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Restomod with V10 and manual transmission is the ultimate first-gen BMW X5. Andre Nalin Sun, August 23, 2026 at 10:00 PM UTC The first-generation BMW X5 never received a full-fat M version, leaving enthusiasts to wonder what might have happened if BMW's performance division had been given free rein. More than two decades later, Kith founder Ronnie Fieg has effectively commissioned an answer. His extensively rebuilt E53 X5 combines the naturally aspirated V10 from the E60-generation M5 with a six-speed manual transmission. Even better, the conversion retains the X5's factory all-wheel-drive system. The one-off was created as part of Kith's continuing relationship with BMW and made its public appearance during Monterey Car Week. Rather than producing an extravagant show car, the project follows an OEM+ philosophy intended to make the finished X5 look like something BMW itself could conceivably have built. That approach makes the mechanical specification even more enticing. Underneath the relatively restrained Titanium Silver Metallic body lies one of BMW M's most memorable engines, three pedals, and the practicality of the SUV that helped define the modern performance crossover. An M5 V10 finds A new home. At the heart of the project is BMW's 5.0-liter S85 V10, the high-revving engine originally fitted to the E60 M5 and E63/E64 M6. In factory M5 specification, the naturally aspirated unit produced 500 hp and 383 lb-ft (520 Nm) of torque. For Fieg's X5, the engine was rebuilt by CarBahn with forged pistons rather than simply being transplanted straight from a donor car. The team also developed a custom exhaust system to suit its unusual new home. Perhaps the most interesting part is sitting immediately behind the engine. The V10 is connected to a six-speed manual gearbox, while the original X5 all-wheel-drive system has been retained. Making those components cooperate required extensive custom engineering, including bespoke engine and transmission mounts, wiring, software and supporting hardware. According to Fieg, integrating the engine, manual gearbox, AWD system, and electronics so everything behaved cohesively was the real challenge of the project. It looks surprisingly factory. The E53 was completely stripped and restored before being rebuilt and coated in Titanium Silver Metallic. Its exterior takes inspiration from BMW's wild X5 Le Mans prototype, although the finished product is considerably subtler than its mechanical specification might suggest. Changes include revised aerodynamic elements, a lower stance, and four exhaust outlets. The X5 rides on 20-inch BMW Style 87 wheels, while a KW-based sport suspension and upgraded BMW M brakes help prepare the chassis for the additional performance. That restraint carries into the cabin, where the familiar E53 architecture is still intact. Kith added custom upholstery, extensive leather trim, and its own detailing without dramatically changing the original interior design. There is one giveaway sitting directly in front of the driver. Because no production E53 needed instrumentation for an engine like the S85, a bespoke gauge cluster was developed with a tachometer stretching to 9,000 rpm. The X5 M BMW never built. The project feels especially believable because the ingredients aren't separated by decades of BMW history. Production of the original X5 continued through 2006, the same model year in which the V10-powered E60 M5 arrived in the United States. BMW itself had already demonstrated how extreme the E53 platform could become with the one-off X5 Le Mans. That experimental machine famously used a V12 derived from the engine powering the McLaren F1, making Fieg's V10 creation seem almost tame by comparison. Production X5 buyers never received anything quite so outrageous. The later 4.8is topped the regular E53 range with a 4.8-liter V8 producing 355 hp, leaving a considerable gap between the quickest showroom X5 and BMW's experimental V12 monster. Sadly, you can't order one. Anyone reaching for their wallet is out of luck. This V10-powered X5 is a one-off, and there are no announced plans for BMW or Kith to offer additional examples or a conversion package. It won't simply disappear into a collection, either. Fieg has indicated that he and his wife intend to use the X5 as a daily driver in New York, which should give that 500-hp V10 and six-speed manual plenty of opportunities to stretch their legs. The original X5 helped establish the blueprint for today's performance SUVs, yet this project imagines a considerably wilder path BMW could have taken. A naturally aspirated M V10, manual gearbox, and AWD stuffed into the compact proportions of an E53 sounds like a recipe that would be difficult for any BMW enthusiast to resist. If you want more stories like this, follow Guessing Headlights on Yahoo so you don't miss what's coming next.

