SPY PHOTOS: First good look at the 2009 BMW 5-Series redesign

SPY PHOTOS: First good look at the 2009 BMW 5-Series redesign
BMW is preparing a replacement of the very successful 5-Series. The current model range has been on the market since 2003, and now first prototypes have been sighted during testing in the city traffic of Munich.

The prototype on the photos has a different front end and extra wide fenders. Apparently the next generation 5-Series will be bigger by growing in overall length, width and wheel base. The new model will also get bigger wheels, the standard size is 17“, and wheel sizes of 18 and 19“ will be optional. The all new styling of the new 5-Series will – due to the wider track and lower height – make it look almost like a coupe.

Power comes from a large choice of 6 fuel engines (ranging from 2,5 litre 218 HP to 4,4 litre V 8 Biturbo 408 HP) and four Diesels (ranging from 2,0 litre 175 HP to 3,0 litre 300 HP)

Hans G. Lehmann/ Hidden Image



Autoegr525Autoegr525 - 10/11/2006 3:42:43 PM
+1 Boost
It's a prototype that's not its real body just a disguise to cover the wider track...relax


Autoegr525Autoegr525 - 10/11/2006 10:24:48 PM
+1 Boost
true true...i hope your wrong though, god that would look awful on a BMW...


kart1kart1 - 10/11/2006 3:28:50 PM
0 Boost
The black one looks pretty much the same. The current BMW needs to evolve greatly not just a little like the 3 series.


S4cabriofoxS4cabriofox - 10/11/2006 7:09:29 PM
+1 Boost
That's because it's a current 5 Series body over the new chassis.

Those photoshops are ugly.


awsomeaudiawsomeaudi - 10/11/2006 3:29:53 PM
+1 Boost
Heh i seen that bimmer before over here in socal


Designer1Designer1 - 10/11/2006 3:36:58 PM
+1 Boost
The BMW need to change their interior design for God's sake. I like the current model's head lights than those in light blue.


answeranswer - 10/11/2006 3:54:39 PM
+1 Boost
I think the current 5 looks good in black, all other colors make it look a little wanky.

Is it really time for a full redo of the 5? Seems early.


Terminal10Terminal10 - 10/11/2006 4:00:39 PM
+1 Boost
The 5 looks great and the refresh only helps it more to dominate the market however an interior upgrade is well overdue for most of the BMW models.


EL34EL34 - 10/11/2006 4:15:01 PM
0 Boost
BMW, are you listening?.....some people here want you you to upgrade your interiors to the Lexus standard.

Not sure what that means, but I keep reading it.


EliteRangerEliteRanger - 10/11/2006 4:36:39 PM
+1 Boost
They can't actually release that as an entirely new car surely? If anything it's a facelift model...it really hasn't evolved enough to be "new".


UPshiftUPshift - 10/11/2006 5:51:48 PM
+1 Boost
BMW interiors have been a little lacking lately, taking emphasis off of the sporty driving aspect of the cars. The new 3's window switches on the doors are almost inaccessible, in front of the door pull handle. The new 5 series would do good to lose those "eyebrows".


HyundaiHyundai - 10/11/2006 8:34:11 PM
+1 Boost
Yes sir.

That really annoyed me when test driving the new 3 sedan.

You had to reach far forward down the left armrest of the driver seat to reach the buttons. When asked why, the salesman said that it distracts from the driving when placed close by!


lewissalemlewissalem - 10/12/2006 9:31:54 AM
+1 Boost
Upshift,

Why did they do that? BMW was always, im my opinion, one of the best ergonomically inside. Furthermore, no more hard hollow plastic surfaces.


Sauceboy01Sauceboy01 - 10/11/2006 6:38:35 PM
+1 Boost
yay, fender flares!!


weg18weg18 - 10/11/2006 10:20:15 PM
+1 Boost
Other than how accesible the buttons for various functions are, I think that the current interior looks pretty good. In a place where all cars are getting a very complicated and extravagent design, the BMW keeps a classic and simple looking interior design...looks more classic, more car-like not a airplane. But i surely dont like the accesibility of some buttons, and I find the steering to be quite "fat".


Spoonie_GSpoonie_G - 10/13/2006 9:50:10 AM
+1 Boost
The current BMW interiors are boring. These are cars not living rooms. Simple luxury car interiors reminds me of the inside of a coffin.


Agent63Agent63 - 10/11/2006 10:55:42 PM
0 Boost
It's not a redesign. Looks like a simple refresh. A refresh they should do right now and then in 2009 just do a total revamping of the 5 series model line. Ugly!


jeuprx8jeuprx8 - 10/12/2006 12:29:00 AM
+1 Boost
This is a F01 7-series being tested under an E60 body. Great call guys..


ToyotaLexusToyotaLexus - 10/12/2006 1:10:14 AM
+1 Boost
I dunno, the front has hints of the new 3 series and it's not too appealing to me, the old one looks better to me till now.


