Currently reading: 2017 BMW 5 Series revealed in leaked photos
Chinese media reveals first images of new BMW 5 Series; next-gen executive saloon will gain a new plug-in hybrid model

The 2017 BMW 5 Series has been pictured for the first time in images leaked in the Chinese media.

The 2017 BMW 5 Series has now been revealed. Click here to read more.

The pictures show the front, rear and interior of the car, highlighting the design changes for the all-new model.

Insiders have long insisted that the new 5 Series would be an evolutionary design given the ongoing global sales success of the previous generation model, but the pictures clearly reveal the car's new look, most notably on the front end and interior. It appears BMW's designers have also opted to give the car a subtley different look from the BMW 3 Series and BMW 7 Series in order to give it its own identity and ensure instant recognition of each individual model.

It is believed the pictures are official, as details match those shown in a video preview  made by BMW, which was posted on Facebook yesterday showing the upcoming model's body shape and interior.

Images from the video are shown the gallery above, and reveal the car's exterior styling and some interior features. A centrally-mounted touchscreen is the main new feature to be shown, and it reveals that the next-gen car will have a 'pinch to zoom' satallite navigation, just like the new 7 Series.

In the new videos the 5 Series's LED lighting has been blurred out. However, an earlier video, shown below, BMW did offer a glimpse of the car's tail-light design.

The lights have a similar design to those of the latest 3 Series, although they’re housed within a body that looks slightly more muscular than that of its smaller sibling.

Bmw 5 series 2017

Earlier spy shots of the 2017 5 Series have shown what the model will look like in saloon and estate guises. The exterior of both bodystyles, while undoubtedly evolutionary, give the 5 Series a more aggressive demeanour.

We know from our recent drive in a 2017 5 Series prototype in 530d xDrive form (pictured below) that the model is slightly larger than the outgoing car. The increases in length, width and height are small and aimed at increasing rear seat accommodation.

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The BMW 5 Series offers a compelling blend of all-round abilities, but wants specifying carefully

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New bmw 5s series rear

The new car will share its body structure with the 7 Series. The structure is known internally as CLAR - 'cluster architecture' - and uses more aluminium for its floorpan and bulkheads than the skeleton of the outgoing F10 5 Series. There’s also more use of aluminium for castings, helping to trim weight by as much as 100kg, despite the growth in size.

Powering the new model will be a familiar choice of turbocharged four and six-cylinder engines, with a new plug-in petrol-electric powertrain joining the ranks.

Lower-powered cars will use BMW’s latest B47 diesel and B48 petrol four-cylinder units - all in 2.0-litre form, like today’s F10 model.

Bmw 5 series 2016 rear

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BMW’s new B57 diesel and B58 petrol six-cylinder engines will offer more power. These units use a standardised 500cc individual cylinder capacity for an overall volume of 3.0 litres. One of the diesels will gain an additional electrically-driven turbo to improve low-down grunt, upping peak output towards 390bhp.

The most potent non-M model will have a newly upgraded 444bhp 4.4-litre V8 petrol engine, first seen in the 750i.

The new 5 Series will also inherit hybrid technology from the 330e, 740e and X5 xDrive40e. The hybrid system is made up of a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor mounted in the gearbox and a lithium ion battery located in the boot floor. The system can run in full-electric model for more than 20 miles.

The BMW M5 model will use an updated version of the current car’s 4.4-litre V8 with a likely power output of more than 560bhp.

The new 5 Series will go on sale next year. Its rivals will continue to be the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Audi A6 and Jaguar XF.

BMW 5 Series - 2017 model versus current model comparison:

5 Series comparo 0

Bmw 5er comparo 632

Bmw 5er comparo 631

Bmw 5er comparo 630

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Citytiger 12 October 2016

Considering the

520D will be by far the most common, I think Volvo could very easily steal massive sales from them with the new S90 which looks far better both inside and out, but for some, it will not matter, they just have to have a BMW irrespective of how good or bad it actually fares against the competition. Just like some just have to have an iphone over anything else, its not about the quality, its the image.
richard0028 12 October 2016

AT LAST....THANK YOU AUTOCAR

A photo of the new next to the old. You should do this for every new car.
ewanmac76 12 October 2016

Current 5 series still looks

Current 5 series still looks good and has aged really well (although I actually thought the same with the bangle E60). While this is evolutionary, I think it looks excellent. Front looks more aggressive and I like the fact the bonnet meets the grill. Interior looks very nice indeed. Yes it's a bit predictable but looks much nicer than the new 7 and is obviously different to the 3.

I don't like the slopey rear end of the new Merc design and the XF has changed less than the 5 (plus the engines are poor in comparison). A6 is dated now so this would be top of my list if I was looking for a big barge. Incidentally, I drive a hot hatch so not for me now!