freed0m

http://edbmw.com/blog/2007/08/15/the...-bmw-5-series/

What's new:
1) Different front end and extra wide fenders
2) Longer wheelbase (more rear seat room)
3) Wider track and a slightly lower ride height
4) Wheel sizes 18 and 19 inch will be optional
5) Power comes from a large choice of 6 gas engines (ranging from 2.5 litre 218hp to 4.4 litre V8 biturbo 408hp)
6) Drop slightly in weight, despite a modest increase in size, thanks to the use of light-weight materials

westcoast550

I'll bet this is the f10 with e60 modified body parts, the silver one is what several posts have shown as the front of the f10.
Cheers

tachyon

Hmmm ... Irv states that the next gen 5er will be a 2009 model year. That seems too soon. Consensus is that the standard 7 year model cycle will hold and the F10 wil debut sometime in 2010 as a 2011 model year. He may be refering to 2009 as the launch date of a MY 2010 F10 5er - and I supposed there is a chance BMW could shorten the life cycle by one year.

Either way, I would love to see that twin-turbo 4.4L V8 as soon as possible!

iversonm

It may be possible. I also don't think that BMW will run the present US '08 model year out for a second year, so I'd guess the earliest we'd see the next model is MY 2010.

There are also no pictures of disguised test mules. The one above is a powertrain prototype to work out the suspension design. You'd see full body prototypes around 12-18 months before production.

pharding

Europe debut in 2009 with US debut in 2010 as a 2011 model year. Just like the rollout of the e60.

rodybmw

The E60's rollout in Europe and the US was only a couple of months apart from each other (summer of 2003 in Europe and Sep. 2003 production for US). Since the US model production started in Sep. it was considered a 2004 model.

There is no way that BMW will change the E60 again in 2009. IF those changes were to appear in a production E60 I could only think of one possibility: the V8 twin turbo.......but I don't even know if that will be available on the E60 at all. More likely (as someone mentioned) the car in the pics is a test mule designed to get a jump start on the F10's suspension, drivetrain, engine development before the actual F10 body is available for the fully disguised pre production prototypes.

pennetta

Yes, this was an awkward year for the 550 and needs to be positioned higher up the performance scale.

Teet

It seems nice to me

HPIA4v2

I strongly feel, next year the 550i will have better air intake and some camshaft timing adjustment and walla 380HP. At least this will suffice to fend off against GS460 and E550 for 1 more year. And if sales really slump, put the bi-turbo V8 on the last E60 model. I remember they put all the M-kit stuff on the last E39 model year just to keep the sales afloat.

IrvRobinson

If they really wanna push the 4.4L engine, I have a feeling that they will indeed release the car in 2009. Someone also mentioned that it might be 2009 for the European market an 2010 for us, but I think it's still too early, like you said there are not many prototypes out there testing so we don't know exactly what design stage is it in.

A lot of speculations, I know