Hoping to inject a dose of high class into the already sporty and respectable 5 Series, BMW plans to introduce three special-edition lineups of the sedan and wagon at Geneva. The Sport, Exclusive and Lifestyle editions are designed to appeal to the various portions of the 5 Series' widely varied customer base. Each is distinguished by unique paint colors and trim.

The Exclusive edition is set apart by its Platinum Bronze Metallic paint and additional chrome on the body. 17-inch alloy wheels and a wood-trimmed interior establish the Exclusive edition as the luxury car of the family. The Lifestyle edition is designed to appeal to more active 5 Series owners, with satin-finish chrome and a lighter interior featuring a leather and Reflex cloth interior. The Lifestyle's unique color is Neptune Blue. For the gearheads, the Sport edition gets BMW's signature racing colors--Imola Red or Le Mans Blue--as well as 18-inch M alloys, a body kit and an M sport suspension.

Naturally, the 5 Series' fantastic driving dynamics haven't been touched, and we've heard of no plans for exclusive powertrain changes to any of the special editions. The additions to the lineup will make it easier for 5 Series owners to tailor a car to specific desires straight from the factory.

Still two years away, the next generation 2011 BMW M5 development is well underway and will arrive a year after the regular 5-series. Now Brits over at autocar have uncovered the Germans are working on a successor to the 507hp 5.0-liter V10 which has won countless awards including the engine of the year in 2005 & 2006 and has just been awarded the Engine of the year in the above 4-liter category for 2008.

The New 5.5-liter V10 will see power rise to 550hp and will be mated to BMW's new seven-speed M DCT doube-clutch transmission or the six-speed manual gearbox. To combat the extra displacement's effect on emissions and fuel economy, the new engine will likely get a direct injection turbo-charged unit and BMW's stop-start technology which automatically switches the engine off when it is not being used such as when the car is stopped in traffic.

The 2011 M5 will also benefit from an intelligent alternator control system which monitors the battery and makes use of energy that is usually wasted with its regenerative braking. The new technology increases the vehicle's power and fuel economy without sacrificing performance.

The picture above shows a protoype for the new BMW M5 caught testing last year when WCF exclusively uncovered the new engine will get twin-turbos.

Preview: 2010 BMW M5 saloon
Posted on Monday 2 June 2008

Next year will see the launch of two critical models for German labels BMW and Mercedes-Benz, with both the next-generation 5-series and E-Class sedans plus their different variants expected to be released over the next 12 months. Mercedes-Benz will be first to the table with the launch of its new E-Class and subsequent E63 due at next year’s Geneva Motor Show, however later that same year BMW will unveil its next-generation 5-series.

The car will likely debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in the second half of the year and could be joined by the high-performance M5 as well. This latest rendering gives us an early look at a possible design for the new car, revealing that will likely adopt influences from the current M3 but will also feature a pronounced grille and a smoother overall shape than the current model.

A V10 engine will return but could be enhanced with a pair of turbochargers and an extra 500cc in displacement. Expect to see power levels up around the 550 to 580hp mark to bring it into line with Audi’s recently revealed RS6. The likely transmission will be BMW’s new M-DCT dual-clutch system, as found in the M3.

Performance will also be improved thanks to the extensive use of lightweight materials including carbon-fiber and aluminum. The car’s construction will be a hybrid of an aluminum spaceframe for the front section, and a traditional steel monocoque for the passenger compartment and rear. This will ensure a favorable front-to-rear weight distribution and improved handling. Up front will be an independent suspension with MacPherson struts, with a multi-link layout for the rear. Expect to see an unpainted carbon roof and more of the lightweight material possibly used for the boot and fender panels.

With the launch of the next generation F10 BMW 5-Series arriving in 2010, the high-performance M5 version is to follow a year later. However, the M5 will lose its Formula One inspired naturally aspirated V10 engine, according to Automotive News.

Despite the low volume 2002 Turbo of 1973 and E23 745i of the mid 1980's, BMW engineers have historically turned away from forced induction in favor of high revving naturally aspirated engines - from a performance point of view. However, with turbo technology advancements over the past decade, turbo charging has turned into a viable alternative to high displacement engines with comparable performance characteristics.

The first evidence of the changing BMW mindset was in 2006 with the award winning N24 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline 6 cylinder engine found in the BMW 335i E92 Coupe. Since them, this engine has found its way into the entire BMW model range.

Therefore, it's no surprise, BMW's newest turbo engine, the 4.4-liter V8 found in the X6 SUV, will be optimized for more power and put into the new M5 model due in 2011. According to an insiders, the new M5 will produce, "400 kW (536hp) and more of output."

Currently, Audi holds the horsepower title amongst German auto makers with their 580hp twin turbo V10 Audi RS6.