BMW X5 M60 G65 2027: V8 engine, specs and what replaces the M60i

© A. Krivonosov

BMW has already sent the new G65-generation X5 M60 out for testing — a gasoline M Performance version with a V8. The interest here goes beyond the engine itself: alongside the plug-in hybrid X5 M60e and the future electric iX5, this variant looks like a deliberate bet on buyers who care about sound, torque reserves and the classic status of a big BMW.

The prototype was caught in Europe almost free of camouflage. The main giveaways — four exhaust tips and the absence of a charging port: this isn’t the already-revealed X5 M60e, but a separate gasoline version. The official name hasn’t been confirmed yet, but BMW’s logic points to the X5 M60 badge, which should replace the old M60i.

The expected engine is the 4.4-liter S68 V8 with two turbos, likely with a mild-hybrid layer. Exact output hasn’t been named. The X5 M60e can serve as a reference point: its hybrid setup, pairing a 3.0-liter inline-six with an electric motor, delivers 603 hp and 800 Nm. The old M60i made noticeably less, so the gasoline M60 needs to at least approach the new benchmark, or it will end up the emotional — but not the strongest — version.

An important detail — the V8 itself isn’t heading for the archive. BMW has adapted the S68 to Euro 7 norms, which means the engine should live at least into the 2030s. The same unit is expected in an M Performance version of the 7 Series in 2027, and the second-generation X7 will also keep its eight cylinders.

If the X5 M60 reaches the market, price won’t be the only deciding factor. Buyers will have to choose between a new Chinese flagship with a warranty and a BMW that could turn out to be the last X5 with a real V8 in the traditional sense.