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BMW starts testing X5 M facelift SUV on the Nurburgring circuit

BMW X5 M facelift

BMW X5 M facelift is likely to be introduced by next year. (Image: Autoexpress)

BMW has started testing its upcoming X5 M facelift SUV. It has been over a decade since BMW last slapped on the M-badge to its X5 SUV back in 2009. However, things are about to get interesting again now as the company was spotted pushing the new X5 M around the Nurburgring test track. The latest spy shots arriving from the UK suggest that BMW is working on a new X5 M, based on the upcoming facelifted X5 SUV.

Majority of the test car profile can be seen smartly hidden under thick sheets of camouflage, however some key details are still visible hinting at the remastered design of the SUV. At the front the car can be seen featuring a slimmer pair of headlight units. A similar design language was also seen on the company’s newly revealed 7 Series and iX electric SUV. The snout of the SUV can be seen sporting a new pair of kidney grilles with a more angular design. Also, the company hasn’t used any wider/larger grille design which has been a topic of debate among critics lately. Inside the new grille can be seen horizontal slats – a change from the vertical ones found on the existing model. Although, BMW has covered up details like a pair of fog lights and vertical cooling slats, the use of a reprofiled intake is evident.

(Also Read: BMW M4 Competition 50 Jahre M Edition launched)

The test prototype continues to ride on a set of 22-inch alloy wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres. The wheels are also the same kind as found on the current Competition car. Other than this, details such as X5 M’s roof spoiler and quad tailpipe setup remain the same as the outgoing model, however, thicker camouflage around this section hint that it could feature minor design change on to the diffuser. Another key change expected on the rear profile is the use of new tail-lights which could be updated from the current model.

On the inside, expect the new X5 to come with BMW’s new iDrive 9 infotainment system that has appeared on the new i7 as well as the iX electric SUV. This infotainment system features a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and a 14.9-inch touchscreen beneath a single sheet of curved glass. The company will also provide the car with a redesigned dashboard to accommodate the new infotainment system.

Concrete details on the upcoming X5 M facelift’s powertrain will be unknown in the later stage. However, the current X5 M Competition is available with a 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 producing 616bhp and 750Nm of torque. Th new X5 M is also expected to retain the same drivetrain, albeit more power could be on the cards.

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Categories
Sports

HRC Honda clear in Q1 as ex-Moto2 racer Nagashima stuns

Team HRC has established itself as the early squad to bear during this weekend’s Suzuka 8 Hours after Tetsuta Nagashima emerged to the top of the timesheets in both FP1 and Q1 by a huge margin.

Making his Suzuka 8 Hours debut this weekend alongside Takumi Takahashi and ex-MotoGP rider Iker Lecuona as part of the flagship HRC entry from Honda – one of 16 teams representing the marque at its home venue – Nagashima belied his relative inexperience at the venue by looking very much at home on it.

Stopping the clock for a best of 2m 05.823s in the two-hour FP1 sessionh, Nagashima went to take almost a full second off that benchmark in Q1 with a 2m 04.942s lap set in the first of the three 20min qualifying phases, slicing a full 0.2s off the lap record in the process.

With no other rider able to get close to his best time, Nagashima – who has not raced on a high-profile stage since announcing he would be quitting Moto2 at the end of the 2020 season – would end Q1 almost a second clear over nearest rival Niccolo Canepa on the YART Yamaha R1.

With the Q1 and later Q2 session split into three phases – designated for what organizers refer to as ‘Yellow’, ‘Blue’ and ‘Red’ riders, aka Rider #1, #2 and #3 respectively – while the first and second 20min sessions went ahead without issue, the third was met by rain falling at one sector of the lap, preventing those going last to get anywhere near the top times.

It meant six-time WorldSBK title winning Jonathan Rea’s efforts would be compromised, though Alex Lowes was still quick enough to put the Kawasaki Racing Team in third position, ahead of the domestic Astemo Honda Dream team of Terusuke Sakumoto, Kazuma Watanabe and Taiga Haneda was close behind in fourth.

SDG Honda Racing completed the top five thanks to a rapid lap by Teppei Nagoshi in the first session, relegating FCC TSR France – Honda’s nominated Endurance World Championship effort – down into sixth position.

Two more Honda teams filled out the top ten with Honda Sofukai Suzuka and Honda Dream Racing Team Sakurai ending Q1 in seventh and ninth respectively.

They sandwiched Spa 24 Hours winners BMW – the only entry in the entire field to be competing with European riders on a European motorcycle built by a European manufacturer – in eighth.

Defending EWC champions Yoshimura Suzuki Endurance Racing Team completed the top ten despite doing without its star rider Sylvain Guintoli, who skipped Q1 to rest a hand injury, while Gregg Black is a late addition to the line-up alongisde Kazuki Watanabe after Xavier Simeon was struck down by COVID.

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