2024 BMW M5 BMW will introduce the highly anticipated M3 Touring later this month, but it’s not the only high-performance model on the horizon.
Quite the opposite as a spy photographer has shot the next generation M5 which is undergoing testing in Germany.
Dressed in heavy camouflage, this redesigned sports sedan embraces evolution rather than revolution.
Nonetheless, there are a lot of changes as we get to see a larger grille which is thankfully not as flashy as the one found on its smaller sibling.
The update continues further back as there are pronounced fenders and sleek bodywork. They are joined by a more edgy shoulder line, while the current model’s character line has been removed.
While there’s not much to see, this prototype features an evolutionary greenhouse and a high-performance braking system with ventilated discs.
This model also has a recessed rear spoiler, flush-mounted door handles, and a four-exhaust exhaust system.
The spy photographer hasn’t gotten a good look at the inside yet, but images of the upcoming i5 provide some clues.
Specifically, we can expect a Curved Display consisting of a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch infotainment system. Elsewhere, there should be minimalistic shifters and reduced switchgear.
BMW has remained tight-lipped about the model but is slated to share a plug-in hybrid powertrain with the upcoming XM.
BMW released some details about the crossover last month and confirmed the model will have a “newly developed” V8 engine as well as an electric motor that allows for a combined output of 641 hp (478 kW / 650 PS) and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) of torque.
This will be joined by a hybrid-only all-wheel drive system as well as a battery pack that provides approximately 30 miles of electric EPA range (80 km WLTP).
While the XM will go into production this December, we will have to wait for the M5 as the model is not expected to be introduced until 2023 or early 2024.
2024 BMW M5 Review
BMW’s biggest and worst sedan will be a hybrid. The BMW M5 2024 has broken off during testing, wearing a yellow sticker on the rear window indicating it’s a hybrid.
Given that BMW has confirmed the upcoming M2 will be the last new M car without electric assistance for its petrol engine, the fact that the next M5 will be a hybrid isn’t much of a surprise.
Power is expected to come from the plug-in hybrid setup version that will debut in the XM SUV.
It combines a new V8 engine with an electric motor to produce a combined 480kW of power and 800Nm of torque. The claimed electric-only range on the WLTP test cycle is 80km.
The XM has a hybrid-only M xDrive all-wheel drive system that includes an electronic rear differential lock in the rear axle transmission.
It also features an active anti-roll system, though it’s unclear if the lower M5 will require the same technology.
Our previous spy photos have revealed the next 5er’s cabin will feature a dual-screen setup behind the wheel, much like the i4 and iX.
Both cars sport a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment screen located in the cover case.
The next BMW 5 Series will share the platform and basic design with the i5 electric car.
The latter will compete with the Tesla Model S and the upcoming Audi A6 e-Tron and Mercedes-Benz EQE sedans.
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2024 BMW M5 Report
It’s no secret that the next-gen BMW M5 will be a plug-in hybrid. The upcoming M5 has been seen testing multiple times and each time the car has sported the “Hybrid Test Vehicle” badge, removing any ambiguity.
Several new photos have surfaced, showing off the upcoming M5 hybrid, and while they don’t reveal any completely new details, they show off the design a bit better than in the rest of the photos.
We’ve been told that the next-generation 5 Series, and the next M5, will have a simpler and more understated design than what we’ve seen on other recent BMWs.
That means no bulky kidney grille and no split headlights. You can see it in these new photos, as the headlights look normal – with the signature BMW dual-halo design – and the kidney grille looks reasonable in size.
Even with the camouflage, it’s easy to tell that the M5 should have a good-looking design.
It seems BMW M may have received complaints about the F90 M5 not looking quite as appealing, as the M5 hybrid test mule in these photos appears to have some fender flares tacked on.
It also appears to have a sizable front bumper, although BMW does like to use faux body panels on its test mules, so you never know.
Another interesting design element to note is its smooth C-pillar. There may have been some forging going on but the transition from roof pier to C pillar seems very smooth and gradual, which looks good.
