Facelifted BMW M5 Spied Wearing Production Lights Ahead of Debut

Fresh spy shots from Germany reveal the facelifted BMW M5 prototype fitted with production lights, signaling that an official debut is approaching. The new midsize PHEV sedan features headlights sporting a pair of slim LED DRLs arranged horizontally rather than diagonally, departing from the layout seen on the new 3 Series and electric i3. LED headlight units sit under each DRL, avoiding the split headlight treatment found on the larger 7 Series and X7.

Unlike other M models like the M350 that feature yellow DRLs, this prototype wears white DRLs, suggesting it currently uses components from the standard 5 Series facelift. Heavy disguise remains over the kidney grille and the center of the hood, featuring a plate hiding a deep gulley leading to the BMW roundel badge. The rear retains the trademark quad exhaust tailpipe arrangement, a staple of V8 M5 models dating back to the E39 in 1999.

The current G90-code M5, which arrived in 2024, introduced plug-in hybrid assistance that added 1,045 lbs (474 kg) to the curb weight and pushed total output to 717 horsepower (727 PS). While power figures are not expected to change for the Life Cycle Impulse (LCI) update, potential improvements to the current 38-mile (62 km) WLTP electric range could leverage new battery technology. Inside the cabin, the M5 and 5 Series are set to adopt BMW’s latest iDrive setup, replacing the combined digital gauge cluster and infotainment screen with a pillar-to-pillar display at the base of the windshield and a floating tablet touchscreen, mirroring the layout debuted on the 2026 iX3 SUV.