It feels like only yesterday I was picking up fish and chips for lunch in what was then the new BMW M5. And yet, there’s already a refresh for the 2021 , which has now just leaked.

The photos come from , which claims we still have several weeks before the car is officially revealed.

As you can see, this is clearly a BMW. It’s still a proper sedan, so that’s good. The grille is well-proportioned, very nice. The classic “M-inspired” lower grille intake now runs its corners up into the headlights—similar but not as dramatic as the new BMW 3 Series.

These photos are of a plug-in hybrid model, characterized by the charge port door on the front driver’s-side fender, the fuel door on the rear passenger’s-side quarter panel, and the “e” in the name. Just below the charge port door is the BMW M emblem, but the image from the rear shows the car is a 530e, so it likely has an M Sport package.

It somehow looks like an F30 3 Series to me there in the front? Does that register for anybody else? It feels like the design somehow went back in time, compared to the , which was less chromey and a little softer than this. Of course, the non-hybrid redesign could look much different.

The rear-end hasn’t changed much, though, and it’s still distinctive enough on the current-gen 5 Series. The taillights have a new graphic impact and the clear housing has been darkened for a smokey effect, which is certainly something BMW can definitely point to and say “look, it’s different now.”

I have to say I love the current 5 Series’ lineup of wheel options, and this new design fits right in with the rest of a very graphic and contrast-y wheel list. Overall this look isn’t anything new, but I’m not mad at it.