Any interpretation of the BMW Hofmeister Kink will remain hidden for now, under camouflage. A quad exhaust complements the refined-looking rear, so at least we know one BMW M design will remain.
When the new BMW M5 debuts, it will be the first plug-in hybrid M car and the most powerful M5 in history.
It will likely use several versions of the XM hybrid powertrain, only with less power, so that it can produce 700 horsepower. The M5 hybrid can be epic or useless, so we’re really excited to see what happens.
2024 BMW M5 Plug-In Hybrid
You’d better get used to seeing an M prototype with a sticker that says “hybrid test vehicle” as the M2 G87 debuting in October will be Bavaria’s last performance model to ditch electrification.
Everything after that will be electrified in some form, with BMW M workshop manager Hans Rahn telling Australian magazine Mobil Mana earlier this month that the M5 will boast a plug-in hybrid powertrain.
He also said it would keep the V8 engine, and was most likely referring to the recently introduced 4.4-liter twin-turbo unit codenamed “S68”.
Meanwhile, our spies got up close and personal with the M5 prototype, which didn’t have all of the production body panels in place.
The fat wheel arches look clunky and lack the finish, but they show just how wide the M version is compared to the regular 5 Series.
Those rudimentary headlights and taillights are replacements and will be replaced by something far more luxurious on the production-ready M5.
However, it is impossible to change the shape and placement of the cluster, so only the innards are different.
Looking as though it’s glued to the road, the M5 in progress has fuel caps on both rear fenders to ensure it’s going to be a PHEV.
As if the quad exhaust system wasn’t a sign that we’re dealing with an M5, the giant brakes on both axles confirm we’re seeing the cream of the crop in the 5 Series family.
Despite the heavy camouflage, the prototype gives us the impression BMW’s design team has decided to go with a look that’s a bit off. sharper for 5er.
Interestingly, BMW decided to hide the Hofmeister’s kinks under an extra layer of camo, but that didn’t manage to cover up the iDrive 8 infotainment as we can see the screen side by side in some of the shots taken at the Nürburgring.
It could have a lot more power (and perhaps weight) compared to today’s cars. In its most athletic look, the super sedan has a strong 627-hp in the M5 CS, but adding an electric motor can increase the power to 650 hp to match the base version of the upcoming XM.
It remains to be seen if the M5 will also get a more powerful V8 PHEV set up than the 750 hp XM.
The standard Series 5 will break down in 2023 when it will be joined by the nearly identical electric i5. Our money is on the 2024 release for the M5.
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2024 BMW M5 Engine
The next-generation BMW M5 is still in its infancy, but one significant change is evident day and night. The “Hybrid Test Vehicle” on the front door and rear bumper demonstrate the electrified nature of this super sedan.
It is expected to land in 2024 when the speedy sedan from the M division will celebrate its 40th anniversary.
Meanwhile, extensive testing to ensure the combustion engine and electric motor work in harmony. Logic tells us that this prototype features the new S68, a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 with a hybrid setup.
This hardware combo will debut later this year on a production-ready XM where it will make over 700 horsepower.
The recently launched M760e with an inline-six and a smaller e-motor makes a combined 563 hp, so the V8 will come with a substantial increase in output.
The new M5 will definitely have xDrive considering its two different sources of power in what is sure to be a heavy car. An automatic transmission is provided, as is the battery pack’s unspecified power range.
While this BMW M5 prototype is heavily disguised, there are a few details we can show you. Aside from the obvious quad exhausts and chunky brakes, the test car had prominent fenders.
There are no M mirrors and the headlights and taillights are productions ready. A closer look at the side profile reveals the flattened doorknobs we’re starting to see in more BMWs. Larger side skirts may be required to fit the battery.
While photos of the interior aren’t available, you can tell by the black fabric on the dashboard that the M5 has BMW’s new iDrive 8.
We’re talking about two side-by-side screens and fewer physical buttons as the touchscreen will swallow up most of the conventional controls. Sooner or later, all models will switch to the latest settings.
The next-generation Series 5 sedan will launch in 2023 along with the electric i5. The high-performance M5 will follow a year later. From the looks of it, this AMG E63 rival will have a regular kidney grille.
