BMW X5 M F95/X6 M F96

The latest-generation BMW X5 and its coupe-crossover derivative, the X6, gained some extra muscles courtesy of the R&D folks from BMW M Power and with that, the all-new X5 M and the all-new X6 M are picking up where its predecessors left off by delivering some beef to the speedo boys who are or aren't interested in high-performance SUVs that doesn't really make any sense in tackling sports kingdoms, whatever that meant.

The new BMW X5 M, starts at under 130K, and the new X6 M, starts at under 145K, are the big boys of the M garage that combines the same exhilirating performance inherited from most M cars while staying true to its practicality and utility characters like almost any SUV in the world does, well almost.

At first glance, they look exactly similar compared to its normal brethrens, apart from the terrifying front face that got the whole world questioning them, but since they're the M variants, they've gained some extra protein on the outside, making them even more cool despite its dull and vain fronts that today's BMWs don. On the inside, they still seat up to five people and have decent boot space, well the X5's is, but with some sport seats and M steering wheel with customizble modes that suits your driving style, along with some manly stuff that smells like a man's perfume when you get inside, these interiors surely fit to its high performance character.

Under the bonnet, the X5 M and the X6 M are equipped with the same 4.4L V8 BiTurbo engine that powered the uber-cool M5 and its M8 cousins. In Competition guise, it produces up to 625ps of power and 750Nm of torque. Mated to an automatic gearbox, they do 0-100kph in less than four seconds and a top speed of up to 290kph courtesy of an optional package.

The turbocharged V8 engine really feels meaty just like its tiny equivalents but the way they handling is worth questionable because while these guys come with the same M xDrive feature as the M5, the X5 M and the X6 M doesn't have a special drift mode, which sucks but while they're known to be heavy hitters, the X5 M and the X6 M sure knows a thing or two about being capable on and off the road. On a normal road, the rear-biased mechanicals sure makes them behave like sportscars but on the dirt, they're almost working rather well, although this might spoil the M character into it so why would you want to take an M SUV to a dirt anyway? It's what they're made for or so I thought.

With tons of mechanical undersides implanted into them, ranging from the bespoke chassis tech, extremely stiff mountings, M-specific suspension and active roll stabilisation, M Servotronic steering, and M compound brakes, among many others, these SUVs are all about getting the speedo boys addicted to them all day, all night, until they are fully satisfied.

They maybe the elephants in the M room, but the new models surely know how to keep the speedo boys interested for more, whatever the reason.

Photo: BMW AG

BMW X5 G05

BMW's first sport utility vehicle, the X5, is now on its 4th generation and it's an all-new model that continues the so-called Sport Activity Vehicle legacy that started it all two decades ago with new and improved features that sets them apart, although unsure about the high pricetag for this Euro-American import.

2019 BMW X5

2019 BMW X5

Of course, the fourth-generation BMW X5 starts at 69,200 to 92,900 Euros, which is very expensive apart from the fact that it's fully-imported from the United States and because of all that trade riff-raff between the US and the EU we're having now, this happened but forget about the high price tag because the styling of the fourth-generation X5's got that strongman presence even the politicians are starting to get a hold of riding at the back of the new X5 for whatever their reasons. While the front sports that hideously enlarged version of the signature Kidney Grille, which isn't the least of our problems, the back reminds us of a Kia Sorento of some sorts but the inside is a different story for the new X5.

2019 BMW X5 interior

Blending functionality and comfort, the new X5's interior, thanks to its new platform, is now more spacious and roomier than the previous X5 it replaces. On the driver's side, there are so many tech features you can toy around before setting off and on the passengers' side, being a luxury SUV fit for trips to the country club, the new X5 really is first-class comfort for all. 

Although too expensive to be used as a family car, its use for escorting VIPs, especially politicians, is the real charm of the X5 because being a luxury SUV means passengers are greeted with its spacious room and boot space big enough for their luggages and golf bags while setting off at their nearest country club to take some time off from their stressful week. Good mark for BMW there.

