It’s a mid-lifecycle update for the G30 BMW 5 Series, or LCI (Life Cycle Impulse) in BMW-speak. Changes to its exterior appear minimal, with camouflage foil indicating revisions to its front bumper and grille areas (this doesn’t appear to have grown), and possibly for the headlamps as well. Similarly, the rear bumper, parts of the bootlid and rear quarter panels have been concealed.
The sides of the G30 appear largely unchanged as well, with the attendant M Sport and eDrive badging concealed under black tape. Here, we can see the development vehicle dressed in M Sport kit, compared to the previous G30 5 Series LCI sighting when it was fitted with what appeared to be a Luxury Line pack.
The ‘Hybrid Test Vehicle’ sticker located on this G30’s front doors point to its electrified powertrain, which so far has been the role of the 530e, itself having received an update earlier this week for greater battery capacity. This is now 12 kWh, up from 9.2 kWh previously, with pure EV range now up to 66 km (58 km in xDrive form), increased from 48 km previously.
The update to the existing 530e continues to be paired with a four-cylinder internal combustion engine, the 181 hp/290 Nm 2.0 litre turbo petrol unit which gets paired to a 113 hp/250 Nm electric motor integrated into the eight-speed automatic gearbox. The development vehicle here, however, is expected to use a version of the six-cylinder electrified powertrain that features in the 745e/745Le LCI which arrived in February.
This means the PHEV version of the LCI 5 Series will get a considerable hike in total system outputs; in the case of the 745e LCI this is mostly attributed to the 286 hp/450 Nm straight-six, with a 113 hp/265 Nm electric motor offering a 15 Nm gain from the preceding 740e and the latest 530e, which offers 252 hp and 420 Nm of torque with petrol and electric drive systems combined.
The upgrade to a six-cylinder engine could also bring the option of xDrive, now that both the revised 530e and the 745e LCI can be specified in all-wheel-drive guise. BMW could position the new electrified G30 somewhere in between the two, likely with a slight detune to the internal combustion engine for stats slightly lower than the 745e’s 394 hp and 600 Nm total system output figures. Might this be called the 540e?
GALLERY: G30 BMW 5 Series LCI spyshots
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enough of your wall of texts Wilson Khoo. this is a car site. respect all other users. no need to vent out your frustrations. Comment on things like FC, car design, etc
The Iriz EV is a game changing car. 6 years ago, Iriz EV is truly a stunning car and a game changer. Everyone is ready to pre-order it but Proton itself isn’t ready to sell it. In 2019, we havent seen the daylight of Iriz EV yet…
This BMW will be a game changer since the world are moving towards hybrid, PHEV and EV. I also hope proton will release their game changing Iriz EV soon, we have been waiting so patiently for 6 years. Btw, Proton Saga is using Hyundai 4AT
In FB also he got banned. Now come here to play havoc
Are you any different since you have caused chaos in the previous Toyota Supra article? Anyway, let us all keep PT clean from any game over fake news and instigation to create a peaceful automotive forum.
Someone keeps demanding for local EV car but later complains on the high price of replacement battery. He should make his own EV car that runs on cheap AA batteries.
Where is Iriz EV? I have been waiting for 6 years now. Old Gomen told us to buy EV and Hybrids. So many people bought Prius and Civic Hybrid. Now lingkup.
Yoyo policies. Tell people to buy EV and Hybrid but now, pull back the policies.
Even Honda and Toyota spent billions to set up CKD plants in Malaysia to produce the Prius, Camry Hybrid and Civic Hyrbid.
MAI say in 2014 that Iriz EV will be sold in 2017 at RM100K. But now already 2019, we have yet to see the EV from proton being SOLD to the public
Bodoh punya EDITOR
Copy pasted this game changing comment from
Same L0rrr on Oct 14, 2014 at 1:35 pm
In 2009, they said it is coming 2012
In 2012, they said it is coming 2014
In 2014, they say it is coming 2017
In 2017???
Typical Proton Sendiri Cakap Sendiri Syok!
Someone keeps on up voting themselves. Have no shame.
With this kind of grammar, it is no wonder why we have the lowest PISA scores and rankings in the world.
Aren’t you the same Wilson on FB that bad mouths Hyundai in every article on FB and PT for the past 3 years?
Every article you busuk Hyundai name gila gila. Then 3 days ago, your Proton announced their cars going to use Hyundai 4AT transmission in their cars.
Then you malu sangat and don’t know how to tanggung malu.
Now you preach about other people? Sendiri tengok cermin.
Please take your own advice.
Mr Wilson Khoo aka Mr Thumbs Up and Thumbs down has struck again
Got one posting, he even got 856 likes!
If it is direct injection, no thanks