The new BMW 5 Series continues the finest tradition of its forebears by offering an unsurpassed blend of driving dynamics, comfort and functionality. This seventh-generation model uses the very latest technology from within BMW to create a saloon that’s more refined than ever before, significantly lighter, safer, and more fuel-efficient. Engines sourced from the new generation family of TwinPower Turbo units provide impressive performance gains, but also show major advances in reducing fuel consumption and emissions. An extensive suite of driver assistance technologies means that not only does the new BMW 5 Series Saloon reduce the driver’s workload like never before; it also takes a notable step towards fully autonomous driving. With the new BMW 5 Series Saloon, every single facet of the large business saloon has been examined and developed to create the ultimate vehicle of its type.
Exterior Design
The formal and precise design combines presence, aesthetic appeal and functionality in equal measure. The exterior dimensions of the BMW 5 Series Saloon are only slightly larger than those of its predecessor. The new car is 36mm longer than the outgoing model (at 4,935mm), six millimetres wider (1,868mm) and two mm taller (1,466mm). Its wheelbase measures 2,975mm, an increase of 7mm.
At the front, twin circular headlights that now have glass headlight covers connect seamlessly with the familiar BMW kidney grille. LED headlights are standard, while the Adaptive LED Headlights alter the light graphic and can be specified as an option with BMW Selective Beam anti-dazzle high beam with a range of up to 500 metres. From the side, the passenger cell is obviously set back when viewed in relation to the long wheelbase and leads the eye over a flowing roofline to the rear end, while a short front overhang underscores the car’s sporting appearance. The rear lights reach deep into the sides of the car, creating a visual connection between its flanks and rear end. The exhaust tailpipes, which are now arranged symmetrically on both sides on all model variants, are circular or trapezoidal depending on the engine and trim level specified.
Interior
The interior of the new BMW 5 Series Saloon strikes a fine balance between sporty driver focus and sophisticated elegance. Top-class materials, supreme build quality and attention to detail, a great feeling of spaciousness and new technologies in abundance combine to offer both driver and passengers superb comfort and driving enjoyment.
The new BMW 5 Series offers noticeably more headroom than previously in the rear, despite the flowing roofline, as well as an increased boot capacity of 530 litres. The boot sill has been lowered compared to its predecessor, which combines with the larger boot opening and the substantial increase in width to ensure that even bulky items can be loaded more easily than ever before. The new car feels much roomier inside, something that can be attributed not just to the lowered instrument panel and freestanding display, but also to the cabin’s enlarged dimensions, particularly in terms of elbow and shoulder room. Passengers in the rear now have more space to spread out, thanks to the increased knee room and extended legroom, while the optimised design of the door cut-outs makes getting in easier. Particular attention has been paid to reducing interior noise levels.
Even the standard front seats offer excellent safety and comfort together with a wide choice of materials, plus special decorative stitching for M Sport Dakota leather upholsteries and optional Nappa leather upholsteries. The optional sports seats, standard on M Sport models, feature adjustable side bolsters for optimum lateral support. In addition, the optional BMW Comfort seats can be specified with a massage function, offering eight different massage programmes, each with a choice of three intensity modes.
BMW Gesture Control for key functions was premiered last year in the BMW 7 Series, and the new 5 Series Saloon now features the latest version of this system (BMW Gesture Control is optional). Professional Navigation, RTTI, telephone, entertainment features and vehicle functions can be visualised on the standard high-resolution 10.25-inch screen and controlled not just in the usual manner using the iDrive Controller, but also by means of gestures, voice commands or simply touching the buttons on the touch-sensitive display. One of the new button functions is a message centre, where all incoming SMS messages, emails and information about the car’s operating state can be found. Meanwhile, the latest generation of the BMW Head-Up Display has a resolution of 800 x 400 pixels, and the projection area is around 70 per cent larger than in the outgoing model.
Powertrain
All members of the newly developed, modular BMW EfficientDynamics engine family feature an extremely lightweight, thermodynamically optimised all-aluminium construction. Thanks to their unrivalled BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, they meld maximum power with exemplary efficiency, and all comply with the EU6 emission standard.
The petrol units employ TwinScroll turbocharging, High Precision Injection, Double-VANOS variable camshaft control and Valvetronic fully variable valve timing. The diesel models, meanwhile, feature a turbocharger with variable turbine geometry and latest-generation common-rail direct injection, which generates injection pressure of up to 2,500 bar. The diesel exhaust systems operate using BMW BluePerformance technology, which combines close-coupled particulate filters and oxidation catalysts with a NOx storage catalyst. Exhaust gas after treatment in all diesel models is performed with the aid of SCR technology, including a water-cooled metering module for the AdBlue fluid, which serves to cut nitrogen oxide emissions still further. AdBlue can now also be replenished from special pumps at filling stations, allowing the reservoir to be topped up more quickly and conveniently.
