Posts Tagged ‘2011 BMW 5-Series’

The more I dig into the details on the new 2011 BMW 5-Series, the more I love this car. It’s richer, greener, faster, larger, and loaded to the brim with the kind of engineering that’s so impressive, you’ll swear that the people who built it do calculus for fun.

Fortunately, you don’t have to be an engineer to appreciate all the improvements. Take a 5-Series out for a spin and you’ll soon discover that the final result of all those computations is a beautiful, luxurious car that is incredibly fun to drive.

There’s no shortage of technology on this new BMW. The 5-Series now offers 4-wheel steering, automated parking, adaptive cruise control that can bring the car to a full stop in heavy traffic, night vision, head-up display, and headlights that swivel in the direction you’re traveling.

Driving enthusiasts might also appreciate the various software bits that can tweak the engine, transmission, and suspension at the touch of a button.

The impressive hardware and software is backed up by the car’s athletic exterior. BMW’s lead designer, Adrian Van Hooydonk wanted a more coupe-like roofline and powerful stance, so he moved the cabin aft and shaped the windows just so. The end result looks planted and purposeful, ready to take on any road at any time.

Van Hooydonk’s design has classic proportions and modern details. The car is striking in person, with elegant lines that flow across the sheetmetal and catch light dramatically. The hood is especially beautiful, with two graceful arcs that radiate from the blue and white BMW badge like the wake left behind a yacht.

Inside, the sporty message is reinforced by a cockpit that’s angled seven degrees toward the driver… a reminder that this is a driver’s car. Not that your passengers will mind, though, because the new 5-Series offers dual-zone climate control in front and back, rear seat displays for movies or internet browsing, and a half inch more legroom than its predecessor. Up front, the display for the iDrive system has grown to a generous 10.2-inches and now features a special foil coating that actually enhances the image in sunlight instead of washing it out.

The new 5-Series sedan comes to market with three models.  The base 528i sedan features a 240-horsepower 6-cylinder engine and starts at $44,550.  Stepping up to the $49,600 535i sedan adds a turbocharged engine with 300-horsepower.  The gadzooks fast 550i sedan storms the road and your wallet with a twin-turbo 400-horsepower V8 engine and a $59,700 price tag.

Though a wagon version of the 5-Series is no longer available in the United States, BMW does offer an interesting Gran Turismo model (535i and 550i versions only) that adds utility through a clever cargo door that can be raised high like a hatchback or low like a sedan’s trunk. The 5-Series Gran Turismo is longer and taller than the sedan and offers greater interior space and a more relaxed ride.

For now, BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive system is available only on the Gran Turismo model. It will be added to the sedans before the end of the year, though. A gasoline-electric hybrid is expected to join the lineup for 2012, as well.

Even without the hybrid, BMW engineers have made impressive gains with fuel efficiency. In addition to tidier engines, they’ve added high-tech goodies like alternators that cycle off when they are not needed and motorized flaps behind the grille that open and close to improve aerodynamics. A new 8-speed automatic transmission allows the vehicle to cruise at lower engine speeds.

The resulting fuel economy numbers are staggering. The 528i with automatic transmission achieves 22 MPG in the city and 32 MPG on the highway. That’s identical to what a 2011 Toyota Camry achieves with a far less powerful 4-cylinder engine.  The fuel economy numbers for the 535i (20 MPG city / 29 highway) and 550i (17 MPG city / 25 MPG highway) are equally impressive considering their extra power.

Consider these numbers: despite being outsold by the sporty 3-Series family, the 5-Series accounts for 50% of BMW’s profits and is arguably the company’s most important vehicle. Credit those pricey option packages and upgraded engines which customers purchase as a way to get high-end 7-Series luxury in a leaner and more athletic package.

On top of the internal pressure, competition in the midsize luxury segment is fierce and the 5-Series faces a serious challenge from the recently-launched Infiniti M sedan and charming Jaguar XF.

As of right now, though, I’d say the numbers don’t lie.