Our new spy photographs reveal the next, seventh-gen of the BMW 5-Series that will bear the internal codename G30 when it arrives in late 2016 or early 2017.
The development prototype affords us a preliminary look at the styling of the 5er that sports a sleeker body with a less frumpy rear end and a bolder double-kidney grille than the current car.
It’s not only its appearance that will be more athletic, but the handling as well through the loss of some 100kg (220 pounds), partly thanks to a completely new lightweight platform that utilizes a combination of aluminum, high-strength steel and composite carbon fiber parts.
Powering the new Five will be a mix of turbocharged four- and six-cylinder diesel and petrol engines, together with a couple of V8 gasoline units, including a further improved version of the M5’s 4.4-liter lump producing around 600hp, up from the current car’s 552hp (560PS).
There will also be a sported up, diesel-powered M550d and a plug-in hybrid model that could end up using the same 241hp (245PS) 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline-four linked to a 94hp (95PS) electric motor and a lithium-ion battery that was featured in the production-intent X5 eDrive study.
While the tester we spied had what looks like a cap for an outlet behind the front fender, we highly doubt that this is a PHEV, since it’s mandatory in Germany for all battery-powered prototypes in camouflage to bear a sticker to inform firefighters in the case of an accident.
BMW‘s next 5er will come with all the latest technologies, including a semi-autonomous intelligent driving system dubbed ConnectedDrive Connect (CDC).
Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoops
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