Specially developed to commemorate the German brand's victory in the 24 hours of Le Mans in 1999, the BMW X5 Le Mans it risks being the most extreme SUV ever. Although aesthetically little differs from the production model, it is a real monster.
Under the hood breathed a mighty 6.0l V12 block with 700hp — just like the champion BMW V12 LMR from Le Mans! Thanks to this engine and a six-speed manual gearbox, the BMW X5 Le Mans sprinted from 0 to 100 km/h in less than five seconds. Top speed has been electronically limited to… 310 km/h.
Apart from the engine, the entire project was relatively easy to carry out. The engine fitted easily to the front of the BMW X5 and the brand's sports department only made improvements to the ground connections.
Inside, the bestiality of the BMW X5 Le Mans continues. We find countless elements that immediately take us back to the sports world: four sports seats and pressure gauges with coolant temperature and engine oil pressure.
The attack on "green hell"
In June 2001, a year after the SUV's production, German driver Hans-Joachim Stuck drove the Nürburgring behind the wheel of this SUV and crossed the line in 7min49.92s . An impressive time, below some supercars that passed through there, as is the case of the Lamborghini Gallardo and the Ferrari F430.
Hans-Joachim StuckDriving a 700hp SUV on the Nürburgring was one of the scariest experiences I've ever had.
