Article Overview
- BMW is evaluating two facelift designs for the M5, one drawing from Neue Klasse styling and the other preserving the current design's look.
- Input from focus groups and enthusiasts led BMW to favor the more classic design instead of the Neue Klasse-inspired variant.
- The interior will receive a comprehensive redesign, incorporating a panoramic display, a new central display, iDrive X, and abolishing the iDrive controller.
This week, two updated BMW M5 prototypes, the G90 sedan and G90 Touring, were seen near the Nurburgring, heavily camouflaged but revealing newer bumpers, lighting, and trim components. BMW has been examining two distinct design routes for this facelift, as opposed to mere iterations of a single concept. One design is more in sync with the Neue Klasse models, showcasing simpler panel gaps, a sleeker light signature, and a tidier front façade. The other maintains the current G90/G99 persona while enhancing it.
Two Designs, One Champion
Sources reveal that BMW performed customer analysis on both designs, and the Neue Klasse-inspired alternative did not garner the anticipated favorable reaction. Insights from focus groups and the enthusiast community reportedly prompted BMW's executives to prefer the more traditional approach, which is the variant currently in testing and planned for production.
This choice does not signify a withdrawal from the Neue Klasse pathway; instead, it showcases BMW's conviction that the 5 Series and M5, with their proven identities, do not necessitate a total transformation to adopt the new styling lexicon so soon after its introduction.
The Interior Was Never Up for Discussion
The discourse on the exterior is fascinating, given that the interior overhaul was already verified. Sources suggest that this facelift represents one of the priciest investments BMW has made for the 5 Series or M5, with a significant portion of the costs directed towards the interior. The cabin will be comprehensively reimagined with Neue Klasse-inspired design principles, showcasing a panoramic display spanning the dashboard, a new central touchscreen, and the latest iDrive X technology. The customary rotary iDrive controller, a hallmark in BMW interiors for the last twenty years, will also be phased out. This modification has been anticipated due to the advancement of BMW's systems and hardware, and its confirmation for a mid-cycle update rather than postponing for the next generation underscores BMW's dedication to this evolution.
Why BMW Opted for Caution Externally
Integrating these two elements clarifies the reasoning behind the conservative choice for the exterior. A completely new interior structure already represents a considerable financial commitment for a facelift. Adding another extensive redesign to the exterior would escalate expenses beyond standard LCI program allocations. By selecting an evolved version of the prevailing design, BMW seeks to appease the majority of the ///M enthusiast community.
This strategy guarantees that M5 consumers receive a car that remains recognizable as the one BMW has marketed since the G90's debut, rather than a design trapped between two styles. Whether this was the correct move depends on the level of desire for BMW to fully adopt the Neue Klasse vision right away. Based on consumer feedback, BMW determined that the M5's audience was not prepared for that shift, at least for the moment.
Further sightings are anticipated as testing advances, and the camouflage is expected to be removed prior to any official reveal. [Photos by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ringprototypes" target="_blank"
Article Overview
- BMW is evaluating two facelift designs for the M5, one drawing from Neue Klasse styling and the other preserving the current design’s look.
- Input from focus groups and enthusiasts led BMW to favor the more classic design instead of the Neue Klasse-inspired variant.
- The interior will receive a comprehensive redesign, incorporating a panoramic display, a new central display, iDrive X, and abolishing the iDrive controller.
This week, two updated BMW M5 prototypes, the G90 sedan and G90 Touring, were seen near the Nurburgring, heavily camouflaged but revealing newer bumpers, lighting, and trim components. BMW has been examining two distinct design routes for this facelift, as opposed to mere iterations of a single concept. One design is more in sync with the Neue Klasse models, showcasing simpler panel gaps, a sleeker light signature, and a tidier front façade. The other maintains the current G90/G99 persona while enhancing it.
Two Designs, One Champion
Sources reveal that BMW performed customer analysis on both designs, and the Neue Klasse-inspired alternative did not garner the anticipated favorable reaction. Insights from focus groups and the enthusiast community reportedly prompted BMW’s executives to prefer the more traditional approach, which is the variant currently in testing and planned for production.
This choice does not signify a withdrawal from the Neue Klasse pathway; instead, it showcases BMW’s conviction that the 5 Series and M5, with their proven identities, do not necessitate a total transformation to adopt the new styling lexicon so soon after its introduction.
The Interior Was Never Up for Discussion
The discourse on the exterior is fascinating, given that the interior overhaul was already verified. Sources suggest that this facelift represents one of the priciest investments BMW has made for the 5 Series or M5, with a significant portion of the costs directed towards the interior. The cabin will be comprehensively reimagined with Neue Klasse-inspired design principles, showcasing a panoramic display spanning the dashboard, a new central touchscreen, and the latest iDrive X technology. The customary rotary iDrive controller, a hallmark in BMW interiors for the last twenty years, will also be phased out. This modification has been anticipated due to the advancement of BMW’s systems and hardware, and its confirmation for a mid-cycle update rather than postponing for the next generation underscores BMW’s dedication to this evolution.
Why BMW Opted for Caution Externally
Integrating these two elements clarifies the reasoning behind the conservative choice for the exterior. A completely new interior structure already represents a considerable financial commitment for a facelift. Adding another extensive redesign to the exterior would escalate expenses beyond standard LCI program allocations. By selecting an evolved version of the prevailing design, BMW seeks to appease the majority of the ///M enthusiast community.
This strategy guarantees that M5 consumers receive a car that remains recognizable as the one BMW has marketed since the G90’s debut, rather than a design trapped between two styles. Whether this was the correct move depends on the level of desire for BMW to fully adopt the Neue Klasse vision right away. Based on consumer feedback, BMW determined that the M5’s audience was not prepared for that shift, at least for the moment.
Further sightings are anticipated as testing advances, and the camouflage is expected to be removed prior to any official reveal. [Photos by
