Official: F15 Third Gen 2014 X5 Details, Pics, etc

[motordavid]

No car design xpert, but I've been eyeballing cars for 60 years; imo, the new 'version' is unusual to say the least. The front end looks like they were smitten with the Ford Fusion/F150 series trucks...

The front end from A pillar forward, almost looks like it belongs on a bigger/different car...X5 Meister's comment about it looking like an X1 on 'roids is right on, imo.

The techno gang will probably like it; it won't get on my short list even if I hit a mini-lottery.

Not just envious due to the fact that I doubt I will ever get one, but I am going down to the garage and gaze at my old, low tech 2001 E53, and reflect on how they hit a home run once, way back when...
GL, mD

[COrth]

I've owned the past 2 generations of X5's, and I find the front of the new X5 atrocious. It is a hodge podge of competing elements, and I don't like it at all. The side/fender lines are ugly too. The seats look downscale. I don't like BMW's non-moving, pod style navigation screen either. I'll reserve my final comment on the new X5 until I see the vehicle in person, but my initial impression is not good.

[Hammer]

I really, really, really, really love my E70, but after seeing the final finished product of the F15, I think it's a winner and I might just get convinced to upgrade.

[SkipSauls]

Is the F15 based on the F10 chassis, as predicted, or is it an updated E70? The dimensions are awfully close, and I was expecting a longer wheelbase, more rear seat legroom, and so on. Maybe they decided that the F10's porky chassis was not a good base?

Also, anyone know how the EU luggage capacity translates to US? Just converting liters to cubic feet doesn't work, as it comes up smaller.

[rh71]

The sideview is horrendous. The rear is not as bad as I was expecting - it grows on you if you see it in the video from various angles. The front is both aggressive and busy. Overall I would say it's just ok - the X1 shoe-shape which this resembles is not a favorable look. They needed to do better with the rear quarter.

Why am I seeing 2 different types of shifters? That last video shows the E70 shifter but the pics show the new flatter-top one. I'm guessing the pics show the actual one.

[Hammer]

Originally Posted by rh71

....They needed to do better with the rear quarter....

I agree. The E70 has a much sportier and cleaner "D" Pillar behind the "Hofmeister" kink.

The F15's rear window is more upright and BWM tried to hide this by painting part of the panel (the plastic wrap around roof spoiler) partially in black.

It reminds me a little of the Mercedes ML "D" pillar profile. Which to me isn't a pretty looking SUV.

[Cavman]

In one of the videos the seats are mocha brown with very strange stitching in the middle of the seat (Nappa instead of Dakota leather?), the b pillar below the door line and the dash are all black, and the headliner is tan (or grey).

Just a morass of colors that not only don't go together, but looks patch worked and down market.

I'm no colorologist (?) but it doesn't look good, professional, or BMW-like.

The front end grill area (when viewed straight on) looks like it is too high, like there is no downward slope at all or the air intake under the grill is too large, which is forcing the grill to appear higher on the face of the car.

We will all probably grow to like it over time, but man, right now, not liking it, and I was pretty sure I was going to buy one of the early ones.

And why did they choose a brown car for the press shots? I apologize if anyone has a brown car, but why not choose black, or silver? Colors to which people typically gravitate.

[SkipSauls]

Originally Posted by Hammer

The F15's rear window is more upright and BWM tried to hide this by painting part of the panel (the plastic wrap around roof spoiler) partially in black.

It's tough to say without seeing it, but the more upright rear window should yield more usable cargo space. The E70 holds less than it would seem because of the angle of the rear window, and closing the hatch can be a concern when trying to pack things in. I don't have a 3rd row seat, but maybe there will be more usable space for that as well.

Whether true or not, BMW does try to justify the black plastic pieces:

Plus, the new BMW X5 is the brand’s first model to feature Aero Blades. These black air-channelling elements are contiguous with the roof spoiler and help it to optimize the car’s aerodynamic properties.

I'm sure that someone will try painting these to match the body color, and it will be interesting to see what the effect is. On the darker colors I think the black plastic looks okay, and with tinted windows it should be better. I'm not as sure about it on the white car, and it could be an issue with lighter colors.

[seattle]

I chuckled at "driving pleasure" and "fully functional even with 3rd row seats" on the video. We got electric steering and 3rd row suitable only for kids. But what do you expect to hear from head of advertising?

[X5 Meister]

I think the brown color is officially called "Poo metallic"