Remember when BMW built a one-off X5 Le Mans with a monster V-12 from the McLaren F1 and a six-speed manual? While it was just a one-off prototype, it was actually a fully functioning car that was pretty kick-ass on track. Sadly, BMW never did anything as extreme with an SUV after that. Thankfully, Ronnie Fieg, owner of the fashion brand Kith and massive BMW enthusiast, decided to make something similar on his own and brought it to Monterey Car Week. It’s an E53-generation BMW X5 with a naturally aspirated V-10, a six-speed manual, and all-wheel drive.
Fieg had the car built in Lithuania and no stone was left unturned. As wild as the project was, it looks like a factory effort, like it could have rolled off the showroom floor back in the early 2000s. And even though it has a powertrain that the X5 never had, it’s a BMW powertrain. Well, a modified one. Fieg took an S85 5.0-liter V-10 from an E60 M5 that was rebuilt by CarBahn, which is owned and run by the master, Steve Dinan. Forged pistons and custom ECU software were added, so it isn’t a completely stock engine, but it’s pretty damn close.
Kith
“The idea was to build the ultimate E53 X5 that BMW never made,” Fieg told BMWBlog. “We took a completely rebuilt CarBahn S85 V-10 with forged pistons, converted the car to a six-speed manual, and retained the factory all-wheel-drive system. Then we engineered everything around it — custom mounts, wiring, hardware, software, exhaust, suspension and brakes.”
At first glance, it might just look like a normal X5, but that’s only because of its unassuming silver paint that hides some of its more muscular features. Its fenders are flared, its front bumper is lower, there are massive hood inlets, and its rear bumper houses quad exhausts. It’s surprisingly aggressive when you pay close attention, but it doesn’t look overly shouty. I’m sure it’ll command tons of attention on startup, but at least with the engine off it doesn’t look like an SUV that houses a V-10.
Kith
It’s pretty simple inside, too. It does have a custom gauge cluster, with period-correct M-style gauges with a 9000-rpm redline, and a custom Kith leather shift boot.
This isn’t the first Kith/BMW project car but it’s certainly the most ambitious. It’s cool to see Fieg get wilder with his creations and I’m curious to see what he makes next.
