2007 BMW X5

Screamer Bimmer

BMW revamps its trendsetting midsize SUV and leaves the styling virtually the same as before.

Not long ago, SUVs weren't fun to drive. They were top-heavy, noisy and crude. They were practical but truck-like. The "utility" part made sense; the "sport" part did not.

One of the first vehicles to change the standard was BMW's X5 SUV, which arrived on the market in 1999. The vehicle went fast, looked sharp, had a luxurious interior and could make you think, at times, that you were driving a real sports car. It helped pioneer the "crossover" SUV segment — a group of SUVs that are closer to cars than trucks in terms of construction and/or driving dynamics. Other fun-to-drive luxury SUVs followed, such as Nissan Motor's Infiniti FX and Porsche's Cayenne.

Now, BMW has created an overhauled, second-generation X5, which will go on sale at the end of November for a base price of $46,595.

+ click to enlarge | view gallery >

Like the outgoing X5, the new model will offer both a 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine and a 4.8-liter V8. But X5 buyers might be a little confused by BMW's promise, in a recent statement, that the new model's engines will have "more power and greater efficiency." While the base engine is indeed more powerful — horsepower is up to 260 hp from 225 hp — the outgoing 4.8-liter V8 has five more units of hp than the new one, 355 hp vs. 350 hp.

This leads us to believe that BMW is planning to equip the X5 with something even more powerful than the 4.8-liter V8. The company needs something dramatic, since Porsche has raised the bar with its new 520-hp Cayenne Turbo S.

In a recent phone interview, a BMW spokesman described the new 4.8-liter as a "base V8 model." So, will BMW put a jaw-dropping V8 at the top of the new X5 range?

"It wouldn't surprise me," he said, "but at this point that's just speculation."

Powerful engines are just one part of the X5, which is tuned to be sporty. The new model also features a new, standard six-speed automatic transmission; an upgraded suspension and all-wheel-drive system; and a body shell optimized to be both lightweight and torsionally stiff. BMW says the goal of these modifications is "excellent agility and dynamic performance."

BMW has also increased the X5's ground clearance, making it more suitable for off-roading. The vehicle has standard run-flat tires, which can stay inflated despite punctures.

+ click to enlarge | view gallery >

The key interior modification is a larger cabin that can fit up to seven seats; the outgoing X5 is a five-seater. BMW says the new X5's interior uses "the most sophisticated materials" available.

In general, the X5 has traded some of its boxiness for a sleeker, more modern look. Go to the gallery for a closer look at the new vehicle.

Forbes Fact

The X5 has seen 580,000 global sales since its introduction. BMW has sold more than 240,000 of those units in the U.S.