The current BMW 5 series is the best-driving executive saloon in the class – and now the German manufacturer is going to turn up the heat on its rivals by introducing efficiency gains and fresh in-car tech on this new, facelifted version.
Outside, the changes are subtle, as you’d expect for a midlife refresh of such a well established model. The kidney grille is wider and taller, the headlights are slightly slimmer, and there’s a new LED tail-light design. There are different bumpers at the front and rear, too, along with a new wheel design for M sport variants.
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There are more significant changes under the skin – and principally under the bonnet, where almost all four and six-cylinder models now get 48-volt mild-hybrid electrification. The system (in effect an integrated starter/generator that’s coupled to a small additional battery) produces up to 11bhp to help with overtaking, off-the-line acceleration and stop-start situations.
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The set-up has been available on the 520d since last year, but now it gets rolled out to the wider range. There’s no detail yet on resulting gains in efficiency, though.
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BMW is also expanding the 5 Series’ plug-in hybrid line-up. From November, the 530e will be offered as a Touring estate for the first time. and there’s also a new six-cylinder petrol plug-in, badged 545e and offered only as a four-wheel-drive saloon.