X5 New X5 E70 spy pics - part 4 (pic without camo inside!)

[Osnabrueck]

Ahhhhhhh...

The headlights are going to take some getting used to. My gut tells me that the E70 "Has big eyes because it's alarmed by something."

Do any of you get what I'm saying? It's the kind of look an animal would get on its face while fighting for survival... like this X5 just got a rush of adrenaline or something.

I'm sure more photos will smooth out my gut reaction. Come think - do any of you guys see a touch of E39 5er in these headlights?

 

[warot]

Ahhhhhhh...

The headlights are going to take some getting used to. My gut tells me that the E70 "Has big eyes because it's alarmed by something."

Do any of you get what I'm saying? It's the kind of look an animal would get on its face while fighting for survival... like this X5 just got a rush of adrenaline or something.

I'm sure more photos will smooth out my gut reaction. Come think - do any of you guys see a touch of E39 5er in these headlights?

I get that same feeling when I see the 1er without the M-Pack. With this car however, I don't really see it. The headlights don't really seem all that big to me, especially compared to those huge grills. If anything, compared to the HUGE everything, the headlights aren't all that big.

 

[Michael]

Ahhhhhhh...

The headlights are going to take some getting used to. My gut tells me that the E70 "Has big eyes because it's alarmed by something."

Do any of you get what I'm saying? It's the kind of look an animal would get on its face while fighting for survival... like this X5 just got a rush of adrenaline or something.

I'm sure more photos will smooth out my gut reaction. Come think - do any of you guys see a touch of E39 5er in these headlights?

Man Osna you hit the nail on the head, although I don't see the 5er dna there.

I don't know guys, I think I will have to get used to it. I mean, I look at it and it is scary new to me. When I look at the curent X5 I am like 'hell! that thing i s dated.' It is funny how we have to get used to new designs, and in a way we accept them mentally even though we are not sure of that. A good way to tell if your mind is accepting the design is to compare and contrast.

OLD




I think it was Enilab that mentioned this, but whomever did, if it wasn't him was right...the car does have a very evolutionary conservative design to it, much like the 3er. I like it.

Compared and contrast the following so that you can see that it is almost the same:

1. Grill
2. Front bumper
3. Hood
4. Even the headlights
5. The door panels

Another thing I like to do is give cars personalities, especially if you can relate them to animals. I think Osna does the same thing. However, this comment may not be liked by many here but here goes: I think the picture that was posted of the new X5 makes it look like an idiot! The car looks like it is suprised or scared. It seems like it is not used to having all this equipment on it so that it can be recorded while it is driving. Funny how when you give a car personality traits it really changes your view on things.


I drew the following lines to show what I think were the areas BMW evolved.

Also take a look at this picture below. Notice how BMW worked and/or played with the lines. Rough edges on the headlight here

 

[bmer]

I don't think the change in the front lights is so radical. In the old X5 it was the inner side of the front lights that was wider, now it's the outer side. I at least don't need any getting use to its looks, it looks great to me already. In a matter of fact, I think the exterior changes are so scarce that for most people it's hard to comprehend that it's a totally new car not just a facelift.

 

[LaArtist]

when looking at the previous and new at a time.. the new really more looks like a FL than a new car.. ive said this before..
maybe now the formula will pay off for bimmer..cause the original X5 is very beautiful.. but its aged as hell.. this new one sure looks fresh and all that..but can we take 6 more years of similar design and shape.. this car might be in for a very early aging..

PS
but then again that wont stop ppl from buying it..so no worries for BMW

 

[Michael]

I don't think the change in the front lights is so radical. In the old X5 it was the inner side of the front lights that was wider, now it's the outer side. I at least don't need any getting use to it's looks, it looks great to me already. In a matter of fact, I think the exterior changes are so scarce that for most people it's hard to comprehend that it's a totally new car not just a facelift.

