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BMW Tests Facelifted M5 at the Nürburgring Ahead of 2027 Production
BMW is deep into testing a facelifted version of its G90 M5 super sedan at the Nürburgring, with a major interior overhaul and a revised exterior expected ahead of a production start around July 2027.
By Eleanor Ellington · 4 min read
BMW is pushing a facelifted version of its G90 M5 super sedan hard around the Nürburgring, with the camouflaged prototype signalling substantial changes beneath the skin ahead of a likely debut next year. The current car has not been on sale for long, but the German manufacturer is already deep into development of its mid-cycle update, and the latest test cars suggest the overhaul will be more than a routine refresh.
The exterior is set to receive a fresh look, although BMW appears to have stepped back from the more radical Neue Klasse-inspired front end seen on early prototypes. Those first test cars may have carried extra layers of camouflage to mislead observers. The latest prototypes point to slimmer headlights and a revised front fascia, while the kidney grille is expected to stay closer to the current car's proportions rather than adopting the horizontal layout used on the i3 and the upcoming 3 Series. At the rear, new taillight graphics are anticipated, likely without altering the size and shape of the clusters, since that would require reworking the surrounding body panels.
The most significant transformation will take place inside the cabin. The facelifted M5 is expected to adopt a «less is more» dashboard that removes the traditional instrument cluster and the iDrive rotary controller. Physical controls will be reduced further, with their functions folded into a 17.9-inch touchscreen. A pillar-to-pillar windscreen projection is described as all but confirmed, and an optional passenger display is also expected. These changes will not be limited to the M5, as the entire 5 Series range is set to undergo the same interior redesign. There has also been speculation that Alcantara could feature more prominently in the M5's cabin, though nothing has been made official.
For enthusiasts, the plug-in hybrid powertrain will remain in place for the second half of the model's life cycle. The M5 will continue to pair a twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 with an electric motor. In Europe, the combustion engine has already been detuned from 577 to 536 horsepower to satisfy stricter emissions requirements, but BMW has upgraded the electric motor so that total system output stays at 717 horsepower. There is hope within the enthusiast community that the engineers at BMW M can recover the lost output as part of the facelift.
The prototype's V8 note has drawn attention, though it remains a test vehicle and conclusions should be drawn cautiously. As emissions and noise regulations tighten across Europe, the era of spectacular-sounding engines is drawing to a close. In the best case, the prototype may be running a non-EU-spec engine intended for markets with more relaxed legislation.
The facelifted G90 M5 is expected to enter production around July 2027. The G99 M5 Touring is widely expected to receive essentially the same treatment, while the regular 5 Series sedan and wagon are set to undergo similar updates either around the same timeframe or slightly earlier. For BMW, the update represents a careful balancing act: modernising the cabin and exterior while preserving the powertrain formula that defines its flagship performance sedan.
