Sneak Peek: 2011 BMW 5-Series

BMW has released an official teaser image of its new 5-series saloon, ahead of the car’s official unveiling later this month.

The teaser silhouette has been created by using BMW’s kinetic sculpture from its museum in Munich. The picture gives little away about the new 5-series’ styling, but it does hint at the firm’s traditional kinked C-pillar.

Lightly-disguised 5-series saloon and estate models have been spied in recent weeks as the firm enters the final stages of development of the car. Styling will be much more conservative than the current model, but it will feature a larger version of the firm’s trademark kidney front grille.

It will share its platform with the recently-launched BMW 5-series GT, which itself uses a chopped down 7-series platform. BMW will apply much of what it has learned developing the ride and handling of the GT into the 5-series.

The car will be slightly larger than the outgoing model but thanks to weight-saving measures it should be no heavier. However, BMW has abandoned its use of lightweight aluminium on key parts of the car, opting instead for an all-steel arrangement.

BMW’s M division has already started work on the next-generation M5, which will feature turbocharging for the first time.

It will use the firm’s new twin-turbo V8 seen in the X5 M and X6 M and the new M5 will continue the car’s tradition of being more powerful than the one it replaces. Despite this, it will still be more fuel efficient, with reduced emissions.

Little is known at this stage about the new 5-series Touring, but like the saloon, it will be longer, wider and bigger inside than the car it replaces. The boot space is likely to be increased from the maximum 1650 litres in the current car, but it is unlikely to grow beyond the 1950 litres of its biggest rival, the new Mercedes E-class estate.

There will be new codenames for the 2010 5-series: F10 for the saloon, F11 for Touring, F10M for the M5 and F07 for the Gran Turismo.

BMW will launch the car live online on 23 November at 7pm GMT.

Thanks to: Autocar