Hailing from the Bavarian region of Germany, BMW is among the most-storied automakers in history. The company has made some of the most appealing driver’s cars ever to grace the market.
Its iconic models are nearly endless with practically every generation of the M3 garnering plenty of internet praise. The performance model of the compact 3 Series sedan was first unveiled in the 1980s, a good decade for BMW by many accounts. The brand now makes a full lineup of M-cars such as the 2022 SUV, the BMW X5 M.
Tapping into that classic 1980s BMW style, HotCars digital artist Timothy Adry Emmanual has reimagined the BMW X5 SUV as a restomod wagon. In this exclusive, the X5 looks so much like BMWs of the 1980s, it could convince someone that Emmanual has a time machine. Read on to see what makes this render give off classic BMW flair.
The Woody Wagon BMW X5 That Was Never Made
This sleek render features some timeless BMW styling tied together with a dark blue paint job and faux-wood side paneling. The front end looks inspired by the E30 3-Series, E28 5-Series, and a hint of BMW 2002 Turbo. The styling on this car is unmistakably BMW.
In comparison with the 2000s X5 model parked next to the 1980s render, it seems longer and lower. Despite wearing the X5 nameplate, this car could easily fit in as the touring model of either the 3-Series or 5-Series sedans. With BMW recently, unveiling the M3 touring, this model looks like it could be the grandfather of that car.
While more modern BMW X5 models may not have the best reliability, this X5 from the 1980s comes from an era where BMW products were much more durable. You likely would not have to deal with as many electrical problems, engine leaks, and the host of other problems associated with modern BMW X5s. However, even with this 1980s BMW X5 wagon getting the restomod treatment, you would still be losing many safety features that modern BMWs include.
A Proper Engine For This 1980s BMW SUV Wagon
If BMW produced the X5 in the 1980s, it would have been in competition with the Audi 5000 wagon. To beat the Audi or other sporty wagons of the era, it would need some serious BMW-M power. A good start for this car as a base model would be the same 3.5-liter inline 6-cylinder found in the E34 M5. The S38 engine produced 311 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque, respectable numbers for the late 1980s.
However, by today's standards, that’s nothing. Many mid-sized SUVs are pushing similar power to that so the BMW would have to kick it up a notch. The perfect fit for this X5 wagon would be the 600 horsepower twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 from the modern-day 2023 BMW X5 M. With that engine powering this 1980s masterpiece, it would have the supercar-like performance of many current super SUVs.