debut at the Paris Motor Show, Carscoops reports. But that hasn’t stopped someone from leaking these official images onto Chinese car forums prior to today’s 6 PM media embargo.
The images show a grille quite similar to that of the BMW X7 concept, with sharp angles making up the perimeter of the tall chrome kidneys, which are smashed close to one another with chrome in between. The taller grille takes the place of what—on the current generation—is a big gap between the grille and the lower grille opening; I prefer this new design.
The taillights look totally different than what we’ve seen before on X5s. On the first three X5 generations, the rear lights have had two distinct sections: a taller one in the rear quarter panel, and a short part of the light in the hatch. But the 2019 model eschews this convention, instead going with a nice, slim taillight all the way across. It’s clean.
The interior is classic BMW: lots of black, understated, and laden with wood and aluminum trim. That said, the 12.3-inch center screen appears to be a bit better integrated into the dashboard than the current tablet-looking setup, and the gauges have been brought into the modern era, with the round shapes being replaced by these C-shapes:
The new X5, apparently codenamed G05, will be built on the same modular CLAR platform as the 7-Series, Carscoops says, citing the forum post. That means there will be a double-wishbone suspension up front and a multi-link setup in the rear.
Carscoops says that, according to the “preliminary data accompanying the pictures,” the X5 will get 1.4 inches longer (for a total of 194.7 inches in length), 2.6 inches wider (for a total of 78.9 inches wide) and 0.75 inches taller (at 70.5 inches tall), with a 1.65 inch longer wheelbase (at 117.1 inches).
(It’s worth noting that, according to Russian car website autoreview.ru, the new X5 will actually be 193.7 inches long, which is about 1.4 inches longer than the current model, so Carscoops may have a typo, here).
According to the American car website’s sources, the X5 could be up to 400 pounds lighter than its predecessor, despite offering more interior space.
(Update: Actually, this is incorrect—the car got fatter. See update below.)
As for engine options, there will supposedly be quite a smorgasbord of offerings, from gasoline engines like a 2.0-liter turbo four, a 3.0-liter turbo inline six, and a 4.4-liter turbocharged V8, to 2.0-liter and 3.0-liter diesels.
These technical details are all just speculation; we won’t hear what’s true and what’s not until the embargo drops. But one thing that is true is that these photos are of the 2019 BMW X5.
And that’s a good thing, because—even if it’s not a huge departure from the outgoing model—it still looks great. Especially from the rear.
Update Tuesday 8 p.m. ET:
BMW has released official info on the vehicle. The company says the 2019 X5 will be 1.1 inches longer, 2.6-inches wider, one inch taller and have a 1.6-inch longer wheelbase.
The vehicle launches with a 456 horsepower, 479 lb-ft 4.4-liter TwinPower V8 found in the BMW X5 xDrive50i and with a 335 horsepower, 330 lb-ft 3.0-liter TwinPower inline six found in the BMW X5 xDrive40i. For reference, the outgoing xDrive50i makes 11 HP fewer and the current inline six gas offering found in the xDrive35i makes 35 horsepower fewer than the new one.
In addition to fresh features like four-zone air conditioning, a bigger panoramic glass roof, a 12.3-inch infotainment display with BMW’s newest iDrive tech called Live Cockpit Profession, and more driver assist systems, the new X5 can be had with an off-road package.
That package adds skid plates, “two-axle air suspension,” an electronic rear locking differential, as well as unique graphics for the infotainment displays.
As for weight: The numbers actually appear to have gone up, with the outgoing xDrive50i weighing 5,095 pounds and the 2019 xDrive50i coming in at 5,170. Though there’s currently not an xDrive40i, the outgoing six-cylinder xDrive35i weighs 4,735 pounds versus 4,813 for the new 2019 BMW X5 xDrive40i.
There’s no word on pricing, other than that it will be announced closer to when the vehicle hits the market in November.