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Disguise strips off as BMW 5 series prepares for an early 2010 debut

We've been following the development of the 2010 BMW 5 series quite closely over the past few months and now the car is finally beginning to come into focus.

As it is with most prototype mule disguising, the camoflague gradually fades away the closer a car gets to launch. That's exactly what's happening here. Far more detail has been revealed as the 5 series sheds it winter pyjamas and now wears a 'summer' paisley night dress.

Fitting in neatly between its 3 and 7 series kin in a styling sense, the 4.86m long new 5 model brings some interesting new technology along, too.

This includes an all-new, 230kW biturbo direct-injection, 3-litre petrol engine, a 185kW, 530d and a 125kW, 4.1l/100km 520d and BMW's superb 8-speed automatic transmission with start-stop.

Why does the disguise softens as launch approaches? That's just in case someone wants to go buy an E, A6 or XF when the BMW will be the newest on the block.

Do these pictures change what you have in mind?