The BMW X5 has always been the sensible SUV that somehow manages to wear its gym shorts under a three-piece suit. But now, the 2027 G65-generation X5 has been caught storming the Nürburgring, and if the spy footage is anything to go by, Munich isn’t planning to slow things down.
Camouflaged like a German trying to sunbathe incognito in Majorca, the test mule doesn’t reveal much in terms of styling—but it’s what’s hiding under the bonnet (and behind those quad tailpipes) that’s got us grinning like a M4 driver who’s just discovered an empty autobahn.
At the 0:39 mark, you hear it. That unmistakable B58 inline-six howl—raspier than a smoker’s cough after Oktoberfest—suggesting this could be a spicier performance trim. BMW’s already rumored to be cooking up multiple fast X5s, so this prototype could be a sneak peek at one of them. Or maybe the engineers simply fitted an exhaust so loud it could rattle the Weißwurst off a Bavarian breakfast table. Either way, it sounds delicious.
Fast forward to 2:33, and things really get interesting. The same prototype family barrels past the lens with quad pipes and a soundtrack that only a twin-turbo V8 can produce. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the mighty V8 lives on. And it sounds angry—like it’s been told the electric iX gets more marketing budget.
Visually, you’ll need to squint hard. The bumper design seems tweaked, the rear spoiler maybe a fraction different—but it could all be camouflage trickery. What we do know is that both these test mules are PHEVs, as proven by the charging flap on the flank. But if this is what hybridisation sounds like, sign us up.
Remember, the X5 isn’t just any BMW—it’s the best-seller, the family golden child. So the G65 has a big job ahead of it: replace the G05 and eventually stand shoulder to shoulder with the all-electric iX. Production kicks off in Q3 2026, which gives BMW just enough time to finish torturing these SUVs around the ’Ring before handing us the keys.
Until then, watch the footage, turn the volume up, and enjoy the sound of Bavaria reminding the world that hybrids don’t have to be boring.
Source: BMW; Photos: CarSpyMedia