2019 BMW X5

At launch, all BMW X5 are fitted with a choice of 3.0L petrol and diesel engines but annoyingly for Europeans who want to ignore a diesel-powered vehicle because of today's trends, the most powerful variant for now is the top-of-the-line M50d where the 3.0L straight-six diesel engine produces a massive 400ps of power, 760Nm of torque, and when mated to a Steptronic gearbox, it does 0-100kph in 5.2 seconds and electronically limited to 250kph.

All X5 models are fitted with xDrive standard, giving the new model capability to go wherever it come across, be it tarmac, gravel, or snow, and because it runs on an entirely new platform, the new X5's capabilities has been improved ten-fold. Along with its new chassis systems and driver assistance systems, not to mention its new suspension setup, the new X5 is all about taking command on and off the road in a way longtime X5 drivers never experienced before.

So, while the new X5 is too expensive and the range feels like it never learned from today's affairs, its SUV charm and luxury car flair still remains for BMW's first Sport Activity Vehicle and whether you can take it for a quiet Sunday drive offroad or escorting clients to their points of interests for their very important stuff, the new X5 does it all rather well and that really is something about the new X5.

Photo: BMW AG

BMW X5 M F85 and X6 M F86

2016 BMW X6 M and 2016 BMW X5 M

Both the BMW X5 and the X6 are in their latest generations and now, they've been given their more potent M versions that will give these heavyweight Bimmers a chance to let loose on the wild, however there's something wrong about these two heavyweight behemoths dressed in gym shorts.

For starters, both the X5 M and X6 M have shared the same fate as the latest M3 and M4 have witnessed. For the X5 M, the codename is not classified as "F15" as with the normal X5 and for the X6 M, it's no longer classified as "F16" as with the normal X6. Instead the latest X5 M is classified as F85 and the new X6 M is classified as F86. That sounds like a big conspiracy for the Bimmer geeks but maybe because these new models come with a combination of high-strength steel and carbon composites. It's the same thing happened on the latest M3 and M4, but best to leave this ludicrous conspiracy for now.

Both the new X5 M and the X6 M still come with the same 4.4L twin turbo V8 engine from the previous model but now, it's been uprooted with 20HP more so that now, it produces 575HP of power output and 750Nm of torque. It would reach to 100kph in 4.2 seconds and they're electronically limited to 250kph. With that kind of engine output, both the X5 M and the X6 M will have its Porsche Cayenne Turbo S rival hanging in the balance, or that's the theory because when it comes to taking on the corners, looks like the more powerful Cayenne will outwit both these big, beefy M SUVs because even with the weight loss thanks to the combination of high-strength steel and carbon composites, their handling capabilities won't make a cut against that Porsche.

I know that sounds crazy but this is physics and both the X5 M and the X6 M feels like they're failing the physics class where the Cayenne Turbo S will excel. When the Cayenne handles like a horse at the Grand National, both the X5 M and the X6 M handle like if you were carrying a fully-loaded Balikbayan Box from the back of its boot. That electric power steering and four-wheel drive really made them feel like someone's trying to stretch your face or get stuck with Mighty Bond all over. If this is the first time driving either of these, it takes time to getting used to it because just because it's complicated to drive doesn't mean you don't want to drive one. If you're very careful, it will feel more accessible for you and you can find its hidden potential underneath their heavyweight bodywork.

Another thing you will notice in both of the new M SUVs is the implementation of the 8-speed double clutch gearbox and the idea of the double-clutch gearbox is to deliver quicker shiftings than the previous models. That sounds very great but very complicated to take care of it.  There's also the M Drive manager where you can select either COMFORT, SPORT, or SPORT+ but no matter the setting, these doesn't affect both the M SUVs' behaviors.

If you even thinking about using either of these as a family car, you'd better off with a cheap van rather than both of these because using either of these while going to the shops can be as embarrassing as you letting your parents taking a picture of you and themselves at a 3D art museum and since your parents have occupied most of the time taking pics of you and them, you don't have time to do your grand plan. Tough love, buddy. Tough love.

