Newtechfresh | Consumer Electronics Guide: BMW X5

The good news for customers interested in thenew generation of the X5 is that BMW has announced pricing and will soon begin to accept orders with first deliveries scheduled for the final quarter of the year. The bad news is that the fresh styling and new features come with a price hike.

Up until now, the X5 was offered exclusively with BMW's xDrive all-wheel drive system, but with the new generation model, the base X5 sDrive35i is rear-wheel drive and costs $53,725. If you want the 300hp turbo'd straight-six to turn all four wheels, you will have to opt for the X5 xDrive35i that starts at $56,025, which represents a hefty $7,600 increase over the outgoing 2013 X5 xDrive35i ($48,425).

Next up in the range is the diesel-powered X5 xDrive35d powered by a 3.0-liter inline-six rated for 255hp and 413 lb-ft that has a 0-100 km/h (62 mph) sprint time of 6.9 seconds and costs $57,525, which is actually $100 less than the current X5.

Until the release of the new X5 M, the range-topper of the lineup is the X5 xDrive50i sporting a 4.4-liter V8 gasoline engine delivering 445 hp and 480 lb-ft for 0-60 mph (96km/h) sprint in 4.9 seconds. It has a starting price of $69,125 that represents a $4,000 increase over the 2013MY.

All prices mentioned above (for the 2013 and 2014MYs) include a $925 destination and handling fee.

In addition to the standard specification, U.S. buyers will be able to enhance the X5's interior and exterior looks with a choice of three optional packages named "X Line", "Luxury Line" and the "M Sport".

PHOTO GALLERY

BMW released photos and preliminary details on its new generation X5 Series. Among other bits of information, BMW told us about the availability of the optional M Sport package and the M50d performance diesel variant, but it did not share any pictures of these particular X5s.

If you're curious to see what the X5 M Sport and the X5 M50d look like, here's your chance as we got our hands on the first photos of these two models or rather the trim line and the diesel sports version, as well as on a fresh set of images of the regular X5s and the official brochure.

The M Sport trim line gives the X5 a sportier look and feel via an aerodynamic M kit with bespoke bumpers and side skirts, Shadowline trim, high-gloss roof rails and 19-inch M-Double Spoke light alloy wheels (or optionally 20-inch).

Similarly, the interior is upgraded with numerous M parts such as the sports steering, body hugging front sport seats with unique upholstery, and M footrest and doorsills. Prospective buyers will also be able to opt for the Adaptive M suspension with Dynamic Damper Control and sportier tuned rear air suspension.

The same sports suspension comes as standard on the X5 M50d (not offered in North America) that is fitted with a tri-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six diesel delivering 376hp (381PS / 280kW) between 4,000 and 4,400rpm and 740Nm (546 lb-ft) of peak torque from 2,000 to 3,000rpm.

An 8-speed automatic handles the transfer of power to all four wheels. BMW quotes a zero to 100km/h (62mph) sprint time of 5.3 seconds and a maximum top speed of 250km/h (155mph). The X5 M50d is said to return a combined fuel consumption of 6.7lt/100km (35.1mpg US or 42.2 mpg UK) with CO2 emissions of 177g/km.

2014 BMW X5 M SPORT & X5 M50D