BMW Teases Us With The New 2017 5 Series

Set for an early 2017 debut, the next-gen BMW 5 Series will be the first car to use 3D Optical Measuring Cell in its production.

It’s no secret that the next generation of the BMW 5 Series is in the works. Spy pictures of the new luxury sedan have been all over the internet for quite a while, but BMW now wants you to have an ‘official’ look at how the new 5 Series is shaping up in the factory.

In a couple of teaser images, BMW has revealed some fascinating tech used in the production of the new 5 Series. Dubbed the G30 (internally), the next-gen 5 Series replaces the current F10 model. Now as per BMW, the new model will built using an intriguing new system called Optical Measuring Cell, allowing the production process to be more precise than ever. What this system does is that it uses a pair of robots which provide a 3D data model of the total vehicle with an accuracy of less than 100 µm. Benefits? It “allows barely visible deviations to be identified at an early stage,” in a single go, thereby, saving time and enhancing quality of the final product. BMW is the first manufacturer to use this tech in car production.

Although the car shown here is heavily camouflaged, it looks remarkably similar to the current model it has to be said. But apart from that, everything about the new 5 Series is going to be ‘all-new’. First and foremost, it’ll be built on the firm’s new CLAR (Cluster Architecture) RWD platform – same that underpins the new 7 Series. Incorporating a mix of carbon-fibre reinforced plastics and aluminum in its construction, the new 5 Series is expected to be over 100 kilograms lighter than the current model.

There will be new powertrain options, too. Expect the new 5 Series to come fitted with the company’s new generation turbo four-cylinder and six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines.  A plug-in hybrid is also expected while the high-performance derivative, the M5, will possibly get a new 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol instead of the current car’s 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8.

BMW is expected to unveil the new 5 Series early in 2017, post which it will go on sale across major markets around the world. If it goes as scheduled, the new 5 Series should arrive to our shores by end 2017.

Also read: BMW X2 to debut at 2016 Paris Motor Show