New BMW 5 Series Facelift Render Reveal A Big Design Shift

Fresh spy photos of BMW’s updated 5 Series have surfaced online, and they give us a clearer look at where the facelift is heading. Prototypes have been spotted for months, but these newest shots add important detail, especially around the front end and the rear lighting.

Up front, the sedan and the wagon appear to keep the brand’s newer Neue Klasse inspired design direction, with headlights that sit almost vertically and visually connect into the grille area. What is interesting this time is the grille treatment itself. Instead of one unified piece, the new photos suggest separated kidney grilles that look closer in overall shape to the current production model.

Around the back, the taillights seem to keep the same outer silhouette, but the internal lighting elements look completely reworked, which is exactly the kind of change BMW usually makes with a mid cycle refresh. Based on what can be seen through camouflage and the lighting signatures, the updated taillights may lean toward a look similar to the current 3 Series, with wider L shaped light strips that should read cleaner and more modern at night.

Under the skin, the 8th generation 5 Series is still expected to stay on BMW’s CLAR architecture, which should make the update more about design, technology, and efficiency than a total mechanical reset. The facelift is widely expected to keep a broad menu of engines, including 2.0 liter and 3.0 liter gasoline and diesel options, depending on market, with varying levels of electrification. Some versions could also see small power increases, the kind that typically comes with software revisions, mild hybrid tuning, or efficiency upgrades rather than major hardware changes.

The bigger story might be inside. There is growing expectation that BMW will push its next interface forward into the 5 Series cabin, potentially with the iDrive Panoramic display setup that is being associated with newer generation BMW interiors. If that happens, it could bring a much more screen forward dash layout, updated graphics, and a different way of organizing driver information and infotainment, which is exactly the sort of change that makes a facelift feel like a new car from the driver’s seat.

As for timing, the updated 5 Series is expected to debut next year. In the meantime, BMW is also wrapping up other chapters in the lineup, including the final run of the Z4, with production slated to end in the near future.