Next-gen BMW 5-series to be unveiled at Paris motor show 2016

BMW is set to unveil the next-generation of its luxury sedan, the BMW 5-series, at the Paris motor show 2016. The new car will get a more streamlined styling as compared to the current car, and will share technology with the new 7-series that made its debut internationally earlier this year.

The new 5-series will get a more prominent kidney grille with dynamic louvers that open and close as per cooling requirement, optional laser headlamps, more pronounced shoulders, LED tail-lamps and a sleeker profile with a more heavily raked rear windshield. The new 5-series will also be based on the new platform, codenamed OKL, that was introduced on the new 7-series. The car will also be around 100kg lighter due to the use of carbon fibre, magnesium, aluminium and high-tensile steel.

On the inside, the dashboard is expected to be designed like the one on the new 7-series with the same basic architecture multi-function steering wheel, switchgear and material materials. The dashboard will also feature an all-digital instrument cluster and a free-standing infotainment display.

Powering the car will be a family of 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel and petrol engines in varying states of tune: the 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines including a quad-turbo diesel in the M550d, the 444bhp 4.4-litre V8 from the new 7-series, plug-in hybrid powertrains from the new 7-series and X5 and the range-topping 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 for the M5. The car will come with the choice of a six-speed manual or a nine-speed automatic gearbox on the standard models, while the M5 will continue with the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic from the current model.

In terms of technology,  the new 5-series will get the latest iDrive system with a new touchpad and touchscreen, gesture control with sensors to monitor five different hand movements, voice recognition and functions such as swipe and pinch to zoom. The car will also come with autonomous driving tech such as autonomous emergency braking, hands-off operation and anti-collision systems.

The new 5-series will be available in three body styles – sedan, Touring and GT . The sedan is the one that will make its debut at the Paris motor show. There is no confirmation as yet as to the launch dates of the other two models, though they are expected sometime in 2017.