X5 M

Make
BMW
Segment
SUV

The all-new fourth-generation BMW X5 was only revealed a few days ago, but it hasn't taken long for an eager render artist to give us a taste of what the future M version could look like when it arrives in 2020. These renders of the upcoming SUV range topper come courtesy of Aksyonov Nikita, who was clearly inspired by the M2 Competition. The large alloy wheels have been lifted from the two-door coupe, as has the revised bumper featuring a carbon fiber apron. The rendering looks remarkably cohesive.

Notably absent are quad exhaust pipes, a staple of BMW's M performance machines. Instead, the artist has added two rectangular pipes flanking a central diffuser. It's a good attempt at envisioning the X5 M, but the real deal will probably look quite different. Codenamed F95, the new X5 range topper is expected to feature the latest version of BMW's twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 engine. That's the same engine that powers the new M5, so the new X5 M's output should be around 600 horses. BMW is even considering giving SUVs the competition treatment, in which case we could even see an even more hardcore X5 M Competition join the lineup with 617-hp to match the M5 Competition.

We caught a BMW X5 M prototype being tested a few months ago, but we're not expecting the production model to break cover any time soon. Given that the new X5 has only just been unveiled, we'll probably have to wait until 2019 to see the production version of the hotter M version before it goes on sale in 2020.