The new X5 M starts at 114,300 Euros while the X6 M starts at 117,700 Euros. That sounds a lot for a family car but they're not made to be either a family car nor a track-day car because their bulky, beefy, and too much for its own right. Even though they're more affordable to own than the powerful Porsche Cayenne Turbo S, I would better have one but if I don't like how the Cayenne looks, guess there's no other choice than choosing either of these heavyweight behemoths.

Photo: BMW AG

BMW X5 F15

2014 BMW X5

The BMW X5 is the forefather of the luxury brand's Sport Activity Vehicle segment and even though this is just nothing but a marketing ploy, the X5 tries to be the German equivalent of our favorite SUV, the Range Rover. Now that the Range Rover's fully updated for today's generation, it seems that the BMW X5 wants to play hide and seek because there is now a new version.

The brand new third-generation BMW X5 truly states that instead of starting over from scratch, they want to make some big changes around here and overwrite it to keep it updated for today's generations. However, there's something peculiar about the new model and that is from the way it looks. What you can expect here is a design that is as weird as Richard Armitage reading bedtime stories on Cbeebies and just like the 3-Series, one end of the headlamp is stuck to the edge of the kidney grille. That doesn't seem right to me, more like west of weird even though the X5 was imported from America like its rival, the Mercedes-Benz M-Class. And then because this is as big as the Palace of Westminster, I was expecting for the ride to be more...Vanessa Feltz-ish but not made for fooling everyone. So, what else?

Although it maybe more of a torpedo belly fired from a belly button, the new X5 features different suspension settings to choose from such as the Comfort, the Dynamic, and the all-of-the-above Professional which allows the driver to make it comfortable or sportier thanks to its adaptive suspension package. If you opt for the M Sport package, the suspension settings will be much more sportier than the standard model but if you have a member of the Parliament riding at your back, chances are he may fire you because you're going to mess up his coffee break.

2014 BMW X5

Most models do come with BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive (except on the BMW X5 sDrive25d) system which makes this full-size SUV not just capable on most roads but also on rough roads but for the first time, there is now a rear-wheel drive version of the new model, meaning you can opt for a four-pot, 2.0-litre diesel with RWD. Sadly, however, because its heavy, drifting in one of these is highly impossible because if you do that, you may end up getting rolled out unexpectedly and when its raining or snowing, this RWD X5 is a no-no and it might be best to stick to the X5 with the xDrive feature because that's the way the cookie crumbles, apparently.

Engine choices, the new X5 is offered with the N57D30 3.0L straight-six diesel engine which generates 258PS of power, does 0 to 100kph in 6.9 seconds, and fuel economy of 14.5km/L, and the high-performance N63B44 V8 petrol engine which generates 450PS of power, 0-100kph of 5 seconds and fuel economy of 9.6km/L. In terms of power, the V8 model is the top pick but when it's fuel economy you're after, then it's the diesel model but be warned though, because most of the engines are Euro 6 compliant, set to be implemented in 2015, we can't have it in the Philippines because we're a Euro 2 country set to be Euro 4 in 2016 and most of our fuels are still dirty and still in the case of manganese, which remains harmful to the engines, theoretically.

2014 BMW X5 M50d

If you want a balance between performance and fuel economy, there's the new M50d model courtesy of BMW M Performance. The N57D30S1 3.0L diesel engine generates 381PS of power, 0-100kph time of 5.3 seconds, top speed normally limited to 250kph, and fuel economy of 14.9km/L. Although this is worth of a balance, the M50d model is one heck of an impolite feat because why would they make slightly high-performance diesel SUV that delivers the same power output of a V8 with the fuel economy of a compact car? That maybe morally incorrect but the M50d feels like English Mustard to me. It maybe on the same spicy level as wasabi and Tabasco but when these two spit out and cry like a baby, it truly is the last one standing. The only thing worse than that is a certain kids song currently stuck on your head. Shake it up real hard with these and you're in a yanking menace to forget it.

2014 BMW X5 interior

2014 BMW X5 interior

Apart from the way the new X5 F15 behaves, it's still a flagship SUV in its own right. It even has bigger space inside. The rear sets split 40:20:40 for added capacity and there's even dual TV screens on the back so when they got bored, they can watch movies on the go. That sounds posh but as for now the X5 is available only in 5-seater while a 7-seater model is still a possibility. Despite that, the interior is more comfortable and quieter. It feels like a 7-Series bimmer in Richard Armitage's facial expressions.

