Spied: Next BMW X5 (F15) Model Hits Testing and Shows Grilles For First Time

[xDrive35i]

Originally Posted by serge1

I hope the cue from X3 is not that ugly curve of the 3rd row windows...

Take a look at that D pillar from the inside. Looks like your nightmare came true.

[xDrive35i]

Originally Posted by Frankless24

IS it just me or does this look longer and more proportional past to the current gen Audi Q7 and Volvo xc90? There's more length past the C pillar to the D pillar? Personally that's what I like most about the current x5, it's big enough but not suburban size soccer mom looking Does anybody get what I'm on about? Lol

It's because of the camo. If you look at the picture that shows a glimpse of the interior D pillar, you notice it is much shorter in distance to the C pillar than the camo'd exterior suggests. Often these days, BMW is adding extra camouflaged body cladding to throw spies off track when it comes time for renders.

[3s-a-charm]

I have those same winter wheels on my E70 now and they look just as ridiculous with my sport pack (flared fenders) as this one does LOL!

Minus 27 degrees in Calgary now - should be minus 35 degrees tonight! Brrrrr.

[chiplee]

Sweet. It's hideous. I won't be tempted in the least to upgrade. Same thing happened between 4th and 5th gen 4Runner last year. Not tempted in the least to move from a beautiful vehicle to an ugly one, in either case. E70 LCI is nearly perfect.

[chiplee]

Originally Posted by georgere

"The F15 will also adopt many of the new X model design cues from the X3 and X1." - these cues are the reason why I will never buy X3 or X1 if the cues stay. they make the car to look too cute...

Couldn't agree more. Entirely too cute.

[mrow]

Originally Posted by chiplee

Couldn't agree more. Entirely too cute.

I don't get these "cute" comments. Have you all seen the current X3 in person? My girlfriend and sister both have F25 X3s and I think cute is the last word I'd use to describe them. The front end is aggressive as hell looking, especially for an SUV. With much more defined lines compared to the "rounded and bubbly" lines of current X5 if any of them look cute it would be it.

Can't speak for the X1. BMW has delayed its release here in the US because the new X3 is selling like crazy so I haven't seen one in person.

[chiplee]

Originally Posted by mrow

I don't get these "cute" comments. Have you all seen the current X3 in person? My girlfriend and sister both have F25 X3s and I think cute is the last word I'd use to describe them. The front end is aggressive as hell looking, especially for an SUV. With much more defined lines compared to the "rounded and bubbly" lines of current X5 if any of them look cute it would be it.

Can't speak for the X1. BMW has delayed its release here in the US because the new X3 is selling like crazy so I haven't seen one in person.

To each his own, obviously, but I think the X3 looks plain compared to an LCI E70, and I've seen it in person plenty of times. Seems like I'm always parking next to them. I do think the fender flares and 20/21" wheels are a must to fully realize the X5's "aggressive" potential, but even without those things, I still favor the X5 over the X3 by quite a wide margin. I may be a little strange though I'll admit, because I actually favor the X5 with flares and 20s over the X5M. Something about those color matched fender flares just does NOT do it for me on the X5M. The front end is pure sex, but the wheel wells are

[sward]

Originally Posted by WJGreer

Pretty dark all day in Sweden right now, isn't it.

Yes, up in the northern parts the sun never rices over the horizon and in the summer it is no sunste for sever months


When will this car be released?

[RL530xit]

Honestly, the X3 & X1 should take design cues from the X5! IMO, the X5 & X6 are the best looking of the X models.

[epiphone3]

I like the E70 much better in terms of shape and proportions.

[F01 my dream]

I think it's look longer than the current X5

[jacb1301]

To defend/question the "cute" comments you turn to the fact that your girlfriend and sister both have an X3...classy...

Originally Posted by mrow

I don't get these "cute" comments. Have you all seen the current X3 in person? My girlfriend and sister both have F25 X3s and I think cute is the last word I'd use to describe them. The front end is aggressive as hell looking, especially for an SUV. With much more defined lines compared to the "rounded and bubbly" lines of current X5 if any of them look cute it would be it.

Can't speak for the X1. BMW has delayed its release here in the US because the new X3 is selling like crazy so I haven't seen one in person.

[JKM320]

^LOL

I think the dimensions of this F15 are being skewed too much to tell due to the camo. I would like to think there will be an "L" version or even an X7, but I don't think this is it.

The new X3 looks ok to me, as long as it is in Msport trim. Other than that, I would say it looks too 'soft', not cute though. In my opinion, the X5 looks much more aggressive due to the hood/headlight design currently on the e70.

And I doubt it will look similar to the current X3 as mentioned above. The 2 models never looked too similar. The previous X3 was horrible...

[WJGreer]

Originally Posted by mrow

I don't get these "cute" comments. Have you all seen the current X3 in person? My girlfriend and sister both have F25 X3s and I think cute is the last word I'd use to describe them.

