Spy Shots: 2011 BMW 5-Series
by Jonathon Ramsey on Oct 25th 2009 at 4:04PM 
The 2011 BMW 5-Series is slowly undressing as far as camouflage goes, and its looks are going the "more substantial" route to match its more substantial, modified 7 Series chassis along with a dose of 5 Series Gran Turismo in back. The front end gets a less sculpted treatment while, if the swirls don't deceive us, the rear glasshouse slopes more steeply into the trunk lid. The lower rear fascia gets the same severe angle as that on the 5Series GT.Inside – at least according to the forms, since everything but the shift lever and iDrive is covered – it is beginning to look like a 7 Series in miniature.
Under the hood will be the usual suspects, with the 550i supposedly getting the brand's eight-speed auto. There are also rumors of a turbocharged four-cylinder and Active Hybrid. The car should make its first public appearance sometime early next year.
[Source: Speedlux]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jay Ho 4:19PM (10/25/2009)
Detroit Reveal? what do you think?
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homunculus 5:03PM (10/25/2009)
it's nice to see the grille leaning forward a bit. i hope this is a throwback to the e28 - e39 days... never liked the e60.
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Tom 5:43PM (10/25/2009)
BMW is bringing boring back.
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Monica Dickey 1:56AM (10/26/2009)
Yeah BMW's are cool and all but as far as design they're not really risk takers and I find them kind of boring.
Tom 5:44PM (10/25/2009)
I liked Bangle.
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vespid82 7:21PM (10/25/2009)
+1 x 10,000 + Infinity.
The flame surfaced cars were just the kick in the pants that BMW needed to break the monotony of their form vocabulary. Now it's like Adrian von Hooydonk had an overreaction to the few naysayers that were too stuck in their ways to accept something different and is watering it down a little too much. IMO, the 5 series has never really been a styling "leader" and the E60 was the FIRST step in the right direction while this car seems like a step BACK. :(
Venom 9:36PM (10/25/2009)
I hated Bangle when they first brought him in and now that he is gone I realize that he was not so bad.
These new BMWs are so bland it is not funny.
I was excited about the new 7 when it was coming and thought I was going to get one and when it finally arrived it was so boring looking, I was not impressed.
k.w.a 12:19AM (10/26/2009)
exactly. BMWs from '05 and onward have not struck me the right way. their styling is way too apologetic! I didn't care that the former Bimmers were "ugly," at least they were striking. the new ones are still as ungraceful, except now they're bland too!
vespid82 2:35AM (10/26/2009)
I came back to check this posting to see how many people were going to disagree with me, but I'm glad to find the complete opposite result.
dal20402 5:49PM (10/25/2009)
The more I hear of commonality with the 5-Series GT, the more I think this is going to be an overweight flop. The 5-series GT weighs over 4500 pounds.
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zamafir 9:33PM (10/25/2009)
... it's also a 7 series in all but name..
increased 6:06PM (10/25/2009)
I see one driving every few days in munich when I come from work. It looks really huge from the outside! And more sporty from the side, than the older 5 series. But I hope it doesn't look too much like that ugly 5 GT thing.
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1231234 10:53PM (10/25/2009)
Starting to look like Acura sharp design now eh.
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Level 6:29PM (10/25/2009)
I'm glad they didn't switch to column mounted shifter like Benz did with the New E-Class
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auto.design 6:46PM (10/25/2009)
Looks like a looker! The 5GT has some nice details...until you get to the back. If the new 7 is any indication, than the new 5 should be a big improvement.
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P.V. 6:54PM (10/25/2009)
It's looking exactly like a "Honey, I shrunk the 7 Series!"
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Coco 8:16PM (10/25/2009)
BloatedMotorizedWrecks just won't quit!
only new-money-immigrants fall for their mantra now.
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erik1080 8:33PM (10/25/2009)
If I were the photographer taking those spy photos I would have been so tempted to peel off that cover. ...When done taking the pics, just put it back on and they'll never know ;)
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heltersceltic 8:38PM (10/25/2009)
I want to know what that 4-door Mini in the yellow camo is.
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Shadow26 9:21PM (10/25/2009)
probably the Mini Crossover that's coming soon