X5 M

Make
BMW
Segment
SUV

For customers craving a high-performance German SUV but who still appreciate more of a sleeper car appearance, the BMW X5 M50i isn't a bad option. It's still got a mighty V8 engine but isn't as in-your-face, or nearly as expensive, as the full-fat, six-figure X5 M.

Tuning house Dahler decided that the X5 M50i is a great basis for a tune, so it has come up with a modified version that produces up to 637 horsepower and looks even better thanks to bigger wheels and a lowered suspension. Dahler specializes in BMWs, having previously given the current 7 Series a new look and its own power boost.

The X5 M50i's stock N63 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine produces 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, allowing it to reach 60 mph in just 4.1 seconds. That's just a few tenths off the pace of the X5 M, which completes the same sprint in 3.8 seconds. Dahler offers various tunes for this powerplant, with the most powerful version unleashing 637 hp and 627 lb-ft. Both those figures are more than what you get in the X5 M, so we can safely assume Dahler's X5 can hit 60 mph in well under four seconds.

Visually, while some tuners have gone too far with their enhancements, Dahler seems to know precisely how to stop just short of garish. This X5 boasts black forged alloy wheels and a lowered suspension that, especially in black, gives it considerable presence.

The four-pipe stainless steel exhaust system emits a mean V8 growl and tailpipes can be had in either 90 or 100 mm (3.9-inch) varieties. An available exhaust valve controller allows owners to manage the volume level, which is convenient for early morning starts in quiet suburban streets.

The X5, BMW's original SUV, remains one of its best-selling models in North America. Although the newer X7 offers even more space, the X5 has that just-right size that makes it a better choice for keener drivers. Dahler's touches prove that it isn't only the M division that can make a hot performance SUV.