Finally, after dozens of spy photos and months of rumors, BMW has taken the wraps off the seventh-generation 5 Series sedan. The new G30 5 Series is clearly a design evolved from its F10 predecessor, with an unmistakable family resemblance to the latest Seven.
This video provides a pretty good look at what we can expect from the new BMW 5 Series:
In addition to a fresher look, the new 5 will have more powerful and more efficient engines, more and better connectivity, a new operating system, and a healthy assortment of standard and optional driver assistance systems.
The latest 5 Series follows in the tread patterns of six previous generations that have sold, in total, 7,600,000 cars and established the model as a bedrock of BMW performance, comfort, and reputation.
“The seventh generation of the BMW 5 Series points the way into the future, as we have defined it with our Number One > Next strategy. We see technological leadership, emotionally rich products, and digitalization as essential factors in achieving success,” said Harald Krüger, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG. He continued, “With the expansion of our model portfolio in the large-vehicle classes, we are satisfying the wishes of many customers. I’m in no doubt that the new BMW 5 Series will set new benchmarks technologically, but also have huge emotional appeal. It remains the epitome of the business sedan,”
To sum up the new 5 Series, we would have to say it’s more: more aerodynamic, more connected, more efficient, more comfortable. The one thing it does not have more of is weight. The new G30 5 Series Sedan is 224 pounds lighter than its F10 predecessor.
Light and aerodynamic.
Surprisingly, the G30 did not get lighter by using more carbon fiber. Instead, BMW made more components out of aluminum and high-tensile steel. It’s called BMW EfficientLightweight. There they go again with the no space between words.
What you still get with the BMW 5 Series is an even front-to-rear weight distribution, high torsional stiffness, and an extremely low coefficient of drag. The new 5 has a Cd of 22, which is quite remarkable when you know that the BMW i8’s Cd is 26.
Doing some of the driving for you.
Much has been said about BMW’s commitment to making an autonomous car five years from now. How it will get there is by building semi-autonomous functions into new models once the technology supports what we hope are error-free self-driving functions.
The new 5 intends to help its drivers by providing semi-autonomous assistance with evasion aid, crossing traffic warning, lane change assistant, and lane keeping assistant with active side collision protection. To make all these features work, the car comes with a standard stereo camera that coordinates with (optional) radar and ultrasound sensors to keep track of what’s going on around the car. Some of the assistance features not only monitor what’s going on but also help out with the controls. For example, the lane change assistant with active side collision protection watches lane markings and the areas around the car and applies corrective steering input if needed.
The optional Active Cruise Control (ACC) system and steering and lane keeping assistant keeps track of the speed limit (the driver can bump it up or down), and at speeds up to 130 miles per hour take care of acceleration, braking, and steering—whatever the driver desires. We hope the system also keeps track of what the driver is doing, because 130 mph is not a good speed for checking e-mail.
Usability and comfort.
The latest iDrive system displays navigation, entertainment, telephone, and vehicle functions on a high-resolution 10.25-inch screen. Users can make inputs with the iDrive controller, by voice command, by gesture control for some functions, or by touching the display controls directly on the screen. The full-color BMW Head-Up Display projects an image area that is 70 percent larger than previous models and may contain traffic signs, navigation instructions, telephone listings, radio stations, music tracks, and warnings from the assistance systems.
Rear seat passengers get more legroom. Comfort seats can be had with massaging functions, and the four-zone climate control can ionize the air to make it cleaner and spray fragrances to make it smell better. We’re not sure if “new BMW smell” is one of the fragrance choices.
While LED headlights are standard on the G30 5 Series in other parts of the world, the standard headlights in North America will be the Adaptive LED Headlights. These will have variable light distribution including adaptive roundabout lights and BMW Selective Beam anti-dazzle high beam with a range of up to 500 meters. It appears that for the time being, BMW Laserlight will be available only on the 7 Series and i8.
Connectivity—you knew there would be more.
