A new X5 M60 is just around the corner with a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8. The potent SUV could deliver upwards of 600 hp, slotting below the X5 M. The current flagship ICE X5 is the M60e with a 603 hp inline-six hybrid. The all-new BMW X5 may wear a thoroughly futuristic look, drawing on the company’s Neue Klasse design language, but a non-electrified V8 will still be part of the lineup. Not everyone is sold on the X5’s new styling, yet word that the eight-cylinder lives on should land well with enthusiasts who worried it wouldn’t. Read: BMW’s X5 Will Remind You Of Musk Every Time You Turn On The Lights The new X5 hasn’t been shown with the engine yet, but the first such model isn’t far off. BMW has confirmed an M Performance version arriving next year, tipped to carry the X5 M60 name and pick up where the outgoing X5 M60i left off. Photos BMW Like that model, the new one will run a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 with no electrical assistance. In the old M60i, it made an impressive 523 hp and slotted neatly between the regular models and the full-blown X5 M. BMW Blog anticipates a bump in output, possibly landing right around the figure of the new X5 M60e, which is rated at 603 hp and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm). That would make the two closely matched despite coming at the number from completely different directions. No Hybrid Boost Necessary The key difference is that whereas the M60e uses a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six working alongside an electric motor and a 26.5 kWh battery pack, the standard X5 M60 will have two extra cylinders, an extra turbocharger, and no electrification. Obviously, it won’t be as fuel efficient, but it should sound a great deal better doing its thing. Of course, the V8-powered X5 M60 will not be the flagship version. The new X5 will spawn a fully-fledged M model, likely offered in both V8 and all-electric configurations. The V8 model will likely use a plug-in hybrid setup, perhaps similar to the one in the current M5 with its 727 hp. As the new X5 M will have a lot more power than its predecessor, that will give BMW the headroom it needs to also boost power from the M60 without stepping on the M5’s toes. Photos BMW
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