It appears that BMW is working non-stop with a wave of all-new models coming before the decade's end. The 7 Series was first, followed by the X1 and, most recently, the G30 5 Series. Our spies have snapped photos of other upcoming models from the brand and their latest batch of photos sees the next-generation X5 in its early testing phase.

The car seen here is now wearing the production body but still has false headlights and tail lights. However, one can see the larger, wider kidney grill which the new BMW models adapt, along with a modern interpretation of the “shark nose” front end. The rear end does not reveal much but do expect a Hoffmeister Kink and a variation of the “inverted L” tail lights. The spies also noted that the X5 has grown in dimensions.

Like previous X5's, our spies tell us that the underpinnings are based on the 5 Series, which is all new this year. It utilizes the OKL platform which features a mix of aluminum, magnesium, steel and carbon fiber reinforced polymer. BMW uses the same method in the i3 and i8 plug-in hybrid cars. The lighter architecture is reportedly said to cut down weight by as much as 300 kilograms when compared to the current model.

The OKL platform is also being used in the 7 Series and will be used by the next-generation 6 Series as well. The OKL platform falls under CLAR or Cluster Architecture which sorts the rear wheel drive chassis from the front-drive UKL chassis.

Little is known about the engine lineup but it is likely that it will be carried over from the 5 Series. The all-new 5 Series is powered by a range of TwinPower Turbo inline-four and inline-six engines, as well as four and six cylinder turbodiesels. With BMW pushing plug-in hybrid tech, it is more than likely that the fourth-generation X5 will get an iPerformance model as well.