To each his own, and I'm glad you are happy with your car. No doubt, the X3 is the best performing small SUV on the market.

Here's why I think it looks "cute". Most of it concerns the front end:

• The hood line looks a little short to me, in proportion to the height of the cabin.
• The nose looks a little short, vertically. IMO, BMW could fix this by enlarging the kidneys just a bit and reducing the slope of the hood.
• The windshield is too vertical, given the slope of the hood.

Now, to be fair, most small SUVs have all of these problems. Another great example is the Acura RDX, which looks proportionally disastrous when placed next to an MDX.

One that isn't too bad, though, is the Volvo XC60:



This is a picture of an R-Type, so it does have larger wheels which make any car look better. Still, notice that the proportion of the front end harmonizes better with the cabin. I will say that there's a little too much sheet metal between the top of the rear fender flare and the character line, but the XC60 is generally a better looking vehicle than the XC90, IMO.

All that said, neither of them drive like an X3, so enjoy yours!

[JKM320]

^Agreed... I think of the Volvo XC60 more like a station wagon rather than a SUV/SAV look though.

The X3 front end is where the main issues lie. The front bumper looks like really chubby cheeks, and the smoother lines of the X3 headlights make them look like squinty eyes being pushed up by those cheeks...

For comparison:

[WJGreer]

Originally Posted by JKM320

I think of the Volvo XC60 more like a station wagon rather than a SUV/SAV look though.

Are you thinking of an XC70? We own one, and it is most definitely a wagon.



It's easy for an SUV design to slip over to "wagon" territory though, as the designer tries to compensate for height and wheelbase constraints with SUV design. The first generation Cadillac SRX, for example, looked more like a tall wagon than an SUV to me:

[Jason]

Originally Posted by sward

Yes, up in the northern parts the sun never rices over the horizon and in the summer it is no sunste for sever months


When will this car be released?

Fall 2013.

[nonagon]

Originally Posted by JKM320

^Agreed... I think of the Volvo XC60 more like a station wagon rather than a SUV/SAV look though.

The X3 front end is where the main issues lie. The front bumper looks like really chubby cheeks, and the smoother lines of the X3 headlights make them look like squinty eyes being pushed up by those cheeks...

For comparison:

The front end of the M-Sport version of the F25 X3 35i looks aggressive and I wouldn't describe it as chubby or cute...I agree, though, in that unoptioned models, especially 28i, are not as attractive - the default wheels mainly. The Sport and M-Sport 35i models look quite good IMO, especially in person.

[WJGreer]

Originally Posted by nonagon

The front end of the M-Sport version of the F25 X3 35i looks aggressive and I wouldn't describe it as chubby or cute...I agree, though, in that unoptioned models, especially 28i, are not as attractive - the default wheels mainly. The Sport and M-Sport 35i models look quite good IMO, especially in person.

Big wheels always help, no doubt. Also, I'll say that the rear end of the X3 looks great, maybe better than the X5, IMO.

[3s-a-charm]

Originally Posted by mrow

I don't get these "cute" comments. Have you all seen the current X3 in person? My girlfriend and sister both have F25 X3s and I think cute is the last word I'd use to describe them. The front end is aggressive as hell looking, especially for an SUV. With much more defined lines compared to the "rounded and bubbly" lines of current X5 if any of them look cute it would be it.

Can't speak for the X1. BMW has delayed its release here in the US because the new X3 is selling like crazy so I haven't seen one in person.

X1 is pretty "cute" in person but the X3 is nice - very nice.

[3s-a-charm]

Originally Posted by WJGreer

To each his own, and I'm glad you are happy with your car. No doubt, the X3 is the best performing small SUV on the market.

Here's why I think it looks "cute". Most of it concerns the front end:

• The hood line looks a little short to me, in proportion to the height of the cabin.
• The nose looks a little short, vertically. IMO, BMW could fix this by enlarging the kidneys just a bit and reducing the slope of the hood.
• The windshield is too vertical, given the slope of the hood.

Now, to be fair, most small SUVs have all of these problems. Another great example is the Acura RDX, which looks proportionally disastrous when placed next to an MDX.

One that isn't too bad, though, is the Volvo XC60:



This is a picture of an R-Type, so it does have larger wheels which make any car look better. Still, notice that the proportion of the front end harmonizes better with the cabin. I will say that there's a little too much sheet metal between the top of the rear fender flare and the character line, but the XC60 is generally a better looking vehicle than the XC90, IMO.

All that said, neither of them drive like an X3, so enjoy yours!

Better compare Apples-Apples. Here's a better X3 to compare the Volvo to in my opinion:

[Croatian test driver]

The X3 front looks great IMO, especially with the M Sport. Not cute by any meanings.