BMW dangles 5 Series teaser

TWO weeks out from the official unveiling of its new 5 Series sedan, BMW has released this teaser image of its new-generation mid-sizer, which is said to be slightly larger than the current model.

The silhouette – created in a ‘kinetic’ or moving sculpture at the BMW Museum in Munich, Germany – gives little away, beyond the trademark kinked C-pillar.

However, spy shots from Europe suggest the nose of the new prestige tourer – codenamed F10 – is akin to the 5 Series GT (Gran Turismo) launched by the Bavarian company in Europe recently and due in Australia early next year.

The new sedan and Touring wagon reportedly use the same platform as the GT hatch, which is built on a shortened version of the flagship 7 Series architecture.

BMW will reveal the real 5 Series sedan live online on November 23 ahead of its public launch at the 2010 Detroit motor show in January and European sales release about February.

BMW Australia PR and corporate communications manager Toni Andreevski said the new 5 Series sedan was expected to arrive in Australia about mid-year, followed by the Touring in late 2010.

He said the performance flagship M5 version was usually launched about two years after the sedan, placing its arrival about mid-2012.

Left: BMW 5 Series GT.

According to Britain’s Autocar, the next-generation M5 will feature turbocharging for the first time, using BMW’s new twin-turbo V8 seen in the X5 M and X6 M.

In ‘X’ guise, that 4.4-litre V8 generates 408kW/680Nm – 35kW and 160Nm above the output for the current M5’s normally aspirated 373kW/520Nm 5.0-litre V10.

In line with BMW’s ‘Efficient Dynamics’ mantra, the new 5 Series is expected to be more fuel-efficient, despite growing marginally larger in most dimensions.

The image released by BMW was created using a computer controlled kinetic sculpture that usually entertains visitors to the BMW Museum.

The machine uses balls suspended on individually-powered wires to create myriad shapes – including BMW cars – in an artistic routine set to music.

The silhouette of the new 5 Series was punched into the computer which aligned the balls in the shape of the upper surfaces of the body to create the image.