HOW TO REFRESH THE BMW 5 SERIES

As Merc turns up the heat, Munich fights back…

Give the option to M5-ify it

The cleaner look front and rear is welcome, but Munich is giving you free rein to tart whichever variant you pick to look like the rip-snorting super-saloon. Sporty wheel designs, di users for M Sport versions, braver new colour options and a Performance Parts catalogue the size of War and Peace allow for much more customisation. M5 too rich for you? The brutal 523bhp V8-powered M550i xDrive makes it to the UK for the first time.

Make it like a 7-series inside

The pre-facelift 5-series wasn’t too far o limo standards, but BMW has upped its game anyway. There’s an M Sport Edition trim limited to 1000 units and a raft of fresh upholstery options. BMW’s latest iDrive operating system finally reaches the 5-series, too, allowing for fully-digital instruments and a Siri-like voice assistant. Massage seats, an in-car fragrance and BMW’s usual suite of concierge services remain.

Arm it with weapons-grade tech

All four- and six-cylinder engines now have 48-volt mild-hybrid assistance, an extra plug-in hybrid powertrain is here (a 545e joins the existing 530e) and you can spec laser headlights and rear-wheel steering. New BMW Maps system, which can be viewed via an optional 12.3inch infotainment screen, uses cloud computing to constantly update your nav route. BMW’s Reversing Assistant tech is also available.