The most unlikely place to drive an SUV is probably a racetrack.
Finely built with German precision it may be, the BMW X5 M is a large blob, tipping the scales of around 2.3 tonnes and riding twice as high as any proper sports car above the tarmac.
Just by the sheer type of body style, the SUV doesn't quite fit in this scenario at all.
Still, BMW's M division wants to prove a point here by showing us the versatility of this car at the Sepang International Circuit. How does it fare then?
Exterior
The latest BMW X5 M looks great and is clearly a progression from the previous generation, but with a more muscular and purposeful look.
As expected, the X5 M borrows most of its visual cues from the facelifted X5. These include revised headlamps and taillights, as well as minor tweaks on its sheet metal.
However, the M model can be easily distinguished from its regular sibling thanks to the more aggressive bumper design and the large intakes in the front, lower apron. Replete with ducting and scoops, it almost resembles something poised to run at Le Mans.
Around the back, the trademark BMW M quad exhaust pipe layout embedded in a revised, diffuser-like piece is another tell-tale sign that this is no normal X5.
Interior
The X5 M doesn't lose any of the regular X5's luxury for the sake of performance. In fact, the cabin feels more like an occasion thanks to all of the M-specific interior features, including the M instrument panel and M steering wheel.
It's comfortable, too, thanks to a pair of superb-looking M Sport seats. They're set deep, with high-side bolsters, angled shoulder sections and come with a lot of adjustment options for optimum support during hard driving.
The X5 M doesn't lose any of the regular X5's luxury for the sake of performance. In fact, the cabin feels more like an occasion thanks to all of the M-specific interior features, including the M instrument panel and M steering wheel.
It's comfortable, too, thanks to a pair of superb-looking M Sport seats. They're set deep, with high-side bolsters, angled shoulder sections and come with a lot of adjustment options for optimum support during hard driving.
Although it's easy to dismiss the X5 M as superfluous and unnecessary to a large degree, there's no getting away from the fact that it is still a very practical vehicle as far as passengers and cargo space go.
Nobody sat in the rear of this behemoth during our time with the car but if there were, they will not be complaining about any lack of head or legroom. Similarly, no cargo was on board but the 650-litre boot space is easily capable of handling all the luggage or groceries.
The Drive
There's something about the X5 M that sets it apart as a proper sports car, not just a glorified and fast SUV.
Rumbling beneath the massive hood is a 4.4-litre V8 twin-turbo engine that produces a whopping 575bhp and 750Nm of torque, enough to overcome the SUV's tremendous weight and catapult it from 0 to 100km/h mph in a staggering 4.2 seconds.
Along the way, it sounds simply outrageous - the exhaust has also been fine-tuned to encourage the engine notes to resonate more vividly up and down the tachometer.
Managing the man-eater of an engine is none other than BMW's eight-speed Steptronic automatic transmission that shifts with satisfying immediacy in manual mode.
Hustling into a corner and downshifting via the paddle shifters, the eight-speeder responds instantly with gorgeous throttle blipping cog-swaps keeping the twin-turbo V8 on song. And when it comes to slowing down, the massive brakes do a good job at arresting this 2,350kg projectile with ridiculous ease.
There's something about the X5 M that sets it apart as a proper sports car, not just a glorified and fast SUV.
Rumbling beneath the massive hood is a 4.4-litre V8 twin-turbo engine that produces a whopping 575bhp and 750Nm of torque, enough to overcome the SUV's tremendous weight and catapult it from 0 to 100km/h mph in a staggering 4.2 seconds.
Along the way, it sounds simply outrageous - the exhaust has also been fine-tuned to encourage the engine notes to resonate more vividly up and down the tachometer.
Managing the man-eater of an engine is none other than BMW's eight-speed Steptronic automatic transmission that shifts with satisfying immediacy in manual mode.
Hustling into a corner and downshifting via the paddle shifters, the eight-speeder responds instantly with gorgeous throttle blipping cog-swaps keeping the twin-turbo V8 on song. And when it comes to slowing down, the massive brakes do a good job at arresting this 2,350kg projectile with ridiculous ease.
The X5 M is a deceptively nimble vehicle, which is a testament to the engineering talent at BMW's M division, who are as good with suspension as they are with engines.
While the regular X5 already does a physics-defying job of hiding its mass, the M version is even better. The SUV won't let you forget how large it is, but it's also astonishingly capable thanks to its adaptive dampers and active roll stabilisation.
That said, the car's suspension, transmission, steering are configurable via Comfort, Sport and Sport+ modes, and each of these can be configured independently just like other M cars. In other words, the car can be driven as docile as a puppy on a leash, or you can unleash hell with it.
Conclusion
The X5 M is a vehicle with practical space inside and good looks on the outside, but what really sets it apart despite being an SUV is its savage performance and dynamics, which are undeniably impressive.
So don't worry about your next track day. You can still take this car and embarrass many other sports cars. Point proven, M.
