Shakal:
Video: All three generations side by side:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Bn_wKJ_7m8g
...starting at some point I don't pay much attention to inside/outside design anymore, it's just not perfect anymore as it used to be many years ago...It's "hit and miss and hide misses" development, that's what is happening at BMW AG today. They "hit" close to 100% some functions in some selected BMW model, then they "miss" in many more areas in multiple other BMW models and "cover" some misses by useless marketing propaganda.
What I still pay close attention to is a pure internal overall car platform implementation - car balance, agility, dynamic capability, sportiness, responsiveness and etc. It is evolving in some models and, what bothers me, in some important models it is evolving not for the better.
5series platform was dismantled. Instead "short 7series" wheelbase platform for the new 5series was selected. As a consequence, 5series luxury cruising style increased, but sportiness and agility suffered...
Judging by the above video, the new X5 will be overall longer, wheelbase will be also bigger/longer. As a consequence, this again WILL ADD luxury and stability to a car cruising and WILL SUBTRACT from it's agility, sportiness. It may become much MORE difficult to perform a lane change maneuver at speed in a new BMW X5.
Similar wheelbase intermodel increase PORSCHE AG performed for economic reasons starting with the 2011 Cayenne platform. 2011 Cayenne car platform and wheelbase is longer/bigger, than the previous generations Cayenne. They adopted a "modified shorter" Panamera wheelbase platform for the Cayenne implementation. As a consequence, after2011 Cayennes are a little less agile, than pre2011 Cayennes. But PORSCHE AG very intelligently covered and compensated for that fact by REDUCING overall Cayenne weight and lowering car center of gravity. So this became less apparent for a regular typical Cayenne owner/driver today, but NOT for me. I've just adjusted.
I'm worried, that BMW AG may NOT be that intelligent with the new X5 platform implementation, as PORSCHE AG was with Cayenne. Time will tell, if they will strike a BALANCE...