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BMW's next X5 emerges from camouflage — in pixels and on test mules
The next-generation BMW X5 (internal code G65) is rapidly taking shape. After months of spy shots and a heavily cloaked official teaser in September 2025, BMW's mid-size SAV is preparing to fully adopt the marque's Neue Klasse design language. While prototypes continue road testing, the imagination of the car-enthusiast community has already filled in many gaps — thanks to striking CGI work that makes the future X5 feel tantalizingly close.
Powertrain lineup: broad and future-focused
BMW intends to offer one of the widest powertrain rosters in the segment for the 2027 X5. Sources and company statements indicate the G65 will cover nearly every propulsion choice buyers care about today:
- Traditional gasoline and diesel engines for global markets,
- An upscale plug-in hybrid (PHEV) rather than a simple mild hybrid,
- A fully electric iX5 with a large battery pack, potentially available with a range-extender option,
- A hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV) variant developed jointly with Toyota, scheduled for a later rollout.
This diversity positions the X5 to compete across different regions and regulatory landscapes: fossil-fuel loyalists, electrification-first buyers, and those watching hydrogen as a longer-term zero-emission strategy.
Timing and market positioning
BMW has confirmed the hydrogen FCEV will arrive in 2028. For all other versions — ICE, PHEV and battery-electric — industry expectation is an earlier launch, possibly starting in the first quarter of 2026. Introducing multiple drivetrains helps BMW preserve the X5's mainstream premium status while advancing Neue Klasse engineering principles.
Design cues: Neue Klasse, but with its own personality
Digital artist Sugar Chow (known online as sugardesign_1) recently released ultra-realistic renderings of the G65 X5 that show how the Neue Klasse aesthetic could be interpreted for a mid-size SUV. The CGI borrows the clean, upright proportions first seen on the second-generation iX3 while adding X5-specific details that make the SUV distinct.
What stands out most in these renderings is the new LED daytime running light motif: a double 'X' form embedded inside each headlamp. It reads as a subtle badge of identity — a nod to BMW's X models and xDrive capability — while simultaneously serving as a visual counterpoint to Mercedes-Benz's recent LED star graphics. The effect is modern, high-tech and unmistakably aimed at carving out a unique lighting signature in a crowded premium SUV field.
"The double 'X' DRL is a clever branding move," observes one automotive lighting expert. "It gives the X5 a recognizable face both day and night, which matters in this class."
Why the CGI matters
Real-world prototypes still wear heavy camouflage, so high-quality CGI fills the storytelling gap: it helps enthusiasts and potential buyers visualize trims, proportions and lighting designs before the official reveal. Sugar Chow's renderings earned praise on social platforms, with some viewers saying they nearly mistook the images for manufacturer material — a testament to how close digital previews can come to reality.
Highlights:
- G65 X5 to adopt Neue Klasse styling and architecture
- Multiple drivetrains: ICE, PHEV, BEV (iX5), and FCEV (with Toyota)
- Distinctive double 'X' LED signature could become a new brand identifier
Whether you're tracking spy photos, powertrain timelines or design previews, the next BMW X5 appears set to blend technical ambition with a fresh visual identity. Keep an eye on the first official unveilings in 2026 if BMW sticks to the expected schedule — and on the lighting trends that will define premium SUVs in the years ahead.
Source: autoevolution
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