- BMW is prepping a 5-Series facelift for a 2027 model year debut.
- Renderings show an M5 Touring with a revised front end design.
- Some versions explore full Neue Klasse-style lighting and grilles.
BMW is already working on a refresh for the current 5-Series, but if the latest spy shots are any indication, the changes might not be as dramatic as some had anticipated. Instead of adopting heavily redesigned front and rear sections modeled after the Neue Klasse design language, the revisions might be far more restrained.
Read: BMW’s Already Facelifting The Facelifted Neue Klasse 5-Series
Until BMW begins peeling away the camouflage from the 2027 5-Series prototypes currently undergoing testing, it’s impossible to know the exact scope of the exterior updates. For now, we’re left to speculate based on what little is visible beneath the wrap.
Two Paths to the Future
Illustrations Nikita Chuyko / Kelsonik
That hasn’t stopped digital artists from offering their own interpretations of what the facelift could bring. Some have imagined a full-on Neue Klasse transformation, while others are leaning toward a more evolutionary update, leaving the more radical shifts for the next generation. One rendering even explores what the flagship M5 Touring might look like in both scenarios.
More: BMW’s Best Sports Sedan Is Getting Stronger, But Losing What Made It Special
In a rendering by Nikita Chuyko, the red wagon shown features a front end that deviates from the current model. For starters, the headlights of the existing model have been replaced with narrow units that look a little sleeker and have simpler LED daytime running lights.
One could argue these new lights don’t have as much personality as the current ones, but we’re sure there will be some who prefer them.
Beyond the new lights, the updated M5 Touring features slightly smaller black kidney grilles. They’re still much larger than what will be featured on many other models as part of BMW’s Neue Klasse era, but they’re certainly an improvement over the kidneys of the current model.
These renderings also show the facelifted model with a new front bumper, different side air intakes, and tweaked front quarter panels.
What If BMW Goes Full Neue Klasse?
Chuyko also created two more interpretations for Kolesa, both showing the M5 with a Neue Klasse-style front inspired by the 2023 Vision Neue Klasse sedan concept. That design previews elements expected on both the next combustion 3 Series and the electric i3, which will ride on a different platform shared with the iX3.
Read: The New BMW iX3 Is Nearly Sold Out For 2026
The first version keeps a sharper overall design and features the new kidney grille layout. It sits within a full-width horizontal panel that integrates the headlights at either end, echoing the traditional BMW face made iconic by models like the E30 3-Series and E24 6 Series.
The other take keeps the Neue Klasse headlamps but swaps the wide, low-set horizontal grilles for a more compact version of the current model’s double kidney design.
Also: BMW i3 Neue Klasse Sedan Spied For The First Time
The extent of the changes to the cabin is unclear. While it’s possible BMW could overhaul the car’s dashboard with its new Panoramic iDrive setup from the iX3, we’re somewhat doubtful that’ll happen given how minimal the exterior updates will be.
Will the V8 Regain Its Lost 40 HP?
Under the hood, we’re also in wait-and-see mode. The M5’s plug-in hybrid setup combines a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 with an electric motor and eight-speed automatic, but Euro 7 emissions regulations forced BMW to cut 40 horsepower from the S68 engine, at least in Europe.
That means the V8’s output drops from 577 hp (585 PS) to 537 hp (544 PS). Still, BMW has compensated by tweaking the electric motor, maintaining a total system output of 717 hp (727 PS). It’s possible the company will find a way to retain the revised motor and restore the full V8 output, potentially increasing total power beyond current levels.
We suspect we will see the facelifted 5-Series premiere later this year, prior to hitting the market as a 2027 model. The M5 sedan and M5 Touring should follow after that, possibly arriving for the 2028 model year.
John Halas contributed to this story.
