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2027 BMW X5: What Happened to BMW’s Design?

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While I am not a fan of the current BMW X5, I think this next one is quite a ghastly mess.

This 5th generation X5 SUV is obviously vaguely inspired buy the Neue Klasse SUV concept we saw a few years ago. The new iX3 tried to stay close to the concept. And wasn’t very successful since BMW designers couldn’t help themselves by adding quite a few busy design elements. But this is much worse. It seems whoever was involved in this was not trying to make anything good looking anymore. This is both very heavy handed and too busy at the same time. And that’s just the general shape.

It now seems to include more black plastic crap than ever, all over the place. The front end grille is of course smaller than what BMW has been doing for the past few years. But it now gives the car a weird face. The giant Bugs Bunny teeth were replaced by a “I just ate a lemon” grimace. And the whole thing is just very unattractive, no matter what. There is nothing left of the concept’s simple shape and detailing.

The new LEDs are also just plain moronic. I am not sure what the meaning of 4 Xs is, but it just looks both dumb and obnoxious on a car.

This new generation BMW X5 is based on the new Neue Klasse platform. Which means it will be available as an EV as well, called the iX5.

The interior is very similar to the iX3. And just as weird looking. With a scene that seems to be slanted on one side for no other reason than being different. And a confusing steering wheel design with 4 spokes, that makes you think it’s upside down.

I am not sure who will really like this. I guess previous BMW owners who loved the giant grilles wouldn’t go for this. And fans of the original Neue Klasse concept would be terribly disappointed.

Between this and many recent ghastly Mercedes designs with stars everywhere, it seems like a never ending visual nightmare…

Conversation 12 comments

  1. Laughing so hard at this. Have you ever seen a cartoon character with X’s over the eyes (ie. dead)… same thing here.

  2. BMW and Mercedes were always known for designs that were restrained yet luxurious. That’s out the window now. Garish and in your face seems to be their preference these days. It’s sad.

  3. Cartoonish, pig like face and almost nothing that signifies that this is a luxury vehicle. BMW has definitely lost its way.

  4. Oh Lord, it’s awful. Maybe BMW should offer swirly camo wrap as a no-cost option?

    Though I quite like the interior. I could do without the “12 o’clock” steering wheel spoke, but otherwise it’s pretty good.

  5. Has Office 365 sponsored the X5 redesign with those Microsoft Excel logo headlights?

    Worse, several European reviewers are vlogging about how much they like the front end.

  6. G65 platform is not Neue klasse. It is its own platform derived off the G05. Only the design aspects are neue klasse.

  7. Pig snout in the front, bushy eyebrows in the rear, complete disaster on the inside

  8. The front kind of looks like Bugs Bunny! It’s drastically more modern than the previous gen which has basically been the same mercedes design since 2010, with slight variations in design.

  9. I realized I said Mercedes, not BMW. That’s because the old one looks much alike and “luxury” brands like these have designs that are virtually identical for 15-16+ years.

  10. Wow, this is highly disgusting, the way BMW is moving forward with their design. It’s officially moving out of my category of ever wanting it had I cared about having a status or the money to buy one of these. I think I’d rather have a Genesis or Volvo.

  11. “The Ultimate Driving Machine” with the least vehicle information directly in front of the … driver? The front and even rear passengers have more visibility to these horribly placed screens than does the actual driver of the X5.

    And not only do its headlights look like the Microsoft Excel icon, they look like an advertisement for Twitter (“X”).

  12. Is “X” (formerly known as Twitter) sponsoring the headlights on this vehicle? Great engineering ruined by poor design…

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