I Spy A BMW X5 M

Spotted on the streets of Munich earlier today, the BMW X5 M is edging even closer to reality.  The M-badged Sport Activity Vehicle is expected to get the 438 horsepower 6.0 litre V12 engine currently found on the 7-series sedan.

If this huge engine sounds a little absurd, you would be surprised to find out it is not unheard of.  The 2000 BMW X5 Le Mans, an experimental vehicle, got 750 bhp from the same 6.0 litre V12 found on BMW's 1999 Le Mans winner.  German race car driver Hans Stuck took this behemoth around the Nurburgring in 7 minutes, 49.92 seconds.

Unfortunately, with the X5's current weight at just under 5,000 lbs., the .088 power-to-weight ratio with this massive engine would still be less than that of the Porsche Cayenne Turbo (.096).  To match that, the X5 M would have to shed over 400 lbs.

Still, for SAVs, the X5 M is pretty interesting, with larger air intakes, bigger bumpers, quad-exhaust, and new alloy wheels.  Expect the interior of this car to get similar refinements as other M-badged BMWs.  First seen as a prototype touring Death Valley this past July, expect the BMW X5 M to hit dealerships in 2008.