The next-generation BMW 5 Series was spied on public roads this week as BMW ramps up development on its midsize executive sedan. This prototype, wearing a “hybrid test vehicle” tag on its rear bumper, gives us an early look at what to expect from the redesigned four-door.
We haven’t seen much of the next-gen 5 Series thus far, but we expect it will follow a formula similar to the larger 7 Series, which was spotted in the wild last fall. We expect to see multiple electrified versions, including both a plug-in hybrid and a pure electric model. Gasoline and diesel engines are also likely, with the latter being reserved for the overseas market.
BMW has been using the 5 Series platform as a testbed for its electrification plans, and while “Project BEV” has been wearing the skin of a current model, the underlying architecture is expected to be utilized in future generations. Last we heard, BMW was testing a battery-electric powertrain with 711 horsepower (111 more than the current twin-turbo V8 M5) from three electric motors. We expect a toned-down version of that setup to underpin the all-electric i5 variant.
