New BMW 5 Series Shaping Up To Be A Seriously Athletic Sedan

The engine note is unremarkable and, frankly, we're not surprised. Look at the rear and you'll note a sticker that reads, "Hybrid test vehicle." With that in mind, this particular test unit most likely sports a four-pot engine with an electric motor. For reference, the current 530e PHEV produces combined outputs of 288 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque.

While the newcomer will certainly boast more power, this model will likely serve as the bread and butter model of the 5 Series lineup. Those craving more muscle will be better off waiting forthe all-electric i5or the M5, which isexpected to use the hybridized V8from the XM SUV.

The heavy camouflage makes it very difficult to make any judgments about the styling, but the overall shape retains the classically elegant BMW profile. The Hofmeister kink is present, and the pronounced hood is reminiscent of the elegant F10 5 Series. Hopefully, the kidney grilles won't be quite as pronounced as the items found on the new 7 Series.

Speaking of the 7 Series, we can expect some of the range topper's features to make their way into the new 5 Series. According to a respected source, BMW willready both models for Personal Pilot(the company's Level 3 autonomous driving system). The smaller of the two sedans will receive this technology from July 2024, but only for the Chinese and European markets. BMW is yet to comment on this.

The eighth-generation 5 Series is set to be a class leader, as it has been for most of its life. However, that's not to say rivals aren't working on equally impressive competitors. Arch nemesis Mercedes-Benz isworking on an all-new E-Classand, if it's even half the car the S-Class is, the BMW is in trouble. Elsewhere, Ingolstadt's luxury brand iscooking up a facelifted A6, which may possibly be the last ICE-powered variant.