BMW 5 Series launch details, weight cuts, hybrid

BMW also plans new 3.0-liter diesel and gasoline engines with output capped at 420 horsepower, alongside a plug-in hybrid variant. The model is expected to gain standard internet access, cloud storage for data and voice and gesture recognition, with some of those features inherited from the flagship 7 Series.

The company is also weighing more advanced semi-autonomous driving functions. BMW is considering an autopilot system for the 5 Series, though not before 2020, while an interim highway-driving function would let the car accelerate, brake and steer itself at speeds of up to 130 kph.

The product pipeline gives BMW a fresh chance to defend share in a crowded executive-sedan market, especially as rivals continue to load premium cars with software and efficiency upgrades. BMW shares in Frankfurt have been volatile this week, and the stock’s recent trading has reflected the market’s focus on whether new models can offset pressure from higher technology spending and slower growth in mature car markets.

Touring and GT versions are due to follow in 2017, extending the rollout and giving BMW a longer window to capitalize on the redesign. The next checkpoints for investors will be the company’s formal unveiling, the market launch in 2016 and any detail on pricing, fuel-economy claims and the timing of autonomous features.