BMW and Kith team up to build an E53 X5 SUV with 10 cylinders and a manual transmission. Brendan McAleer Sat, August 22, 2026 at 6:00 AM PDT * Kith NYC is an urban-apparel brand that's worked with BMW on previous special-edition cars. * This V-10-powered, E53-generation X5 is just a one-off, but it's a real "What might have been" moment. * The build is subtle enough to look like it came right out of the factory. It seems hard to think that any crossover could age into being a modern classic, but if one has, it's the E53-chassis BMW X5. Launched in 1999, it was a pioneer for the idea of a performance-oriented SUV, aiming to blend the poise and punch of the 5-series sedan with greater capability in all conditions. Not just a forerunner of a rising trend, this generation of X5 has also aged extremely well in the styling department, especially when compared with the warthog-from-the-Lion King looks of the current XM. However, like any car that's over two decades old, a bit of a refresh and a tidy-up is needed to keep them on the road. And if you're going to be taking things apart anyway, why not build the kind of X5 that BMW was never brave enough to sell to the public? This 2000 X5 was completely torn down and restored, and then built back up with V-10 power plucked from a BMW M5. It belongs to Ronnie Fieg, a successful entrepreneur in New York's sneaker and urban-wear scene and lifelong fan of the Knicks. He's also a longtime BMW fan, and his Kith NYC brand previously worked with BMW to craft a limited-edition version of the M4 Competition. The ultimate E53 is, of course, the insane X5 Le Mans, a one-off prototype that BMW shoved the V-12 from the McLaren F1 into. Complete lunacy, but it does emphasize that BMW's motorsports division must have been a pretty fun place to work in the early 2000s. Kith's V-10-powered X5 has a new front end that's inspired by that X5 LM, with a widebody kit and rear aero treatment to match. It rides a little lower on a reworked suspension, but the look is pretty subtle. Visually, this X5 could basically be OEM. Technically, so could the powertrain. The most powerful versions of the X5 got some punchy V-8s, but in its last year of production, 2006, BMW brought out the 10-cylinder M5 and M6. The engine here isn't quite stock, having been built up with forged pistons and some custom tuning, but it's again a subtle massaging rather than a SEMA-style show-off build. The interior sews it all together with an entirely factory look if you didn't spot the 9000-rpm tachometer (taken from the M5). Best detail: the stick-shift transmission between the seats. Yes, this is a proper three-pedal manual transmission, paired with a 500-hp 5.0-liter V-10 and retaining the factory all-wheel-drive system. It should be an absolute hoot to drive, and while plenty of customizing was required to get everything to fit, it largely contains parts right out of the BMW catalog. V-10 power in an X5? What might have been. Only a one-off, this project nonetheless raises the profile of the E53 X5 a little, to the point that collectors looking around for something cool but affordable might notice. With the X5, BMW set out to predict the future, and it mostly got it right. Building a potential collectible while doing so is something of a happy accident.

Kith celebrates 15th anniversary with BMW & Levi's revives historic 1942 501 in this week's top fashion news. Stay up-to-date on the industry's latest trends. * Levi's brought back archival 1942 501s, while Gap tapped Malcolm Todd for its new denim campaign. * Nike Japan teased a One Piece collaboration, and Kith expanded its luxury automotive footprint alongside BMW. * Meta's smart glasses faced major venue bans across the UK. Following the reveal of its one-of-one 1972 BMW 3.0 CSi and 1987 BMW M6 E24 restoration, Kith officially unveiled its highly anticipated Chapter IV collection with BMW. In celebration of the brand's 15th anniversary, the collaborative effort continued to bridge the gap between automotive heritage and premium streetwear. In outerwear, a multi-paneled leather jacket crafted in partnership with AVIREX is offered alongside the Braun and Dewitt leather moto jackets. Elsewhere, the Nelson Quarter Zip, Braxton Track Zip, and Nelson Hoodie stand out in a range of everyday essentials. For accessories, Kith introduces Monogram-embossed leather overnight bags, travel duffles, watch holders, '47 Sheep Suede Drivers Caps, and much more. The fourth installment of their partnership solidified the enduring synergy between the two powerhouse brands, proving that the crossover between luxury cars and modern fashion still had plenty of gas left in the tank. Meta's smart glasses faced bans at various venues in the United Kingdom, a blow to the company's attempts to expand the product's global adoption. Event spaces and clubs cracked down on the wearable technology, citing strict privacy and unauthorized recording concerns. While Wetherspoons stands as one of the largest chains enforcing the restriction across its 800 locations, private members' club Soho House has also asked patrons to remove the hardware upon entry. In entertainment, ATG Theatres has restricted wearing the frames during programming, and Monopoly Events instituted an outright ban for Comic-Con. The widespread restrictions served as a harsh reality check for the booming smart eyewear market, setting a definitive precedent for how wearable cameras are integrated into nightlife and entertainment. Levi's Vintage Clothing reached deep into its vault to re-release the iconic 1942 501 jeans. The reproduction meticulously captured World War II-era specifications, a time when strict material rationing forced the brand to strip down its signature details. Replicating the original craftsmanship, the jeans feature an inverted yoke seam, hidden rivets, single-needle arcuate pocket stitching, and a classic two-horse leather patch. Each pair is delivered unwashed in its raw state, complete with a reproduction of the original paper flasher and decorative dollar bill insert. The Levi's Vintage Clothing 1942 501 Jeans drops August 13 at Levi's Store Kyoto and via lottery on the official web store for 66,000 JPY Nike Japan teased yet another upcoming collaboration with the legendary franchise One Piece. The teaser image showcases the recognizable Poneglyph in the shape of a Nike Swoosh, accompanied by the short caption "ROMANCE DAWN", directly referencing the introductory story arc of One Piece. The release is rumored to be the One Piece x Nike Air Max Plus "Devil Fruits" pack, but official product shots remain under wraps. However, the mere announcement was enough to generate hype across global social media platforms. Several sources suggest that the One Piece x Nike collection is set for an official drop during Fall 2026. Ahead of his biggest tour to date, Malcolm Todd stars in Gap's new "Denim on your own" campaign with American actresss Inde Navarrette. In an interview with Hypebeast, the musician shared his fashion hot takes, the importance of a fun accessory, and his guiding style mantra: "if everything's cute in my closet, it'll be okay."