The volume engines available at launch can be specified with BMW’s xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive system (20d, 30d, 40i). Besides the familiar handling benefits of all-wheel drive in adverse weather conditions, xDrive also enhances the agility of the driving experience. The transfer case in the new BMW 5 Series Saloon also works more efficiently, helping to keep fuel consumption to a minimum. For the first time, BMW xDrive can be combined with Integral Active Steering as well as lowered sports suspension.A new, two-litre, four-cylinder in-line engine in the BMW 530i supersedes the petrol unit previously fitted in the BMW 528i. This turbocharged, direct-injection engine produces 252hp (up 7hp on its predecessor) and enables the BMW 530i to sprint from zero to 62mph in 6.2 seconds. However, the most powerful petrol option at launch is the new BMW 540i xDrive, which produces 340hp. This three-litre straight-six generates an impressive 450Nm of torque (+50 Nm), yet despite this performance, average consumption is 39.2mpg with CO2 emissions of 164g/km* – a reduction of eleven per cent over the outgoing model. The all-wheel-drive BMW 540i xDrive sets a new class-beating time of 4.8 seconds for the sprint from zero to 62mph.
The four-cylinder diesel engine powering the BMW 520d has an output of 190hp at 4,000rpm and unleashes its maximum torque of 400Nm. Gearshifts are made with the eight-speed Steptronic. Fuel consumption with the eight-speed Steptronic comes in at 68.8mpg, resulting in CO2 emissions of 108g/km. Finally, for now, at least, the most potent diesel is the 155mph BMW 530d, producing 265hp and 620Nm. Along with these impressive performance figures, the BMW 530d achieves 60.1mpg, equating to CO2 emissions of 124g/km.
Automatic transmission with gearshift paddles features as standard on 520d and 520d xDrive models with the automatic gearbox boasting exceptional shift comfort, sporty, dynamic gear changes and supreme efficiency. The BMW Sports automatic transmission features as standard on all other models with even more dynamic shift characteristics.
Shortly after the new 5 Series Saloon is launched, BMW will add a further two engines to the line-up. Under the bonnet of the BMW 520d SE EfficientDynamics model lies the most efficient incarnation of the 190hp four-cylinder diesel unit, which helps the saloon to achieve a fuel consumption of 72.4mpg, meaning CO2 emissions of 102g/km.
Moreover, a plug-in hybrid version of the BMW 5 Series Saloon will also be launched in March in the form of the BMW 530e iPerformance model. The BMW eDrive system and a four-cylinder petrol engine work in perfect unison to achieve ultra-low CO2 emissions of just 49g/km*, while generating an overall output of 252hp. Fuel consumption is a remarkable 134.5mpg. The BMW 530e iPerformance can reach a top speed of 87mph in all-electric mode and has an electric range of up to 28 miles.
Driver Assistance Systems
With its unusually extensive range of driver assistance systems, the new BMW 5 Series Saloon supports the driver both when performing routine tasks and in complicated or difficult driving situations. They improve driving comfort and safety and take the new BMW 5 Series Saloon a big step forward on the road to automated driving.
Dynamic Cruise Control (DCC), which is standard, maintains any selected speed between 19 155mph. It also supports energy-saving coasting by decoupling the engine from the powertrain when the driver lifts off the accelerator at higher speeds. Meanwhile, the functionality of the optional Active Cruise Control (ACC), which uses radar to adjust the pre-selected speed to the traffic situation, has been extended yet further. Working alongside this, the optional Speed Limit Info system shows speed restrictions on the current route segment in the display. Speed Limit Assist can also take into account speed restrictions further along the driver’s route, encouraging a more proactive driving style. And when vehicles that are part of the inter-connected BMW fleet detect a hazard, the information is immediately relayed to BMW and incorporated in the form of a hazard preview into the navigation system and screen of vehicles in the immediate vicinity.
The optional Driving Assistant Plus safety package includes the Lane Keeping Assistant, the Lane Departure Warning System and the Lane Change Warning. Moreover, Side Collision Warning warns drivers by means of a visual signal or steering wheel vibration if another vehicle is encroaching from the side. The Lane Change Assistant offers comfort-enhancing steering assistance when changing lanes on motorways or dual carriageways.
Another new function contained in the Driving Assist Plus package is the evasion aid. If a swift lane change is required because an obstacle has suddenly appeared in the driver’s path, the evasion aid – which operates at speeds up to 99mph – supports the necessary evasive steering action. A further system that provides an early foretaste of automated driving is the Steering and lane control assistant. This system already features a high level of automation. It operates in the speed range from zero to130mph and uses smooth, comfort-enhancing steering interventions to keep the vehicle in its current lane, reducing driving stress particularly in congested traffic. The system’s hands-on-wheel detection is very sensitive and can identify hand contact even when only a few fingers are in contact with the wheel. Drivers can now take their hands off the wheel much more often than in the past.
The priority warning system provides visual and audible warnings if the driver has failed to notice that vehicles in another road have priority. The brake system is also primed so that the braking distance can be reduced to a minimum. Both priority warning and wrong-way warning operate in conjunction with the standard Professional Navigation system. The wrong-way warning detects if the driver is driving the wrong way onto a motorway or onto a roundabout, or is heading the wrong way down a one-way street. Similarly, a crossing traffic warning uses radar sensors to check for approaching traffic at junctions with poor or impeded visibility or when backing out of a perpendicular parking space.
BMW Connected Drive
The new BMW 5 Series Saloon sets new standards for connectivity between the driver, vehicle and outside world: to this end, the already extensive portfolio of BMW ConnectedDrive Services has been expanded to include new products that are designed to bring added comfort and time savings – for business travellers in particular. Things include Remote Control Parking, Wifi hotspot, a 3D professional navigation system and connectivity with smartphone and smartwatches.
The BMW 5 Series Saloon is on sale now with prices starting from £36,025 OTR.