Finding and paying for parking is critical, especially for urban workers and residents. Through BMW ConnectedDrive, users can access new ParkNow technology for digital parking space reservation and payment, the On-Street Parking Information intelligent parking space search function, and the optional Parking Assistant, which detects empty spots and parks the vehicle automatically. Using the optional Remote Parking system introduced last year on the 7 Series, the new the 5 Series Sedan may be maneuvered into tight perpendicular parking spaces or garages remotely using the display key.
Microsoft Exchange service will let Microsoft Office 365 users sync emails, calendar entries, and contacts and edit them in the car. Apple CarPlay is integrated in the new 5 Series and is wireless—a first in the industry. Also wireless is phone charging and a Wi-fi hotspot for up to ten devices.
Integration with smartphone.
The new 5 Series comes with an enhanced version of BMW Connected, BMW’s personal digital mobility assistant. BMW Connected Onboard gives drivers a picture of their mobility-related information. Upcoming navigation destinations and estimated arrival time are transferred from the driver’s smartphone to the car for viewing on the central display screen. When away from their car, drivers may use Remote 3D View on their smartphone to always know what’s going on around their vehicles.
The new 5 Series comes with new engines.
All of the new 5 Series engines belong to the new modular BMW EfficientDynamics engine family, and they all use BMW TwinPower Turbo technology. Two gasoline engines and two diesel engines will be available at launch, but that doesn't mean the U.S. market will get them. In the past, the U.S. only got the larger diesel. The Volkswagen cheating scandal probably nudged BMW away from offering the diesel 7 Series in the U.S. We hope it doesn't scare it from sending us a diesel 5. The press release from BMW of North America on the new 5 Series did not mention any diesel offerings, and that makes us nervous.
All of the engines will be available in rear-wheel drive and xDrive models.
The BMW 530i will be powered by a new two-liter inline four-cylinder that produces 252 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Expected fuel consumption using the European Union test cycle is 44 miles per gallon. We expect the U.S. EPA fuel consumption estimate will be lower than that, but still better than the new 5’s predecessor. What is certain is that the CO2 emissions of the new G30 are 11 percent lower than the corresponding F10 model.
The BMW 530i has an electronically limited top speed of 155 miles per hour, and can move from zero to 62 miles per hour in 6.2 seconds.
The new BMW 540i is considered the flagship of the series and will feature a 340-horsepower inline three-liter six that produces 332 pound-feet of torque. The additional power and torque will get the 540i from zero to 62 in 4.8 seconds.
The four-cylinder diesel that propels the 520d has 190 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. That engine will give the car much better fuel mileage, can be ordered with either a manual or eight-speed automatic transmission, and does zero to 62 in 7.6 seconds. We’re guessing the U.S. will not get this model.
If we do get a diesel—and that's a big if at this point—it would probably be the new 530d, the engine in which is a three-liter inline six with output of 265 horsepower and a hefty 457 pound-feet of torque. Zero to 62 in this model is 5.7 seconds and the limited top speed is 155 miles per hour.
A new member of the family.
As promised, BMW will finally electrify the 5 Series. Expected in March 2017 is the BMW 530e iPerformance, a plug-in hybrid that mates a four-cylinder gasoline engine with a battery-powered electric motor to produce a total of 252 horsepower and only 46 grams per kilometer of CO2 emissions.
Also coming in March is the car that will have to satisfy our need for speed until the next M5 comes along. The M550i xDrive will have a 4.4-liter V8 coupled to an eight-speed Steptronic transmission. A very robust 462 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque will push this all-wheel-drive beast from zero to 62 miles per hour in 4 seconds. That is very close to real M-car territory.
So there it is. If you like the styling of the new 7 Series, you should be happy with the new 5 Series. If you think the last good-looking 5 Series was the E39, then maybe not. The new 5 will be comfortable—luxurious even with the right options. As far as the gadgetry and electronics is concerned, this is a BMW and that means it will offer more and better connectivity than before, and more semi-autonomous driver assistance systems. (We didn’t think much of driver assistance until we drove a BMW with Active Cruise Control. It’s pretty handy.)
The official launch of the new 5 Series is anticipated for January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Production will probably start next month. The 530i, 540i, 520d, and 530d are expected to be available in February 2017, with the 530e iPerformance and M550i coming in March.—Scott Blazey
[Photos and video courtesy of BMW AG.]
