[Jason]

A couple of new photos from 8/31/09.

The second photo shows off the great proportions of the F10 5-series perfectly IMO.

[datbimmerdoe]

[ianbiz]

watermelons!!

[YYdoodle]

Nice pics!! I feel this car is right around the corner. Are we sure we're definitely going to have to wait until Geneva?

That second angle is a really good one. Any pics from the back?

I'm curious, will we see the tape come off little by little or is the next phase of the strip tease without tape completely?

[Mii]

Nice shots! Not sure if these were the shots mentioned by SCOTT few weeks back about American tourist taking some photos on purported "next gen 3-series" spy shot. The second shot looks really great in overall proportion.

Also notice some kind of sensor (camera eye) between second/third kidney grill from driver side. Or was it a hood release lever?

[RBP]

a four door sedan shaped like a....wait for it.....shaped like a four door sedan.

riveting.

[Jason]

Originally Posted by Mii

Nice shots! Not sure if these were the shots mentioned by SCOTT few weeks back about American tourist taking some photos on purported "next gen 3-series" spy shot. The second shot looks really great in overall proportion.

Also notice some kind of sensor (camera eye) between second/third kidney grill from driver side. Or was it a hood release lever?

Good eye... definitely looks like it could be some sort of sensor or camera (maybe night vision?), but would be an odd place to put it. Would expect it to be lower in the front fascia, perhaps in the lower bumper grill as we've seen with other BMWs.

[Year's_End]

Originally Posted by RBP

a four door sedan shaped like a....wait for it.....shaped like a four door sedan.

riveting.

am i missing some sort of humor in this joke...

[Year's_End]

Originally Posted by Jason

G Would expect it to be lower in the front fascia, perhaps in the lower bumper grill as we've seen with other BMWs.

You can always expect the technology to improve. As such, they can place it in less obvious locations. MB and Audi already use clever techniques.

[mapezzul]

Originally Posted by Jason

Good eye... definitely looks like it could be some sort of sensor or camera (maybe night vision?), but would be an odd place to put it. Would expect it to be lower in the front fascia, perhaps in the lower bumper grill as we've seen with other BMWs.

Night vision systems are now in the driver's side kidney grilles and will be- allows for greater angle and longer line of sight, less debris/snow and moisture. The F01 and F07 use the same location. The F10 will also feature this system- it is trickle down. This is definitely night vision and will be identical in form/function to the F01/07- they made the system universal, same with the HUD. The grill also will have horizontal slats to increase rigidity and prevent the camera from shaking at highway speeds.

The Active cruise radar is in the lower front bumper valence as is current is not impacted by debris and does not require the long range angles the NV does.

This car is intended for Geneva but there has been swapping going on and this may be shown at a different show. The MINI Countryman SAV was to debut in Frankfurt and has been bumped to Detroit, the X3 is Detroit and the 5er Geneva but there are some saying the X3 and 5er may switch so politically BMW Group is not debuting 2 SUVs at the same show. There will also be several LCIs for the spring and new drive trains debuting so there is not going to be a show for the next year without something new and notable.

Great photos!



Night Vision:


Active Cruise:

[skimmilk20]

Originally Posted by Bimmer Loyalist

You can always expect the technology to improve. As such, they can place it in less obvious locations. MB and Audi already use clever techniques.

Sorry, maybe I need to see when the final product is complete, but I'm not feeling how the hood opening is so far from the front of the grills...

[mapezzul]

Originally Posted by skimmilk20

Sorry, maybe I need to see when the final product is complete, but I'm not feeling how the hood opening is so far from the front of the grills...

It is not that far back, that is camo- look at the F07 GT line and extrapolate it a bit.

[uhn2000]

Looks very promising... might actually be a huge hit!

[Taymaishu]

I like the angled side-cuts in the lower front bumper region. It would be interesting to see it from a full-front angle, but it looks as if the lower intake is like this /_____\ (sorry for the terrible picture!)

Seeing as though BMW have previously preferred a \____/ shape, i think this is looking very, very nice.

[fdsasdasdf]

I see an expression of joy on the driver's face.

[SCOTT26]

5er will have it's launch in mid December but the car will not officially debut until the Geneva Auto show in March.

As previously mentioned there is still ongoing evaluation programmes on prototypes. BMW are aiming for a seemless integration to the market.
You are still going to see these semi-disguised prototypes for a good few months yet. Once they are happy the BMW Board will sign off the car for series production.

[mihink]

Looks great...hopefully my next car (European Delivery 09/10)!!!

[gqmd]

based on these and previous pics, a good eye can easily tell what this car will look like (apart from the covered tailights).