The Autoblog spy photographers have once again captured images of the upcoming G90 BMW M5 LCI, or facelift, which is expected to debut next year for the 2028 model year. The prototype was spotted making its way around the Nürburgring Nordschleife, and although there’s plenty of camouflage covering the development mule, there are several new details we can see, particularly around the front and rear ends, where increased cooling meets revised styling inspired by the M Vision Neue Klasse concept. With lesser, M Performance-enhanced sedans and crossovers becoming more extreme than ever, the M5 LCI needs to ascend.
2028 BMW M5 LCI Looks Vastly Different
Autoblog/SH Proshots
The facelifted M5 does away with the upturned headlights of the pre-LCI model, now with a more shark-nose-like design, and the old car’s large kidney grilles have been slimmed down, swapping an almost square design for a sleeker, more rectangular design. Below these, a long, narrow intake opening has sprouted, below which the pre-production bumper shows a gaping lower intake with several partitions, including a central support as part of the M Vision Neue Klasse’s trimaran-inspired design. At each end are trapezium-shaped scoops, likely for cooling the brakes, with smaller scoops nearer the middle also appearing. Cladding on the middle of the hood hides what will be a significant recess that BMW calls the ‘valley,’ while the mirror caps appear to be identical to those on the M350 version of the 3 Series. We might be imagining it, but it looks like the front wheel arches may be a little more pronounced too.
Autoblog/SH Proshots
The doors and side skirts carry over, while at the very back of the car, we can see pre-production taillights that maintain the outline of the pre-LCI model, though likely with new graphics. Further down, the diffuser area no longer appears to be made up of two parts, instead merging into one panel with a subtler separator in the center housing the reverse light. The bumper is a placeholder item, though, so things will still be refined further, but the quad-exit exhaust appears unchanged, and so does the small trunk lip spoiler. Inside, we can expect the Panoramic Vision iDrive setup to appear with its squircle-shaped steering wheel and so-called ‘shy tech’ haptic buttons.
Final Thoughts
Autoblog/SH Proshots
The facelifted M5 will retain its 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8, electric motor and plug-in hybrid system, potentially even increasing output for the U.S. beyond the contemporary figures of 717 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque, so it’ll still be very heavy. For the record, the current M5 makes less engine power in Europe to meet emissions, filling the gap with increased electrification, but with Trump rolling back fuel consumption targets in America, that won’t affect us. Finally, the Touring version of the pre-LCI M5 proved America still has an appetite for station wagons, so we should get the longroof once more. Expect a reveal some time in 2027, but teasers may well arrive before then.
Autoblog/SH Proshots
Â
