It's often difficult to perceive the size and scale of a new BMW vehicle in spy photos/videos without any other model by its side. To tell the size of the upcoming next generation BMW X5 (F15), we've now spied it next to both the current X5 (E70) and the current X3.
Compared to the current X5, the F15 X5 doesn't appear to be much larger, and any increase in size (at least with respect to height and width) doesn't seem to be very perceptible at this distance. The overall shape, silhouette, and roofline also don't appear to be a radical departure.
What we can count on changing is the styling. The F15's grilles will be larger, wider, and bolder than the current X5's (as seen in the previous spy photos recopied below).
The hood is said to sit flush with the larger/wider grilles. The headlights are supposed to be trapezoidal shaped and will connect to the headlights, like the F30 3 series (see sketch below by SCOTT26). The F15 will also adopt many of the new X model design cues from the X3 and X1.
The F15 X5 is expected to weigh less than the current E70 X5 and ride on a modified version of the F10 5 series chassis. Expect both diesel and gasoline 6-cylinder and 8-cylinder engine options. It will be introduced in late 2013 as a 2014 model.
We also recently spied the X5 F15's interior for the first time, revealing a free standing LCD screen and a touchpad iDrive button (coverage reposted below).
2014 X5 (F15) versus X5 (E70) and X3
Earlier F15 Spy Photos and Sketch, and First Spy Video