BMW’s V8-Powered X5 M Performance Prototype Spotted Just Days After Official Announcement

It didn’t take long for BMW’s promise of a V8-powered X5 to become a reality on the road. Just days after the automaker confirmed plans for a new M Performance variant with an eight-cylinder engine, a lightly disguised prototype was caught during hot-weather testing in Europe. The giveaway?

Quad exhaust tips and the complete absence of a charging port, confirming this is not the plug-in hybrid X5 M60e that BMW revealed earlier.

While the model hasn’t been officially named yet, insiders expect it to be called the X5 M60, effectively replacing the outgoing M60i. 4-liter S68 V8, possibly with mild-hybrid assistance. Output figures are still under wraps, but with the plug-in hybrid M Performance model producing 603 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque from its six-cylinder and electric motor combo, the V8 variant is expected to deliver similar or slightly higher numbers.

Notably, the electrified version already boasts 80 more horsepower than the previous M60i.

BMW has engineered this V8 to meet Euro 7 emissions standards, meaning the eight-cylinder will likely remain in production well into the 2030s. The same engine is also slated for an M Performance 7 Series in 2027 and the next-generation X7 launching next year. Beyond the M60. BMW has confirmed plans for a fully electric M Performance iX5, and sources suggest a full-fat X5 M with both V8 and electric options could arrive by 2028.

For now, the prototype seen here, with only a small patch of camouflage on the tailgate hiding what is probably the M60 badge, signals that BMW’s V8-powered SUV is nearly ready for its debut.