New BMW 5 Series Prototype Caught Again in Munich

Just in case you couldn't get enough of the new BMW 5 Series spy photos from last week, here are some fresh new ones. Also included is a new rendering, which, as a reminder, is speculative. The purpose of all of the renderings/artist illustrations that we publish is to give you an idea of the general design direction based on the latest spy photos. So don't get bent out of shape, if you think its going to look different because it most likely will.

Following the same path as the next generation 7 Series, the new BMW 5 Series will be less adventurous in its design compared to the current model. Using a new internal codename system, BMW has replaced the “E” designation (i.e. E60 for current 5 Series plartform) with “F” for the next generation 5-Series. Known internally as the “F10”, the new mid-size luxury sedan is the second new BMW model to receive the new code after the F01 BMW 7 Series which arrives in 2009.

The F10 5 Series will be equipped with a new 8-speed electronic automatic transmission, optional all-wheel-drive and engine ranging from six petrol engines, 2.5-liter 218hp to 4.4 liter V8 twin-turbo with 408hp and four diesels ranging from 2.0 liter 175hp to 3.0 liter 300hp.

With the current E60 5-Series on the market since 2004, the arrival of the F10 replacement is still three years away with an expected launch in spring 2010 as a 2011 model.