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Next-gen BMW M5 spied on Munich roads

BMW is still hard at work developing the next-gen M5 around the company's home base in Munich. Unfortunately, the Bavarians are keeping the super sedan plastered with camouflage, which makes picking out the details rather difficult. There are some tiny tweaks from the previous spy shots, though. Obviously, these are still early development vehicles, so it's hard to know whether these changes are in any way meaningful. Up front, this M5 still has an air intake stretching all the way across the lower portion of the bumper. The earlier shots showed this piece with a uniform width, but the designers added a little flair this time by lifting the center portion slightly for a more attractive look. Comparing the two examples in profile, the suspension has seemingly been lowered on the latest one to tuck the tires closer to the fender lips. Most parts have carried over, though, including the massive, cross-drilled brake rotors and quad exhaust tips poking out from the rear. The next M5 should have no problem backing up its mean looks, though. All indications, including earlier spy shots, suggest that the high-performance sedan will gain all-wheel drive, at least as an option, and power will be around 600 horsepower. While about the same as the current 30th anniversary edition, the future 5 Series will reportedly follow the lead of the latest 7 Series by going on a big diet thanks in part from a new, lighter platform.

BMW C 650 scooters refreshed with Side View Assist

Beyond just building a full lineup of automobiles and a plethora of motorcycles, BMW is a player in the scooter market, too. As part of a refresh to the company's C650 GT and Sport models, the GT is now available with an optional Side View Assist blind-spot monitoring system. This marks a first for the two-wheeled segment. As the demonstration video above shows, Side View Assist is quite similar to what's found in many modern automobiles. The tech uses sensors positioned at each corner to monitor over 16 feet around the scooter. If the system detects a vehicle hanging out in the blind spot, then the rider sees a triangle as warning on the mirror stalk. Both the C650 GT and Sport fall into the niche known as maxi-scooters that offer much of the capability of a more traditional motorcycle. They're quicker than the little models you might see puttering around city streets, but maintain the foot-forward riding position of that classic design. For this refresh, the BMWs get an updated CVT with a revised ratio spread, and the 647cc inline two-cylinder engine is offered in 59- and 47-horsepower forms. Both scooters are quite rider-friendly, too. With this new update, stability control joins anti-lock brakes on the list of standard safety features. There's an automatic daytime riding light, and suspension setup is tweaked for a more comfortable ride. BMW leaves absolutely no detail unexplored in the company's announcement, below. 1. The new BMW C 650 Sport. The new BMW C 650 GT. (Short version) With the new BMW C 650 Sport and C 650 GT, BMW Motorrad continues its series of premium vehicles in the maxi scooter segment. Perfect for the city and urban environment, they combine practicality and cost-efficiency with maximum riding fun and touring comfort. In addition to this, they also provide enjoyment for riders with sporty ambitions on winding country roads as well as riding fun on lengthier tours, too. The new C 650 Sport and C 650 GT – dynamic maxi scooters for sports, touring and urban cruising. The differing conceptual emphasis of each of the two BMW maxi scooters enables a broader target group to be addressed than previously: the C 650 Sport is geared towards riders with a sporty bent while the C 650 GT sets its sights on those who attach greater importance to comfort and touring capability. The new C 650 Sport and the new C 650 GT now go further towards addressing these aspirations.

Next BMW 7 Series interior spotted

The next BMW 7 Series looks to be leading a rather dramatic change of the company's interior styling, judging by this new series of spy photos. In the trio of shots, we can see that the next 7 Series will replace the high-quality plastic buttons of the brand's iDrive, HVAC and secondary audio controls with some very, very pretty aluminum pieces. We can also see what looks like haptic touch controls for some of the HVAC systems. While the 7 Series interior has never been bad, it's lagged notably behind the Audi A8 and new Mercedes-Benz S-Class. This brightwork should be taken as a good sign, then, that BMW is preparing to take the fight to its countrymen. Aside from the handsome new switchgear, the large, wide nav screen looks like a pop-up unit, while it appears to be running a new version of the company's infotainment system. These spy photos also give us our most detailed look at the 7 Series' new laser headlights. According to our spies, these will be an optional extra, while LED headlights will be standard. The high-output lights will flank a wider pair of kidney grilles that our spies claim will give the 7 a sportier look. Changes in back are still camouflaged, although our shooters claim the new lamps will be more angular than the current car's. Expect the next 7 Series to make its debut in the second half of 2015, which could indicate a debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show.