Since the announcement of the new F15 X5, I've been looking at renderings first, then actual photos of the new X5. Interior looks good even though the big screen in the middle of the dash looks like a weird design decision.
My biggest beef is with the exterior. Granted, I have not seen one in real life, only photos, but I can say with 99% certainty that I don't care for the exterior. It doesn't evoke the emotions I had when I first saw the E70; "I want one!" IMO, if you pay serious money, the exterior design (or curb appeal) is very important. You can call me vain, but I am the one paying for the car and looking at it every day, so it better be good looking! Where you can spot and recognize an E70 from a couple of hundred yards on the interstate, whether coming from behind or in front of you, the new F15 looks to me very generic among other SUV's and looks awfully like an X3 (which design I've never been fond of). Not a good thing in my opinion.
It will be interesting to see what the sales figures of the F15 will be in 2014 and 2015 once the initial sales rush is over. Will you buy one? Right now, I've got two E70's and have no plans downgrading to an F15. My flame suit is on...
If you look at E70, the front of exterior isn't aggressive enough when you compare with the F15. BMW changing their grills to 3D from 2D. You will now see a very sharp front compare to dented kinda looking on E70. The only downside (IMO) is combining lights with grills to conclude it as one visual unit. It doesn't make sense to me either.
The overall styling of the F15 is refreshing compare to E70. Agreed, the back is similar to X3 but it's not bad looking definitely. The E70 back is bit more aggressive but lacks the fancy looking.
Overall, F15 is a uplifted contemporary style vehicle. Yes, it may be lacking some of the best E70 looks but certainly brought new looks that never exist in prior X5.
I see prerelease BMW's all the time in my neighborhood and I had a chance to follow an unbadged F15 X5 in blue for a few minutes. It looks pretty bland compared to the E70 and looks like an oversized X3. The side view is the worst. All the new BMW's seem to be cloning each other just like all the Audi's. MB is the only german make that seems to have a design team.
Tend to agree, not to start a war all over again, but i do like MB design with SUV as well as E and CLS sedan. I am not even suggesting about driving characteristics of MB vs BMW ,but design is clearly cool, modern and distinctive. Alex
The new F15 official announcement was actually the biggest reason for me to pull the trigger and purchase my 2013 X5d. I don't think I'll ever come to love the new design (especially the side view which I think is absolutely horrendous).
I have to agree the new design is average at best. Nothing like the E70 when it first came out. But unfortunately for people like myself we have no choice since we lease, other than to buy our current X5. and let me tell you other than that stupid 6-speed auto BMW decide to stick with with the Diesel I would be buying my current X5.
I have an E53 X5 and we are in the market right now to buy a new one. Saw the F15, and in some photos I think it looks amazing. Also, from the photos of the interior, I think it blows away the E70, so it'll be interesting to see the F15 exterior.
I also have to admit that I love all the new models, 3, 5, 7 etc. I think they are all major improvements over the previous models, so I'm hoping this is the same.
Count me in the camp that is under-whelmed. :thumbdwn:
OP should have put up a poll. I suspect more would be voting to not like the new design. Time to look forward to the LCI edition to fix what was biffed.
..which basically applies to ANY new design. I'm active on a number of forums and I see this happening over and over again - no matter what brand. First the "majority" doesn't like it too much and once the first deliveries come in and photos are getting posted, that "majority" turns into a very small minority.
That's how it was in the past and I bet that's going to happen on the F15, too.:thumbup:
I was a huge hip hop/rap fan back in the 90s and I still do listen to it from time to time. Of course not today's swagger Lil Wayne crap.
Oftentimes, old is better than new and to me, the new F15 is the perfect example of it, along with the new F30 which has yet to grow on me (I don't it ever will).
I keep looking at the photos over and over again trying to see if I will change my mind. I just don't like the look. It just seems to have more of a boxy appearance, as someone else mentioned, rather like a minivan. I hope that when we see it in the flesh it makes us change our minds. It is a bummer as my lease is up in October and now I am not sure what I will do. I keep drooling over the new Range Rover Sport 5.0 Supercharged. Wish I had that feeling for the X15.
Keep drooling i just saw a 2014 RRSport in NJ on route 17 with manufacter s plates in grey very, very impressive i as well will be very anxious to see F15 in person.
There are a few design elements that I could learn to live with on the F15 but I cannot get over the fog lights. They are so bad. Remind me of the Nissan Juke.
Reminds me of Honda Odyssey van from the rear side. E70 rear is much more refined. My x5 lease is done this December not sure I will go for the 2014 X5. Doesn't have the appeal. Not sure what BMW is thinking....
I was one of the group to see the prototypes and I can tell you that they do look good in person. In fact, one of my few compliments to the development team was that they "did a good job with the exterior because it does not wildly diverge from the prior model and this retains VALUE for those of us with 2012 model X5s"
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
BimmerFest BMW Forum
11.4M posts
753.1K members
Since 2001
A forum community dedicated to BMW owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about Bimmerfest events, production numbers, programming, performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more! Bringing the BMW community together.