The BMW M5 is a performance luxury icon, but it’s changing with the times as the redesigned model is set to embrace electrification. Caught undergoing cold weather testing, this particular prototype doesn’t hide that fact as it features “Hybrid Test Vehicle” badging on three sides. Putting those aside, the heavily camouflaged prototype eschews the massive ‘beaver tooth’ grille found on the M3 and M4. Instead, there’s an evolutionary grille that appears a bit larger than the one used on its predecessor.
Additional details are hard to make out,
but we can see a carefully hidden charging port on the front fender. Elsewhere,
there’s an edgier shoulder line and flush-mounted door handles. We can also see
an upward sweeping beltline and a high-performance braking system. The rear end
does a better job of hiding its secrets as there isn’t much to see besides a
curvier trunk and a four-tailpipe exhaust system.
While we can only get a glimpse of the
interior, previous pictures have shown the 5-Series will adopt the Curved
Display that debuted on the iX. Those same pictures also revealed the model
will have a minimalist shifter, a modern steering wheel, and updated
switchgear.
Of course, the most exciting news is the
all-new powertrain. While some enthusiasts may bemoan the addition of plug-in
hybrid technology, they might want to hold off as the M5 will likely use the
same powertrain as the upcoming XM. BMW has been coy on specifics, but
confirmed the XM concept has a “V8 engine and a high-performance electric
motor.” This gave the model a combined output of 740 hp and 999 Nmof torque, which is more than enough to make the current M5
look relatively tame by comparison.
