BMW – X5 4.8is (E53) (2004)

The year was 1999. The first ever Sports Activity Coupe was unveiled exactly 25 years ago at the Detroit Motor Show. This wasn’t just another SUV. It was a statement. A declaration that luxury and performance could coexist in a tall, rugged package. It was a gamble, a departure from everything BMW had been known for. And it paid off spectacularly. The first-ever BMW X5 paved the way for the luxury crossover segment.  

Just a few months after the debut of the revised BMW X5, in April the new model of the bestselling product was launched on the market: The BMW X5 4.8is. The new eight-cylinder engine was exclusively developed for the Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) and produces 265 kW (360 hp). At 6,200 rpm, it so far has rounded upwards the X5 program with a three-liter in-line six-cylinder diesel and gasoline engine and the 4.4 liter eight-cylinder. 

For an expert, the BMW X5 4.8is is immediately identifiable as one of the top models of the BMW X5 line (E53). Both front and rear bumpers have been aerodynamically adapted and portray sporty design elements. Another exclusive feature of the car is its oval twin exhaust tailpipes and its 20-inch aluminum wheels with tires sized 275/40 W at the front and 315/35 W at the back.