COVER New BMW 5 Series
Official details and pictures of new executive contender
■ Hi-tech new exec hits dealers in February; starts from £33,000
■ Up to 100kg lighter, and is set to be even better to drive
BMW’S new seventh-generation 5 Series will have innovative autonomous tech and the option of plug-in hybrid technology when it arrives in UK showrooms in February.
It’s expected to be priced from around £33,000, with a more practical Touring estate model scheduled to join the range later next year, and Auto Express got up close with the new executive model at the company’s HQ in Munich.
The current 5 Series has been left trailing by newer rivals such as the Jaguar XF and Mercedes E-class, which have gained the upper hand in refinement, technology and comfort. This all-new 5 Series looks set to change that, because it will benefit from innovations seen on BMW’S 7 Series.
Changes start at the front with new, sleeker LED headlamps integrated with the trademark kidney grille; adaptive LED lights with a 500-metre illumination range will also be available.
The surfacing is more complex than it is on the current car, with a prominent shoulder line stretching back to the taillights, while the bonnet shut line has been removed. Twenty one exterior paint finishes will be available, while alloy wheels will range from 17 to 20 inches in diameter.
We spoke to BMW 5 Series project manager Wolfgang Hacker, who told us: “We started to make every little detail better; from our perspective there is no detail on the car which is the same level as the predecessor. Every line, every point was discussed – that was the four-year task.”
Beneath the new body, the 5 Series also benefits from a new chassis – it’s the same
basic platform used on the 7 Series but without the carbon fibre core. Nevertheless, it helps cut 70kg from the kerbweight alone. More extensive use of aluminium on the body, plus lighter brakes and alloy wheels, sheds another 30kg. The 5 Series also maintains its 50:50 weight distribution.
“If you close your eyes, first you will think it is a 3 Series to drive but on the highway it will feel like a 7 Series,” Hacker told us. “That’s what we wanted to achieve with the new model.” The new chassis also means the dimensions of the 5 Series have increased slightly over the outgoing model’s, with the wheelbase now 7mm longer, and the overall length of the car stretching by 36mm. The new model is also 6mm wider and 2mm taller than its predecessor, while boot capacity has been increased by 10 litres to 530 litres.
For the first time BMW will also launch a 530e plug-in hybrid version of the 5 Series, which will become part of the recently launched iperformance line-up. Its powertrain will comprise a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and electric motor, which jointly develop 249bhp and 420Nm of torque. More significantly, BMW claims the 530e will also be capable of 141.2mpg with CO2 emissions of 46g/km.
The most efficient diesel model is the 520d Efficientdynamics edition, which is powered by a 187bhp 2.0-litre diesel paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox. It is claimed to return up to 72.4mpg and emit just 102g/km of CO2. The standard 520d uses the same engine but is the only model with a six-speed manual gearbox, and as a result economy drops to 67.3mpg and CO2 emissions go up to 108g/km.
A more powerful 530d uses a 261bhp 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel, is capable of
0-62mph in 5.7 seconds and a claimed 62.8mpg. Along with the standard 520d it is also available with xdrive all-wheel drive.
As for petrol engines, buyers will have two options from launch: a 248bhp fourcylinder turbo badged as the 530i, plus a more powerful 335bhp six-cylinder turbo (pictured here) that’s badged 540i. Both are also available with four-wheel drive.
Shortly after the 5 Series is launched next year, BMW will introduce a flagship M550i xdrive version that will be powered by a 455bhp 4.4-litre V8. The company claims the model will be capable of covering the 0-62mph sprint in just 4.0 seconds – three tenths of a second faster than the current 552bhp M5.
Another first is BMW’S Integral Active Steering system, which is a convoluted way of describing a rear-wheel-steering set-up that should boost agility. It can be specified in conjunction with xdrive, too.
BMW has also added the latest autonomous systems to the optional active cruise control, active steering and lanekeeping assistance systems. At up to 130mph the 5 Series will be able to take control of steering, acceleration and braking inputs when called upon.
Also new is the 7 Series-inspired dashboard and centre console design, along with a new 10.25-inch touchscreen, which features wireless Apple Carplay connectivity – a first on any production car.
BMW’S own idrive infotainment system can be controlled via the swivel wheel on the centre console, while certain functions such as changing the stereo volume and answering phone calls can be operated via gesture control.
“We also have a lot of new innovations to help in daily business life,” Hacker added.
Many of these new features will appear for the first time in the new 5 Series as part of BMW’S Connecteddrive. The most significant is a new Parking Assistant function that finds empty parking spots, while a new Remote Parking system is able to park the car automatically without anyone behind the wheel. Elsewhere inside, BMW has added a Wifi hotspot for up to 10 devices, more spacious storage areas and inductive phone charging.
To boost refinement on the move, sound absorbers have been integrated into the headliner, while acoustic glass has also been fitted on all models.
“A new Parking Assistant can find empty spots, and a Remote Parking system will park the car automatically”