Spy shots of the 2021 BMW 5 Series Touring.

The BMW 5 Series is now in its seventh generation, and the latest model is about to reach the halfway point of its lifecycle; as per BMW tradition, the car will receive a facelift to keep the exterior looking fresh for the second half of its lifecycle.

Prototypes of a facelifted version of the 5 Series Touring Wagon have already been spotted for sale overseas, and facelifted versions of the 5 Series sedan and the high-performance M5 are also being tested. Judging by the camouflage material shown here, the grille and front fascia will change, as well as the inside of the headlights. Similarly, the rear fascia may be changed and the taillights may be reshaped.

The grille, in particular, is likely to get the merged twin-kidney design used on the latest 3-Series and 7-Series. Fortunately, the changes will not be as extensive as the 7 Series facelift. The current 5-Series is already a beautiful beast.

Several new powertrains have already been introduced for the 5 Series for the 2020 model year, so it's unlikely that there will be any major changes to the powertrain lineup. For example, the 530e iPerformance plug-in hybrid features a new battery to increase range, the M550i has a more powerful V8 engine, the 530i and 540i will be more powerful, and the facelifted 5 Series may feature mild hybrid technology. Series may feature hybrid technology.

It is unclear if there will be any changes to the interior, but there will likely be an updated infotainment system and new electronic driver assistance features.

The updated 5 Series is expected to arrive in dealerships later this year as a 2021 model. Unfortunately, the updated 5 Series Touring is unlikely to be available in the United States, as the current model is not sold in that country.