Well that was one of my points. The fact that BMW went so conservative on the deisng goes to show they did not want to do any radical design attempts on the X5 because of sales and because of the crowd that it is projected to go at.

when looking at the previous and new at a time.. the new really more looks like a FL than a new car.. ive said this before..
maybe now the formula will pay off for bimmer..cause the original X5 is very beautiful.. but its aged as hell.. this new one sure looks fresh and all that..but can we take 6 more years of similar design and shape.. this car might be in for a very early aging..

PS
but then again that wont stop ppl from buying it..so no worries for BMW

I don't understand what you are trying to say here.

I think the cycle for BMW with the new X5 will shorten this time around having a facelift probably come around 4 years from now. Not sure, Enilab will be able to answer that.

 

[LaArtist]

well of course there will be a FL.. but thats just a FL..

this new X5 will be around for 6 years from its debut.. my worry is that it looks very much like the old X5.. a design and shape wich we have had now for 6 years or so..

And that FL in 4 years wont change to much..

so my question is once again.. can this car mentain freshness for 6 more years..when it almost looks like the old one??

 

[PanterroR]

this new X5 will be around for 6 years from its debut.. my worry is that it looks very much like the old X5.. a design and shape wich we have had now for 6 years or so..

The same thing is with ML; the old one and the new one don't have such big differences in design and you're still drooling over it, so...

so my question is once again.. can this car mentain freshness for 6 more years..when it almost looks like the old one??

Old one still looks fresh despite his age, so this one won't have problems with design.

I like it! Big and agressive! That's what i want! Now, some other colours please...

 

[Zafiro]

We shouldnt judge the car until we seen it in all angles. Im sure there will be differences just like with the old ML and new ML.

Some of you are too fast with your final opinions

 

[PanterroR]

It looks beefy but I'm not too sure I like the X3 head lights.

Mind telling me where do you see X3's headlights...? No, really...

 

[EnI]

I was also a bit sceptical when I first got the info we were getting Mk2 X5 that would be evolutionary. But the arguments were very persuasive:

- E53 X5 is despite its age still one of the SAVs with almost perfect shape & proportions market researches has shown

- E53 is a great success for BMW: way over half a million units were sold since debut in 1999 till the end of 2005

- each BMW vehicle needs to get its own personality - and design should show that. So since the 3er is essential BMW model they left 3er almost intact: proportions are almost the same, only the skin is fresher. They had to change 5er & 7er. While for Z4, 1er, X3 & 6er was easier since they were completely new vehicles. The only question was what to do with X5. Since it was a hit the answer was simple: keep the general proportions intact, just change the skin. Evolutionary approach.

Mind that in its last full year of production (2005) BMW sold 101,537 (-3.3%) of X5. Very impressive figures for a vehicle at this point of its life cycle.

Do not worry - the customers will like it. The pre-order list are building with speed of light. And when the public will see all the improvements & the shape (like all the flame surfaced BMWs the car has to be seen IRL to be fully appreciated since the FS design is really a matter of 3D appearance.

Btw, wait to see first reports. Remember the praise of E92 in the press recently? The history will repeat itself with X5 ... and E93 ... and ... The press will start to adore BMW cars again.

 

[PanterroR]

Eni, is this it:

 

[EnI]

Eni, is this it:

It's a CGI. The proportions of the back is oddly skewed. Not a real deal, but close.

 

[klier]

Thanks Eni, I'm loving it so far. Loved the headlight design from the first moment I saw it, YAY.

The new competition KILLER is here, everybody say hi to the new X5

 

[PanterroR]

everybody say hi to the new X5

I'd rather say: Everybody to the new X5!

 

[PanterroR]

It's a CGI. The proportions of the back is oddly skewed. Not a real deal, but close.

I know it's the CGI, but what i'd like to know if they got the rear lights correct...

 

[Michael]

I know it's the CGI, but what i'd like to know if they got the rear lights correct...

This is another thing I wonder as well.

One thing I must say is that the new ML is truly a sexy car and I quite frankly think both the new X5 and the new ML will be vehicles to savor and love.

