Next BMW 5 Series lineup to include plug-in hybrid, 626-hp AWD M5?

By Ronan Glon August 31, 2014

BMW is busily developing an all-new 5 Series, and a report coming out of Germany gives us a better idea of what to expect when it arrives in 2016.

Called G30 internally, the next 5 Series will weigh at least 220 pounds less than the current model pictured above, thanks to the use of lightweight materials like aluminum and, to a lesser extent, carbon fiber. Building the next 5 with lightweight components will noticeably improve efficiency, a move that will help the sedan comply with the strict emissions regulations set to come into effect across Europe and in the United States over the coming years.

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To further cater to efficiency-minded buyers, BMW will introduce a plug-in hybrid variant of the next 5 early in the production run. Sources close to the Munich-based automaker have revealed the drivetrain will consist of a compact 109-horsepower electric motor linked to a lithium-ion battery pack that will work in conjunction with 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline-burning engine rated at 240 ponies. The plug-in hybrid 5 will be one of the first BMWs to feature inductive charging.

Related: Fully-armored BMW X5

On the other end of the spectrum, the next M5 will reportedly pack at least 626 horsepower, about 50 more than even the most powerful 2015 model. It is too early to tell what will lie under the hood, but German magazine Auto Bild reports the super-sedan will be offered with all-wheel drive in order to fight head-to-head against the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG and the Audi RS6.

Most versions of the next 5 Series will be available with the semi-autonomous driving technology that the company is currently putting the final touches on. In ideal driving conditions, the 5 will be able to accelerate, brake and change lanes without any input from the driver at speeds of up to about 80 mph.

Additional details about the upcoming seventh-generation BMW 5 Series will emerge in the months leading up to its introduction.

Contributor

Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is concerned that Tesla’s use of social media and its website makes false promises about the automaker’s full-self driving (FSD) software.
The warning dates back from May, but was made public in an email to Tesla released on November 8.
The NHTSA opened an investigation in October into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with the FSD software, following three reported collisions and a fatal crash. The investigation centers on FSD’s ability to perform in “relatively common” reduced visibility conditions, such as sun glare, fog, and airborne dust.
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The postings, which included reposted YouTube videos, may encourage viewers to see FSD-supervised as a “Robotaxi” instead of a partially automated, driver-assist system that requires “persistent attention and intermittent intervention by the driver,” Magno said.
In one of a number of Tesla posts on X, the social media platform owned by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a driver was seen using FSD to reach a hospital while undergoing a heart attack. In another post, a driver said he had used FSD for a 50-minute ride home. Meanwhile, third-party comments on the posts promoted the advantages of using FSD while under the influence of alcohol or when tired, NHTSA said.
Tesla’s official website also promotes conflicting messaging on the capabilities of the FSD software, the regulator said.
NHTSA has requested that Tesla revisit its communications to ensure its messaging remains consistent with FSD’s approved instructions, namely that the software provides only a driver assist/support system requiring drivers to remain vigilant and maintain constant readiness to intervene in driving.
Tesla last month unveiled the Cybercab, an autonomous-driving EV with no steering wheel or pedals. The vehicle has been promoted as a robotaxi, a self-driving vehicle operated as part of a ride-paying service, such as the one already offered by Alphabet-owned Waymo.
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