5 Series Hybrid

Make
BMW
Segment
Sedan

It's no secret that BMW is preparing to give the 5 Series a refresh. We've already seen prototypes of the updated 5 Series being tested in sedan and wagon guises, but they were heavily camouflaged at the front and back to disguise the design changes. This made us worried that the 5 Series facelift might be getting an oversized kidney grille akin to the X7. BMW has been caught testing another 5 Series Touring prototype, and this time some of the camo has been removed, giving us a clearer look at the front fascia.

We get a better look at the redesigned front bumper as well as the grille, which, thankfully, won't be much larger than the current model's. Elsewhere, the 5 Series facelift features slimmer looking headlights, a redesigned rear bumper, and new taillight graphics to keep the sedan looking fresh. We weren't sent any new photos of the interior, but previous spy shots have shown the cabin will be left unchanged apart from a larger infotainment screen with updated software.

Engine options from the current 5 series are likely to carry over, including a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 248 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque in the 530i.

The 540i, on the other hand, will pack a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six producing 335 hp and 331 lb-ft, while the M550i will use a turbocharged V8 delivering 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. All models come with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

We've also previously spied a new hybrid variant that will join the 5 Series family that's expected to be badged as a '545e xDrive' model. It's expected to use a detuned version of the plug-in hybrid drivetrain found in the 745e xDrive iPerformance detuned to around 375 hp. Since the current BMW 5 Series has only been on sale since 2017, the facelifted model isn't expected to arrive until late 2020 or possibly early 2021.