BMW X5

The BMW X5 is a mid-size luxury crossover SUV produced by BMW.
The X5 made its debut in 1998 as the E53 model. It was BMW's first SUV and it also featured all-wheel drive and was available with either manual or automatic transmission. In 2006, the second generation X5 was launched, known internally as the E70. A facelift of the E53, the E70 also featured the torque-split capable xDrive all-wheel drive system mated to an automatic transmission. In 2009, the X5 M performance variant was released as a 2010 model.
BMW branded the X5 as a Sport Activity Vehicle (SAV) rather than an SUV, to emphasize its on-road ability despite its size. The X5 heralded the shift from light truck-based body-on-frame SUVs to crossovers underpinned by unibody car platforms that would come to fruition in the late 2000s. Among German luxury automakers, while the Mercedes-Benz M-Class had beaten the X5 to the market by more than a year, the X5 was the first to use a unibody chassis, whereas the M-Class used body-on-frame construction until its second generation.
X5s are manufactured in Greer, South Carolina at the Spartanburg BMW plant and modified for armoured, security versions in Mexico at the BMW de México Toluca plant. Since July 2009, some assembly operations are also performed in Kaliningrad, Russia by Avtotor.
Starting with the X5, BMW's "SAV" series has since expanded with derivatives of other BMW number-series models, first in 2003 with the BMW X3 compact luxury crossover, and then in 2008 with the BMW X6 midsize coupe luxury crossover which shares its platform with the X5.
First generation (E53; 1999).
The BMW E53 X5 crossover was manufactured between 1999 and 2006. The E53 X5 was developed just after the acquisition of Land Rover by BMW, and benefitted from the company technology. It shares many components and designs from the Range Rover L322 model (specifically the hill descent system and off road engine management system), while the engine and electronic system is shared with the BMW E39 5 series.
A range of petrol inline-6s, V8s and diesel engines was offered, ranging from 3.0-litre to 4.8-litre.
A facelifted version was released for the 2004 model year, with production starting in late 2003.
Second generation (E70; 2006).
The BMW E70 is the second generation X5. It was released and went on sale in July 2006 for the 2007 model year. The second generation X5 features many new technological advancements including BMW's iDrive system as standard equipment and, for the first time in a BMW, an optional third row seat raising passenger capacity to seven.
The branding for the X5 from late 2008 onwards follows the new BMW nomenclature scheme, for example the X5 3.0si is now called the X5 xDrive30i, and the X5 4.8i is called the X5 xDrive48i. In 2010 BMW added the new CIC hard drive iDrive system, replacing the DVD based CCC system.
In 2009, the xDrive35d diesel engine variant of the X5 was made available for sale in Canada and the United States, along with the BMW 335d sedan.
The "BMW X5 M" high performance variant was introduced to the press at the New York Auto Show in April 2009, and started appearing in BMW dealerships in September 2009 as a 2010 model. Sharing the same powertrain as the BMW X6 M, the X5 M features the first M Power V-8 Turbo, and of torque, and comes with M Dynamic Performance Control for impressive handling.
The E70 X5 received a facelift for the 2011 model year known as the LCI update.
For the 2011 model year, the BMW X5 (E70) was BMW's 3rd best-selling model after the first place BMW 3 Series (E90) and BMW 5 Series (F10), respectively.
Third generation (F15, F85; 2013).
The BMW F15 is the third generation X5 crossover, unveiled on 30 May 2013 and launched in November 2013.
It featured the same chassis and same wheelbase of previous generation and launched with a choice of three engines: a 450 hp V8 petrol engine (xDrive50i) and two six-cylinder in-line diesel units, producing 258 hp with one turbo (xDrive30d) and 381 hp with three turbos (M50d M Performance), respectively. In December 2013, additional engine options became available: xDrive40d, xDrive35i and, for the first time on the X5 model, two four-cylinder engines xDrive25d and sDrive25d (with two-wheel transmission). In their later years, BMW added a PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) a xDrive40e with single turbo inline 4 cylinders. Also in the xDrive40e an electric 83 kW motor peak, 55 kW continuous use with 9kWh 351V Lithium-ion battery pack.
As with the previous model, it was assembled at BMW's Spartanburg plant in South Carolina, United States.
Fourth generation (G05; 2019).
The new 2019 G05 X5 is the fourth and current generation X5 model and was unveiled online on June 6, with a planned November 2018 launch date. It is based on the new Cluster Architecture (CLAR) platform shared with other BMW models.
All 2019 X5 models are xDrive all-wheel drive only, while an sDrive (rear-wheel drive) X5 was added to the US lineup as a 2020 model. The 2020 X5 sDrive is only available with the inline-6 petrol B58 powerplant, and is marketed as the X5 sDrive40i.
Another model year 2020 addition is the plug-in hybrid model xDrive45e. It has the B58 engine and an 82 kW electric motor, with a combined power of 290 kW, and a larger 24 kWh battery pack.
While the X5 is assembled at various sites around the world, the majority of the global supply for the G05 X5 is produced in Spartanburg County, South Carolina.
X5 M.
The BMW X5 M is a high-performance derivative of the X5. The following generations of the X5 M have been produced: