"UNDERSTATED elegance" - that's how BMW describes the look of its X5 off-roader. With the 4.6is, however, the purported subtle styling modifications have turned the vehicle more towards wild than mild, as there is nothing subtle about massive 20-inch alloy wheels. They help the sports X5 model standout from the ever-expanding four-wheel drive crowd and give it a hotrod-style presence among its fellow road-goers. The steroid dose can also be seen in the flared wheel arches that are needed to accommodate the wheels within the extremities of the X5's already wide body. Other distinguishing features to separate the 4.6is from its X5 stablemates include body coloured front and rear airdams, which are both fitted with "wind splitters" on their outer edges, as well as large oval tailpipes exiting from either side at the rear of the vehicle.