STUD OR DUD? BMW Gives First Official Peek Of The Next Gen 5 Series

I predict it will be like the 7 Series i.e. a total letdown that does not look new or different from the current one.

agreed

Likely. But it should be fine so long as BMW never returns to that Bangle designed cat-eye disaster of a car design language. 5's are supposed to the coolest car in the lineup. The cool hand Luke of automobiles....

I agree and they haven't been so for ages

The importance of the new 5-Series should not be underestimated. If BMW uses the same design strategy it did with the new 7-Series while Audi has decided to go the more aggressive and differentiated route, it could very well cause BMW to fall to third place in global sales behind Mercedes-Benz and Audi.

The 5-Series is a hugely important model for BMW as it is the model people buy after they have outgrown the 3-Series and started to earn more money but not yet 7-Series executive money.

Screw this up and BMW will suffer devastating sales consequences.

BMW never will suffer devastating anything , the 5 series is a great car and elegant design now the new one will be much better executed in and out and much higher quality interior.

The new 5 Series will sell fewer units than the current one just as the new 7 Series is not selling any better than the previous one, in fact less.

It does not need a radical redesign, however I hope they make it much more modern looking in the front and rear. Their show cars have had some neat designs/interpretations of the quad light kidney grill front end. Hopefully that inspires the designers.

I actually really like the new 7. BMW didn't need to change the body style because I still like the old one. The only people who care about it changing are people sitting in their parents basement judging, the people who cannot and never will be able to afford one.
I like the current 5 series. I have driven a new A6 and new E class and prefer the "old" 5 series. Just has better driver engagement. I guess I am the only one who doesn't care about wifi hotspot in a car and stuff that doesn't affect the driving ability.

Unfortunately that strategy has cooled sales of the 7 Series which is behaving more like a car at the end of its cycle than at the beginning.

The 7 Series is heading for the same pointless volume of the A8 and XJ.

Mercedes calls the shots and #1 on their shots being called is captivating styling. BMW doesn't have that. The second is performance and people know what AMG is, but with the 7 Series you don't get an M7 you get an Alpina and no one knows what that is.

I predict when the new 5 is parked next to the E, the 5 will look a decade old in comparison.

I would definitely agree with what Matt stated above. BMWs new models are looking more like the older models than they ever have before.

Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz and Audi are making their newer models look more different from their previous models than they ever have before (Audi will start with the next A8).

BMWs driving dynamics are no longer class leading. The interiors have obviously fallen behind the competition and now the only thing BMW can depend on is its styling. If it's the same look as before, buyers will get bored given that there is nothing truly special anymore.

@GermanNut BMW could be especially vulnerable in the large sedan wars if the next Lexus LS comes to market like the show car that anticipated it. There is a LOT of interest in the stunning LC. If they can make the LS stunning, BMW could lose.

I predict they will also be exceptionally vulnerable in $50-75K range as well. There is tremendous interest in the Continental as a "gotta have" car which could inspire some to get more car for their money. Genesis already sells better than anyone realizes and the G90 will be marketed aggressively.

Mercedes is extremely aggressive and it works for them.

As for the A8 being radically different...we will have to wait and see.