BMW X5 and X6 get a lavish freshen this year

BMW said it will freshen the meaty middle of its crossover lineup, bringing new design details, updated engines and advancements in digital technology to its X5 and X6 light trucks.

The new models will go on sale this year, debuting at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance in March and starting production in April at BMW's U.S. factory in Spartanburg, S.C. Deliveries begin in the summer.

The 2024 BMW X5 starts at $86,000 and the sporty X6 coupe begins at $92,000. BMW Canada didn't immediately say if those prices include shipping.

The midsize X5 crossover is BMW's workhorse. It was the second best selling model in Canada and the top selling model in the United States. The German luxury automaker delivered 6,067 and 82,372 vehicles last year, respectively.

The X5 and X6 nameplates receive updated powertrains with improved electrification for the new model year.

The V8 engines in the M60i models have 48V mild-hybrid technology. Meanwhile, the X5 xDrive50e plug-in hybrid receives an improved combustion engine and BMW eDrive technology that bumps horsepower by nearly 100 hp and EV-only driving range by 16 kilometres.

The X5 M60i xDrive and X6 M60i xDrive models feature a newly developed twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 engine. In both models, the S68 engine produces 523 hp and delivers 0 to 60 mph (0 to 96 km/h) acceleration in 4.2 seconds.

The power unit of the X5 xDrive40i and X6 xDrive40i is part of a new generation of inline six-cylinder engines, as is the engine in the X5 xDrive50e plug-in hybrid. The 3.0-litre powerplant delivers 375 hp, an increase of 40 hp compared with its predecessor, and a 0 to 60 mph (0 to 96 km/h) of 5.2 seconds.

The X5 sports a narrower headlight design with arrow-shaped daytime driving light elements pointing outward that double as turn signal indicators.

Sculpted surfaces border the BMW kidney grille. Vertical air curtains positioned at the outer edges emphasize the width of the new X5, and the lower air intake has a new horizontal trim detail and triangular apertures in its outer edges.

Kidney grill illumination is extra on all but the top-end X5 range. Illumination is activated when one of the doors is opened and can be switched on or off manually.

At the rear, newly designed taillights feature fiber-optic light elements. The traditional L-shape is reflected horizontally, creating an 'X' motif within the rear lights.

An optional M Sport package includes a front apron with an M-specific design, roof rails in black high-gloss, and a rear apron with a dark-shaded inlay and trapezoidal tailpipe trim.

The X6 features the same updated headlight design and daytime driving light elements. The standard M Sport package features an octagonal design element below the kidney grille and prominent side apertures.

The top-end X5 M60i xDrive and X6 M60i xDrive feature unique design details, including double bars and an M logo for the grille, M exterior mirror caps in high-gloss black and exhaust tailpipe trim in a quad-pipe style that hints at the eight-cylinder under the hood.

BMW's standard curved display is adapted for the X5 and X6 cockpit. It combines a 12.3-inch information display and a 14.9-inch control display behind a single glass surface.

An "ambient light bar" with a crystalline surface structure and LED backlighting is integrated into the trim element in the front passenger area.

The 2024 models feature new automated driving and parking technology and the latest generation of BMW's iDrive control system.