The next-generation BMW X5 will use the CLAR platform, offering gasoline, hybrid, and pure electric models
July 22, 2024 at 08:23
- The 2027 BMW X5 will draw design inspiration from the Vision Neue Klasse X concept.
- The new SUV will lack traditional door handles, featuring smaller pillar-mounted levers.
- Unlike Neue Klasse models, the CLAR-based 2027 X5 will offer both ICE and EV powertrains.
BMW is in the midst of a transformative period, launching a slew of new models built on both the long-awaited Neue Klasse and the tried and tested CLAR platform, all boasting thoroughly revised looks. One of the most important new models in development is the next-generation X5, which might just look a lot like this rendering you see here.
Earlier this month, Carscoops spy photographers caught the upcoming X5 testing, covered in heavy camouflage and cladding. While most of its design was hidden, it still looked noticeably different from the current model, piquing our curiosity about its final appearance. If these new renderings of the 2027 X5 prove accurate, it could look much sleeker than its predecessor.
Read: 2027 BMW X5 Neue Klasse Has Mustang Mach-E Door Handles
These renderings from Kolesa, created by artist Nikita Chuicko and based on recent prototypes, show the next-gen X5 with a design very similar to the Vision Neue Klasse X concept revealed earlier this year. While the current X5 doesn’t look bad, this new model appears much more modern, featuring sleeker design elements.
The most eye-catching changes are up front. Like the X concept, the 2027 X5 sports an illuminated kidney grille, much smaller than the massive ones that have proliferated BMW models in recent years, reminiscent of the petite kidneys used many decades ago. The LED headlights integrate with the new grilles and feature LED elements. Chuicko also crafted an aggressive bumper for the SUV, with sharp lines and black accents.
One of the most intriguing elements of the 2027 BMW X5 that was visible in recent spy shots was the complete lack of traditional door handles. As these renderings show, the new model will have little electronic lips extending from the B- and C-pillars, much like the Ford Mustang Mach-E.
There’s plenty to like about the rear of the new X5, too. The taillights are slimmer than the current model and feature an intricate LED signature. A bold diffuser is also visible, though an SUV like this hardly needs any downforce over the rear wheels.
Unlike the Neue Klasse-based models, which will be strictly electric, the 2027 X5 is believed to ride on BMW’s CLAR platform, offering a range of powertrain options. Expect everything from traditional internal combustion engines to hybrids and full electric models. While specifics are still under wraps, it’s a safe bet that the combustion engines will be smaller and designed with fuel efficiency in mind.
