SPIED: G30 BMW 5 Series plug-in hybrid seen testing

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Development of the next-generation G30 BMW 5 Series continues ahead of its expected unveiling next year. Our spy photographers have caught the executive sedan yet again, but while we’ve seen prototypes like this before, it’s the first time we’re looking at a plug-in hybrid variant.

How can you tell? Well, apart from the “Hybrid Test Vehicle” sticker on the front doors, this particular mule also sports a charging port door on the left front fender, just like any other BMW PHEV. Other than that, it looks pretty much the same as a standard G30 5er prototype.

That is to say that the styling of the car is a fairly modest evolution of the current F10. The front fascia sports BMW’s new face, with large, three dimensional kidney grilles that flow into the headlights. Speaking of which, the lamps look almost comically large – the ones seen here are LED units with reshaped “corona ring” LED daytime running lights that look the ones seen on the facelifted F30 3 Series.

The standard non-M Sport front bumper on this car gets a full-width horizontal air intake as on the current model, but now with inverted L-shaped corners integrating the new rectangular LED fog lights and Air Curtain inlets. Moving back, the Air Breather vents aft of the front wheel arches make their first appearance on a 5 Series, and new door mirrors from the G11/G12 7 Series are also fitted.

At the rear, there are the trademark L-shaped LED tail lights, but missing here are the trapezoidal tail pipes seen on other 5 Series mules so far. Instead, there are twin round tailpipes that are usually fitted on six-cylinder models.

We also get the peek at the interior, this time with less camouflage than before. It’s very clear that this is very much a smaller version of the 7 Series’ cabin, much like how the new W213 Mercedes-Benz E-Class has a very similar interior to the W222 S-Class.

Clear to see is the stitched dashboard, the freestanding iDrive display (likely with the 7er’s gesture controls), a full Black Panel virtual instrument cluster, a full-width decorative trim panel and redesigned iDrive controller switchgear and automatic gearlever. A new three-spoke steering wheel from the 7 Series is also present.

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Expected to be called the BMW 540e, the plug-in hybrid should utilise the same 2.0 litre TwinPower Turbo engine as the 740e, making 258 hp and 400 Nm of torque. Bolted to the eight-speed ZF automatic transmission will be an electric motor, which in the 740e makes 113 hp and 250 Nm, putting system total output at 326 hp and 500 Nm.

Other G30 models are expected to make use of the new B48 2.0 litre turbo four, B58 3.0 litre turbo straight-six and even the B38 1.5 litre turbo three-pot, while the full-fat F90 M5 will be powered by an evolution of the current car’s 4.4 litre twin-turbo V8, rumoured to churn out as much as 626 hp.

Under the metal, the new 5 Series is expected to share the new 7 Series’ Carbon Core construction, utilising carbon fibre, magnesium and aluminium to shed around 100 kg off the portly F10.

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Jonathan Lee

After trying to pursue a career in product design, Jonathan Lee decided to make the sideways jump into the world of car journalism instead. He therefore appreciates the aesthetic appeal of a car, but for him, the driving experience is still second to none.

 

Comments

  • Kunta Kinte on Jul 20, 2016 at 5:21 pm

    Since this is a hybrid and it is EEV, will BMW Malaysia bring this in and sell it for below RM250k?

    Or will they be greedy and hantam Malaysians RM400k?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 4
    • Yours Faithfully (Member) on Jul 20, 2016 at 6:40 pm

      They will hentam but with full spec and kit claiming that the price is worth it due to it being highly specced with all the bells and whistles.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
    • seancorr (Member) on Jul 23, 2016 at 12:58 am

      Nope it won’t retail below 300k…news is that the non M-Sport 330e will be coming soon for around 268k+ and if they decide to put in the 330e iPerformance it will bump up the price to 280k++ so this 540e will definitely be more than 300k…maybe retailing the same as the E300 BlueTec but it’s still cheap since it’s going to be a full spec car and will be priced below the current 528i price tag.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Yours Faithfully (Member) on Jul 20, 2016 at 6:38 pm

    When this is launched next year, the BMW X5e will set the bench mark. With the X5e, we shall know if the Hybrids are reliable, market value after 1 year, and so on.

    If the feedback from the X5e is good and comes with a favourable pricing, this 540e will do well.

    The only concern will be the boot space, the X5e took a big hit in this region. The F10 Boot space is already small in my opinion. Hence, the 540e boot space might end up as the decision factor as well.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
    • seancorr (Member) on Jul 23, 2016 at 1:02 am

      The boot space will take a hit for sure but it’s not too bad when u see the 330e still has a flat boot floor and I believe this G30 was designed to for hybrid tech in it unlike the F10 which was designed for combustion usage so the internal packaging would be better.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • BMW dun have confidence in their new car, thats why need to camo test here, camo test there , camo test until Matt Damon comes home from Mars. Unlike P2 that dun need to test Bisa.

    So better buy Bisa than this 5series cuz P2 have full confidence and no need test, while BMW have no confidence thats why need to test test test.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 10
    • Dpillai on Jul 20, 2016 at 9:51 pm

      Why do people bother to make postings like this. Just comment on the car-lah.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
      • Becoz bashers says no need to camo and test the car. Just go straight from prototype to showroom sales like their employer P2.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 5
      • Yours Faithfully (Member) on Jul 20, 2016 at 10:59 pm

        Some people just have nothing to do.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
      • bshrutd on Jul 20, 2016 at 11:04 pm

        Why not, we bash everything!

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 2
      • Kunta Kinte on Jul 21, 2016 at 11:31 am

        Dpillai, this john fellow got nothing in his head. Lazy and malas and always want to sleep during work hours.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • Dpillai on Jul 20, 2016 at 9:56 pm

    The Audi sold their hybrid for RM280k a few years back. Therefore, with the full tax benefit of the PHEV, the 530e or 540e should be sold at RM280k. But with all the bells and whistles, it’s more likely to be in the region of RM330k or so, like the Eclass hybrid. Anyway, we are unlikely to see it in Malaysia until 2018 at least.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
    • seancorr (Member) on Jul 21, 2016 at 2:05 pm

      If they sell at that price I think they can just sell that one model for the entire 5er range since it will be near impossible to slot the 520i/d below the 540e price tag and its going to eat into the 330i sales.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Dpillai on Jul 20, 2016 at 9:59 pm

    The G30 is now expected to be launched at the Detroit Motor Show in early 2017. That means we probably only get the CBU models in mid 2017 and CKD in end 2018. The PHEV may only arrive here in mid 2018, if at all because tax incentives can change.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Dpillai on Jul 20, 2016 at 10:17 pm

    RM330k is the price for a pre reg 2016 F10 528i, if you are lucky. It may drop to RM300k as they get desperate to clear stock towards year end.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
 

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