BMW X5 Celebrates 25 Years with A Special Off-Road Version

BMW celebrates the 25th anniversary of the X5 by launching a special, off-road-ready Silver Anniversary Edition.

It has been a quarter of a century since BMW debuted its first-ever SUV model, the BMW X5. To celebrate its 25th anniversary this year, the Bavarian automaker has unveiled a special Silver Anniversary Edition of the X5.

While some may think that the recently-facelifted X5 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) is a tad too posh for some dirt action, we’re happy to report that this special X5 model is quite a proper off-roader, thanks to the addition of the BMW xOffroad Package.

This special X5 comes standard with BMW xOffroad package, plus some extra off-roading gears

Based on the non-hybrid X5 xDrive40i, the X5 Silver Anniversary Edition’s off-road package adds a smart four-wheel drive (FWD) system instead of using BMW’s proprietary xDrive all-wheel drive (AWD) suite. This system will optimise the throttle mapping and traction control of the car depending on the terrain modes selected, allowing this special X5 to traverse some uncharted terrain that the normal X5 wouldn’t dare touch.

Besides the trick 4WD system, the special X5 also comes with beefed-up two-axle air suspensions, a mechanical locking rear differential, plus some underbody protection plates. Not to forget, this off-road-ready SUV is also offered with optional General Grabber all-terrain tyres, in case you’re up for some serious off-roading adventures.

Despite its silver moniker, the X5 Silver Anniversary Edition is ironically draped in Lime Rock Grey metallic hue courtesy of the BMW Individual paint scheme, plus the Extended Shadowline trim package swaps the standard silver trims for dark-hued ones. Also present here are several Sport and M Sport parts, including the standard 20-inch M Star-spoke bi-colour wheels from the M Sport package, plus the Sport body kit with some aluminium-accented pieces and trims.

On board, this special X5 comes with two sporty front seats and several carbon fibre trims derived from the souped-up X5 M Competition and X5 M60i models, plus several Sensafin upholstery options, including Black, Coffee, Cognac, and Silverstone. There’s also a 25th anniversary commemorative plaque placed on the car’s central console to remind passengers that this is not an ordinary X5.

Based on the X5 xDrive40i, the special X5 continues to be powered by a familiar B58 straight-six mill used on many other BMW models.

As we mentioned earlier, the X5 Silver Anniversary Edition is based on the X5 xDrive 40i model, which is powered by a familiar 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six B58 petrol engine used on many other BMW models, including the manic BMW M3. Rated at 329 HP and 450 NM, this mill allows the X5 xDrive 40i to have a decent 0-100 KM/H sprint time of 5.7 seconds, although we’d reckon it’ll be slightly slower if you're driving them on unpaved terrain.

With its production set to commence later in August this year, the special BMW X5 Silver Anniversary Edition starts at $79,900 (RM376,309) for the North American market. Vaguely, BMW says it only plans to produce 1,000 examples of this special SUV model, with the possibility of expanding its production life should demands arise.