The look's growing on me, though I will wait to see the production version to make the final call.

Won't be surprised if an X7/X8 is in the works and they have kept the specs a secret.

X7 will be the flagship X...no X8. Will be introduced around the same time as next gen 7-series.

I understand that with an 8 speed tranny and a 200 lb loss of weight the new car's performance will probably not be significantly affected by the slight decrease in hp and torque while achieving better mileage... However, shouldn't a new car model get a more powerful engine with significantly better car performance while still achieving better mileage than the outgoing model instead? I mean, to only get a slightly weaker engine that achieves better mileage is not exciting news for a long awaited 3rd generation X5... Am I the only one ticked at the news of getting a weaker engine than the one we now have, instead of say getting the tried and true engine currently in the x5 40d?

or maybe 9-speed,;) being built at ZF's new South Carolina facility.
ZF Develops 9-Speed Automatic Transmission for Passenger Cars -- DETROIT, Jan. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Have to agree with you 98%, only part you lost me with was buying the cayenne..
Nothing on this planet can make me buy one of those I'm sorry, I would rather the F15 and in that butt ugly Brown/bronze colour than a Cayenne ...:(

I know for those leasing it's a problem cause you need to make a decision at some point however for those who are not it's not to bad cause i'd be happy to sit this one out with my E70 for a few more years, I love mine, 35d has been flawless.;)

Interesting... but still not exciting news for the new X5. I was really hoping for a 300hp + diesel engine. Oh well, I'll stop hoping...

I'd like to see them offer a f15 30d or 40d in the USA, using the latest diesel engine architecture instead of the old one we have in the e70 35d. If this has 255 HP, 4XX torque, and weighs substantially less than the e70, it should be a nice ride. They could then offer a 50d, M50d, or whatever using the tri-turbo and cranking out over 300 HP, more torque, and so on.

Yup, that's what I was hoping for, but again it seems like we're stuck with only one engine option for the new X5d and it's not any of the ones we would like to have...

You guys do not get the M50d there in the US?

Are you seriously asking or just rubbing it in our face?:confused:... NOOOO, we don't get anything other than the 35d and soon that also will be downgraded to a lesser engine...