I can't get over the fact that BMW didn't take any risks with the X5 just like they did with the new 3er.

Eni, do you have any information on how BMW is going to shape the 5er? I know the 5er, 7er, and 6er were shaped by Bangle design, but I am wondering if BMW's new approach is not so radical.

 

[EnI]

I know it's the CGI, but what i'd like to know if they got the rear lights correct...

The proportions of rear door panels between the black bumper and the rear glass are a bit skewed (especially the panel where licence plate is, and the edge right under the rear glass) - the real appearence is a bit difference. But the CGI shows the design right.

Rear lights:
- the white plastic is more inserted in red part - not like on CGI where white part is not fully surrounded with red plastic - especially the part on rear door.
- there are 4 CELIS LED strips present in the red part (just under the white one) - on CGI they are missing
- the outer edge of cluster (the one on the flank) is not so pointed, but a bit more rounded (but not completely round!)

But they got the graphics right.

 

[PanterroR]

The proportions of rear door panels between the black bumper and the rear glass are a bit skewed (especially the panel where licence plate is, and the edge right under the rear glass) - the real appearence is a bit difference. But the CGI shows the design right.

Rear lights:
- the white plastic is more inserted in red part - not like on CGI where white part is not fully surrounded with red plastic - especially the part on rear door.
- there are 4 CELIS LED strips present in the red part (just under the white one) - on CGI they are missing
- the outer edge of cluster (the one on the flank) is not so pointed, but a bit more rounded (but not completely round!)

But they got the graphic right.

Thanks, mate!

Btw, do you know if there will be some M package available for new X5? Something like on mine 535? I mean some kit and rims or so?

 

[EnI]

Btw, do you know if there will be some M package available for new X5? Something like on mine 535? I mean some kit and rims or so?

From what I've heard there would be an aero package. And of course the upcoming is / si version will have a slightly different appearence (bumpers & side skirts). But personally I haven't seen the aero and is package yet. Still some issue to work on, hehe.

I can't get over the fact that BMW didn't take any risks with the X5 just like they did with the new 3er.

Eni, do you have any information on how BMW is going to shape the 5er? I know the 5er, 7er, and 6er were shaped by Bangle design, but I am wondering if BMW's new approach is not so radical.

BMW do not see E90 a risk. It was also an evolutionary approach. Maybe not as orthodox evolution as on E70, but still an evolution. Mind that X5 was a special design by BMW when it came out - and it still is: shape wise. It only needs a new skin - and it is getting one. Btw, when you'll see the E70 IRL you'll realise there is a huge difference between E53 & E70 despite some design elements (lines, rear lights etc) are staying almost the same.

All BMW Group designs since 1992 have been designed under Bangle supervision! Even the latest "not so radical" E90, E92/3, E70, new MINI etc.

But mind that Bangle is not the only one responsible for BMW design: he is more like an executor of the policy that is decided by Management Board - and suggested by leading BMW designers & of course department for design strategy (who incorporates a lot of marketing point of view!). Bangle is the one who guide the design process: he is the link between the designers & the top management who actually decides designs! Mind that Bangle reports periodically about design development of every BMW Group car to the Management Board who give directions where to go with a specific car design. Mind that car design process is very complicated process which involves - beside normal design work also a strategic design, top management, engineering, financial & marketing decisions.

Btw, I've wrote about new 5er in a new 5er thread (the one with Huckfeldt's CGI).

New 5er will have more of a coupeish appearance - to take on both E-class & CLS. But the overall skin design will be evolutionary and more refined. The 6er will follow the same way - evolution. Mind that tooling and sheet metal shaping process have evolved and now some design elements can be executed better then in early 2000. BMW design will be still radical (extremely dynamic with fresh design solutions), but will be more refined: no more so clumsy "Bangle-butts", "eyebrows" etc.

It's still on agenda that BMW will never make a boring car again, but also the "fugly" comments will be shut down - since the new design elements / details will be more carefully executed & more refined.