The BMW 5 Series is getting a facelift, and unlike most facelifts this one will dramatically change the front-end appearance of the large German luxury sedan and wagon.
As can be clearly seen in these spy photos, even under camouflage, the updated 5 Series is getting similar front-end styling to the Neue Klasse concept that previewed the upcoming electric i3.
This brings a sharper face with a double-kidney grille that’s shorter but wider, and headlights that are brought closer in line with the grille.
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It’s not just changes up front, with the rear-end appearing to feature not only a new bumper but also new tail-lights. However, the ones on this prototype appear to be prototype units.
According to Bimmerpost forum user ynguldyn, who claims to compile product information from leaks within BMW, the 5 Series facelift (‘Life Cycle Impulse’ in BMW parlance) will enter production in March 2027, taking the sedan out to June 2030.
The 5 Series Touring wagon and the hot M5 will reportedly receive the same changes inside and out, and continue in production until February 2031.
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BMW Panoramic iDrive
The update will reportedly bring not only revised exterior styling but also BMW’s Panoramic iDrive interface.
According to BMW, Panoramic iDrive incorporates four main elements: a pillar-to-pillar screen at the base of the windscreen, an available 3D head-up display, a central display screen, and a multifunction steering wheel with haptic controls.
While other brands like Lincoln and Cadillac offer a similar array of screens in some of their vehicles, BMW’s Panoramic iDrive system differs in keeping the pillar-to-pillar screen fairly slim, likely minimising distraction.
The 5 Series will also reportedly get the option of a passenger screen, which we expect will have a privacy screen to prevent the driver from being able to see it.
BMW won’t roll out the exact same front-end styling across all its models. For example, the next-generation X7 was recently spied with a more upright front-end resembling that of the current 7 Series.
The next-generation iX3, previewed by the Vision Neue Klasse X concept, features a similar shape to its front-end as the facelifted 5 Series and upcoming i3, but it wears a taller, skinnier double-kidney grille.
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Next-generation i3 -
Next-generation iX3 -
Vision Neue Klasse X and Vision Neue Klasse concepts
BMW is continuing with its strategy of making its combustion-powered and electric vehicles (EVs) look largely the same, even as it rolls out a new dedicated EV platform called Neue Klasse.
“The big push with EVs, these technologies and this design language, will transfer over the entire product portfolio including our combustion vehicles,” BMW Group design director Adrian van Hooydonk told Top Gear.
“For the customer it won’t be difficult – they will all get new modern BMWs and they can choose the drivetrain.
“There is some proportional difference on the exterior and a little on the interior [between combustion and electric BMWs] but the look and feel and user interface is going to be identical. It’s a big change how you operate the vehicles.”
MORE: Everything BMW 5 Series