FikseGTSFikseGTS - 10/12/2006 8:05:53 AM
+1 Boost
boring, looks like a big 3 series....


BM3WBM3W - 10/12/2006 11:42:50 AM
+1 Boost
I like it. It's stance is more aggressive than the existing 5 series. But what I really like is the 4.4 liter V 8 Biturbo 408 HP. BMW will have this car producing close too 500 horses at the crank. The interior of the BMW's looks just fine to me. And it looks fine to the 25% who chooses BMW over others. There was an eye opening blog here recently, that stated 75% of luxury car shoppers don't even consider BMW's. Because, in their opinion BMW isn't considered a luxury car. But what makes this news so shocking is that the 25% of people who do look at BMW's buy them. Those 25% of buyers elevate BMW to the #1 luxury car manufacture in World.


minimalistminimalist - 10/12/2006 1:40:35 PM
+1 Boost
^ whuh? the 408 hp 4.4 v8 biturbo will produce close to 500 hp at the crank? wouldnt it say, have 408 hp at the crank?

i like it as well. the 5 already looked good except for the awkward lights. larger fenders will make it nicer.

the m version of the 5 interior as well as the 6 are unbelievably nice. i wet my pants seeing that someone got a m6 at work.


BM3WBM3W - 10/12/2006 3:05:11 PM
+1 Boost
The hp stated above is indicated hp. Which is defined has the theoretical power of a reciprocating engine assuming that it is completely efficient in converting the energy contained in the expanding gases in the cylinders. In order to get crank horsepower data an engine dyno would have to be used. Neglecting any losses BMW's 4.4 liter V 8 Biturbo 408 HP will produce 450 - 500 hp at the engine's output shaft.


BM3WBM3W - 10/12/2006 5:44:46 PM
+1 Boost
Sorry, I should say from past results I presume the BMW 4.4 liter V 8 Biturbo 408 HP will produce 450 - 500 hp at the engine's output shaft.


S4cabriofoxS4cabriofox - 10/12/2006 10:28:08 PM
+1 Boost
Assuming it even comes to market with one.

If it does, it would be stupid to position it as a normal 550ti V8, but better as a between-550i-and-M5, or an Audi S6 competitor. Maybe the BMW 550iM?

I should copyright that. Get the royalties rolling in!


2BMWs4ME2BMWs4ME - 10/12/2006 8:27:25 PM
+1 Boost
Just got an '07 525i. The interior is very spartan. I got Navi (loved it in my '04 Acura TL) THATS something that could use some help.


S4cabriofoxS4cabriofox - 10/12/2006 10:30:40 PM
+1 Boost
I'm sorry for your loss (260hp TL to 218hp 525i).


SteveSteve - 10/12/2006 9:39:24 PM
+1 Boost
Artists' deception. Yet again :-(


Matthew1Matthew1 - 10/13/2006 4:03:56 AM
+1 Boost
Funny really.

You Americans equate BHP and 0-60 with superiority.

Fact is, less power on a great chassis is better than more power on a mediocre chassis. And BHP doesn't necessarily mean its faster.....


Matthew1Matthew1 - 10/13/2006 4:04:34 AM
+1 Boost
Should read:

And more BHP doesn't necessarily mean its faster.....



Spoonie_GSpoonie_G - 10/13/2006 9:39:42 AM
+1 Boost
It needs a redesign. Hopefully they'll redo the interior as well.


Agent63Agent63 - 10/14/2006 7:25:04 PM
+1 Boost
BMWs4ME - 10/12/2006 8:27:25 PM+1 Boost
Just got an '07 525i. The interior is very spartan. I got Navi (loved it in my '04 Acura TL) THATS something that could use some help.

---------------

May have just stuck with the Acura TL. It's got good quality, quiet cabin, more power, above average navigation, bluetooth connectivity, better interior & exterior design. I guess it's just missing a motor werks symbol. You do get the name though, but the TL is no bad car.


scorescore - 10/21/2006 8:10:30 PM
+1 Boost
What a ugly car and they keep making it look worse.The interior looks cheap and loaded with dark techno bits hard on the eyes styling that is way way overdone.This thing is so overrated even the Infiniti M45 sport has smashed this car in multiple recent road test.


EnnNorakEnnNorak - 9/21/2007 1:48:53 PM
+1 Boost
but BMW has an in-line 6-cylinder engine that is inherently in balance. The 2009 model will be a vast improvement over the bangle bloopers. Even though I generally don't trust turbos, I particularly like BMW's N54 engine as it uses an aluminum block with cast iron liners rather than a brittle silicon-impregated block as found on BMW's V8 engines. Having said that, I have to agree with you that Nisan makes the best rice burners.

BTW, the reason I generally don't trust turbos is that they operate constantly in a high temperature environment. If a car manufacturer would offer a turbo made with expensive hi-temp aerospace alloys and fully discloses its materials and designs, I would be OK with that manufacturer's turbo engine.
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