We’ve only just posted spy photos of the G30 BMW 5 Series, and already the new seventh-generation executive sedan has appeared on our sister classifieds site oto.my, with the order books said to be already open. As with the photos, the car advertised is a 530i, which will likely be the range-topping model when it arrives on our shores.

The quoted pricing is where it gets interesting – if it really is priced at RM399,900, the 530i would undercut the equivalent W213 Mercedes-Benz E-Class variant, the RM458,888 E 300 AMG Line, by nearly RM60,000. Like the E 300, the 530i will be equipped with a sportier appearance package (in this case, the M Sport pack) and 19-inch alloy wheels if the spyshots are to be believed, so the kit count will likely match its Stuttgart rival.

Power comes from the new B48 2.0 litre turbo four-cylinder shared with the now-discontinued 330i, producing 252 hp at 5,200 rpm and 350 Nm from 1,450 to 4,800 rpm. Also expect a 520d that carries over the 190 hp/400 Nm B47 2.0 litre turbodiesel from before; a 520i with a 180 hp/290 Nm version of the 530i’s engine will come later. A ZF eight-speed automatic will almost certainly fitted on all models.

Larger and lighter (by up to 100 kg) than the car it replaces, the G30 is available with a host of new technologies, including a new 10.25-inch touchscreen, gesture control and Remote Parking, as well as semi-autonomous driving features such as active cruise control, lane keeping assist and autonomous lane changing. As is usual, however, don’t expect all these features to make it to Malaysian-spec vehicles.

As with its rival, the W213 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, the G30 BMW 5 Series will likely be offered here initially as a fully-imported (CBU) model, before CKD local assembly starts later on.

GALLERY: G30 BMW 5 Series