by Chris Chilton
- Facelifted M5 sedan and Touring spied around BMW’s Nürburgring R&D center.
- Neue Klasse design brings slimmer lights and reworked grille treatment up front.
- Power likely unchanged with hybrid V8 still delivering serious punch and weight.
BMW debuted the all-new i3 electric 3-Series this week, and the automaker isn’t wasting any time giving the M5 super-sedan a sprinkle of the same Neue Klasse style.
Fresh spy shots out of Germany show both sedan and Touring wagon prototypes of the facelifted – or Life Cycle Impulse, in BMW terminology – M5 prowling the roads close to BMW M’s R&D center at the Nurburgring.
Related: The New BMW M5 Interior Is Definitely Not What You Remember
There’s been some debate about how far BMW will push the Neue Klasse styling on the M5. Some of that confusion comes from the thick disguise placed around the grille area, but also there’s the acknowledgment that the 5-Series is bought by an older, more conservative crowd, one that’s maybe not quite ready for the full NK experience.
However, these images, the clearest we’ve seen yet, certainly suggest BMW is applying the same kind of vizor-like face that debuted on the iX3 electric SUV and has now also found its way onto the i3 sedan. It looks like the kidney area is blanked off, with all cooling duties handled by a long, slim slot below, a bit like the one on the gas-powered Dodge Charger, plus the aggressive intakes in the redesigned front bumper.
But the metalwork above where the kidneys currently sit is still shaped to continue the raised profile of those kidneys, so it would look odd if the kidney weren’t there in some form. Guess we’ll have to wait for BMW to remove the sunglasses-shaped central piece of disguise later in the test program to know for sure how the finished car will look.
Also: BMW’s New 3-Series Wagon Just Crashed The i3 Party
Round the back, the changes are more about tidying things up. New taillights bring a different light signature, and the rear diffuser appears to have been simplified. The MY26 M5‘s slightly fussy V-shaped element in the middle is gone, replaced by something that looks more cohesive and less shouty.
New-Generation iDrive
But it’s not just the exterior of the M5 that’s getting the Neue Klasse design treatment. Earlier spy shots revealed a new tablet touchscreen and no gauge cluster that we could see, suggesting the M5 could adopt the iX3’s Panoramic iDrive head-up display.
Powertrains As Before
Under the skin, don’t expect fireworks, or at least not more than the ample amount the M5 already supplies. BMW usually leaves power upgrades for full generational changes, not facelifts. That means the hybrid twin-turbo, 4.0-liter V8 should carry over largely unchanged, still pumping out a hefty 717 hp (727 PS). It’s brutally quick already, even if the 25-mile (40 km) electric range isn’t exactly impressive considering the 1,100 lbs (500 kg) weight gain the hybrid kit contributed to.
The current M5 was revealed in mid 2024 and we’ve been spying facelifted prototypes of the facelifted version for a while, so it’s possible we might see a production version later this year ready to hit the street as a MY27.
Baldauf
Context:
BMW's 2027 M5 facelift adopts Neue Klasse styling with slimmer lights while keeping its 717-hp hybrid V8 unchanged.
Context:
This signals BMW's push to unify design across its lineup, even for conservative luxury sedan buyers.
Context:
The current M5 debuted in mid-2024, making this an unusually quick styling refresh cycle for the brand.