New 2020 BMW M5 facelift spied testing at the Nurburgring

BMW will launch an updated version of the M5 performance saloon during the summer of this year. It will follow the revised version of the standard BMW 5 Series into showrooms, featuring a range of cosmetic tweaks and technology upgrades.

These latest spy shots show a BMW test mule at the Nurburgring. It shares the same minor cosmetic updates as previously spied prototypes, with new front and rear bumpers, a reprofiled bonnet and a reworked bootlid.

• Best executive cars on sale now 

Unlike previous development cars, though, this M5 mule sports a new pair of kidney grilles, fitted with a fresh set of sharply angled vanes. BMW will also fit a pair of new LED headlamps, with redesigned daytime running lights, indicators and main-beam units.

Equipment upgrades will be equally modest. BMW’s latest 12.3-inch iDrive infotainment system will feature, (as in the new X5 and X6), along with a pair of sports seats, a sports steering wheel and a handful of trim, paint and upholstery updates – all of which will help keep the M5 competitive with the forthcoming Mercedes-AMG E 63 and new Audi RS 6.

The facelifted BMW M5 will be powered by the same twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 engine as the outgoing model, and its output of 616bhp and 750Nm of torque will likely remain unchanged. The new BMW X5 M, X6 M and M8 Competition – all of which were released after the pre-facelift sixth-generation M5 – use the same engine in an identical state of tune.

What do you make of the updated BMW M5? Let us know in the comments section below…