2014 BMW X5 

With prices start at around 62,700 Euros, the new X5 is almost 10K more than its rival MB M-Class but it's still the one to buy if you're looking for something that puts a new spin in the Sports Activity Vehicle genre. Even though it's more expensive than the M-Class, it's still more hushed, plush and smooth no matter where the new X5 takes and because of the quality, comfort, and refinement upgraded for the third-generation model, I should be saving some cash to buy one of these unless its Vatalihootsit Day.

Photo: BMW AG

Forza 4 Head to Head: X5 M vs. X6 M

The BMW X5 M...



...and the BMW X6 M...



...both of these are crossovers that were beefed up by BMW's M division...what? M SUV's?! Really? They made some high performance crossovers? Whoa...That's kinda strange but yes, they're true. They really were the first ever high performance sport utility vehicles from the BMW M division and both of these do come with xDrive all wheel drive system and a twin turbocharged 4.4L V8 engine that churns out 555PS of power. However, what's the difference between these two? Let's find out. First up, the X5 M.

In an episode of Top Gear, Jeremy Clarkson reviewed this one and as we thought that this one will make mince meat out of sportscars, we were wrong. When we saw a drag race between the X5 M and the Jaguar XKR, this is a bit of a suicide. Even though it has launch control for the X5 M that propelled this mammoth for a quicker 0-60 time than the XKR, the XKR's top speed blasted the X5 M because the X5 M's heavy and enough said. Sure, the X5 was made for offroading but thanks to this M version, the offroad fun was gone and....how can I say it? Never mind, let's start the clock!



The X5 M did it in 1:27.110.

And now...the X6 M...

When Jeremy Clarkson tested the original X6, he kinda disliked it. Even though he traveled around the world, from Australia just for the glove compartment, Spain just for suspension, the Alps just for offroad, and Hong Kong for some metaphors, he really really disliked it and perhaps that money that was used to spend it on the X6 should be spent for a summer holiday at Barbados. Now, in the M version, this has the same issues from the normal except that it was spiced up a bit. Like the X5 M, it do comes with a 4.4L V8 turbo engine so, nothing new here. For a car that was known to be a Sport Activity Vehicle, this is rather pointless. Think about the design, this car was made from a world to a world that doesn't exists anymore, like the skyscraper from Hong Kong, the one Batman jumped on....Remind you of any?

Start the clock!




The X6 M crossed the line in 1:27.608. Almost a few milliseconds slower than the X5 M but more importantly, both of them are rather pointless. What you see that these cars used to be a good cars for offroading but it was beefed up so it can no longer go off the road. What's this? SUVs that claim to be supercar SUVs? O ho ho ho ho....No. I should better go to sleep rather than driving these two again...AM I BOVVERED?!

X5

Nokia X5

When the new Nokia phone, the X5, hasn't showed up its qwerty keyboard, the shape of this cellphone looks more like a foundation, making this a perfect cellphone targeted for girls. If you slide it, the X5 truly shows up not just a cute cellphone, it's a cute and functional cellphone good enough for you to try.

From the sizing borrowed from the sixth-generation iPod Nano, the new Nokia X5, part of the innovative Nokia X Series, shows that sizes like these does not matter when it comes to functional features such as the QWERTY keyboard, 2GB microSD memory card included for more photos, videos, and everything, Surprise Me! app that picks a random song from your phone, internet connectivity via 3.5G or Wi-Fi, and a 5-megapixel camera for shooting pics and flicks.

This phone comes in three colors; pink, black, and blue. As you may know, the Nokia X5 is pretty in pink, providing a good feminine touch for the girls who want a very very cute phone that has a host of major major features.

My dent on the Nokia X5 is the small screen because how can I use this phone if the screen is too small for the big jobs? Leave it to the girls because the new Nokia X5 is a girls-only phone designed for its cute size.

Photo: Nokia