BMW BLOG

We’ve been holding off for a few days on posting this latest rendering from LeftLaneNews. The reason? Just because we believe they are not close to the “real deal” and we have seen better renderings before.

But since we love controversy and most important, your feedback, we decided to go ahead and share it with you.We believe the design line is too soft in these renderings and nearly not as aggressive as they should be. To us, it resembles a smaller version of the new 7 Series.

As you know by now, the next generation 5 Series will be unveiled early next year with sales starting in the fall of 2010. Developed under the internal codename F10, the next-generation BMW 5-Series ill soften the harder lines of the current E60 with a cleaner front-end design where the bonnet meets the lenses in an angular shape. We will also see a more “flat nose” due to the European pedestrian safety regulations.

As we have seen already in the multiple spy photos posted by us, the new 5 Series has a longer wheelbase and a wider track than the current generation 5er.

Our sources that the interior design is based of the new 7 Series, with a driver oriented cockpit and a new level of luxury. We expect BMW to use some of their finest materials in the interior in order to compete on all levels with the recently unveiled Mercedes E-Class.

When the new 5-Series finally arrives at dealerships, it will be available with the same twin-turbo V8 found in the X6. Just as in X6-guise, the twin-turbo V8 will make about 400 horsepower in the 5-Series — which would put it in the same neighborhood as BMW’s E39 M5.

The 2010 BMW 5 Series Sedan and Wagon will use some of the existing engines, starting with the 6-cylinder twin-turbo engine and the V8 twin-turbo found in the X6 or the 750Li. The entry level models in Europe will be the BMW 520i – 204 hp and 525i – 235 hp.

The highest end BMW 5 Series Sedan will be sold under the name 555i.

Sources close to BMW say that the new 2011 BMW M5 will use a similar engine as the one found in the BMW X5 M and X6 M, a modified version of the V8 twin-turbo with twin scrollers outputting 550 horsepower.

[Source: LeftLaneNews]