My name is Luka, I live in Croatia. We have plenty of sun, great roads, and many reasons to spend time together as a family. This grey BMW X5 M is my everyday car. I use it for work, for trips out of the city, and almost every day I drive my kids to school. It’s powerful, fast, and comfortable. But surprisingly, it was my children who made me think about styling the car.
They love racing video games. Tracks, bold designs, aggressive shapes. At some point, they started asking:
“Dad, why is our car just a normal one?”
And I realized I understood exactly what they meant. The X5 M is anything but ordinary, yet visually it felt too calm. I wanted to add character. Something that makes it clear at first glance — this is not a stock car.
My name is Luka, I live in Croatia. We have plenty of sun, great roads, and many reasons to spend time together as a family. This grey BMW X5 M is my everyday car. I use it for work, for trips out of the city, and almost every day I drive my kids to school. It’s powerful, fast, and comfortable. But surprisingly, it was my children who made me think about styling the car.
They love racing video games. Tracks, bold designs, aggressive shapes. At some point, they started asking:
“Dad, why is our car just a normal one?”
And I realized I understood exactly what they meant. The X5 M is anything but ordinary, yet visually it felt too calm. I wanted to add character. Something that makes it clear at first glance — this is not a stock car.
Why LARTE Design
Why LARTE Design
I started exploring what options were available. I looked at different projects and compared approaches. In the end, LARTE Design stood out more than the rest. I contacted LARTE, and my manager Elizabeth got in touch with me. We talked calmly about the look I wanted to achieve.
I told her right away that I didn’t want to change the body color — I like grey. What I wanted was contrast. A stricter, sharper look with a clear visual accent.
I started exploring what options were available. I looked at different projects and compared approaches. In the end, LARTE Design stood out more than the rest. I contacted LARTE, and my manager Elizabeth got in touch with me. We talked calmly about the look I wanted to achieve.
I told her right away that I didn’t want to change the body color — I like grey. What I wanted was contrast. A stricter, sharper look with a clear visual accent.
A Contrast That Works
A Contrast That Works
We chose carbon. And it turned out to be the perfect solution for the grey X5 M. The hood, especially, immediately draws attention. The car feels completely different — visually lower, more aggressive, more confident. From the very first moment, it’s clear this is not a standard configuration.
The black gloss elements add depth and precision. Nothing excessive, everything exactly where it should be. The result feels cohesive and very well-balanced.
We chose carbon. And it turned out to be the perfect solution for the grey X5 M. The hood, especially, immediately draws attention. The car feels completely different — visually lower, more aggressive, more confident. From the very first moment, it’s clear this is not a standard configuration.
The black gloss elements add depth and precision. Nothing excessive, everything exactly where it should be. The result feels cohesive and very well-balanced.
The Reaction That Made It Worth It
The Reaction That Made It Worth It
The best moment was my kids’ reaction. They were genuinely excited. For them, the car stopped being “just a family SUV.” Now it’s the kind of car they recognize from games. One they’re proud of and want to show their friends.
For me, it was a great bonus to my own driving experience. The X5 M remained practical, comfortable, and family-friendly. But now it also has character — mine, and as it turns out, my kids’ as well.
The best moment was my kids’ reaction. They were genuinely excited. For them, the car stopped being “just a family SUV.” Now it’s the kind of car they recognize from games. One they’re proud of and want to show their friends.
For me, it was a great bonus to my own driving experience. The X5 M remained practical, comfortable, and family-friendly. But now it also has character — mine, and as it turns out, my kids’ as well.