The current M5 has been on sale only since 2011, and so perhaps it's not surprising that the facelift sees very little changes.

The updated M5 will come with a grille that has been tweaked to incorporate larger vertical slats, as on the M6, and the headlights will get subtle updates as well.

Inside, the M5 will get the same steering wheel as in the M6, with narrower spokes and a smaller centre than earlier. The iDrive controller will be touch sensitive, but the interior ostensibly will remain identical.

While the standard 4.4-litre, twin-turbocharged V8 will be carried over unchanged, BMW is expected to offer a Competition Package on the revised M5. This will increase power from 552bhp to 567bhp and also add new wheels, a revised M Dynamic mode and stiffer suspension. This appears to be a direct riposte from BMW to the threat posed by the uprated Jaguar XFR-S and Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S available internationally.

BMW will officially unveil the updated M5 later this year. 

2012 BMW M5 review, test drive