The New BMW 5 Series | BMW

BMW 5 Series | The New BMW 5 Series

Equipped with the Latest Features and Enhanced Environmental Performance

BMW has unveiled the 2014 models of its core 5 Series sedan, touring, and Gran Turismo. The exterior and interior have been refined, along with improvements to environmental performance.

Text by HORIGUCHI Yoshihiro (OPENERS)

Compliant with EU6 Standards

The 5 Series, which debuted in 2010 and is the sixth generation since its first release in 1972, has undergone a minor model change. In addition to exterior and interior refinements, environmental performance has been enhanced, and it now complies ahead of schedule with the European environmental regulation 'EU6,' which must be met by September 2014.

The exterior features a new design for the front lower intake, and all models come standard with xenon headlights, with adaptive LED headlights available as an option. Furthermore, aerodynamic performance has been pursued, reducing the Cd value to 0.25 for the 520d sedan.

True to BMW's EfficientDynamics philosophy, the car comes standard with a brake energy recovery system, auto start/stop function, and the 'Eco Pro' driving mode to support ecological driving. Additionally, a 'coasting' mode for gliding, 'Proactive Driving Assistant' that adapts to road conditions, and an 'Eco Pro Route' function that guides the driver along more efficient routes in conjunction with the optional navigation system have been added.

In terms of safety, in addition to the existing High Beam Assistant, BMW Night Vision for detecting people and animals, and 'Dynamic Light Spot' to illuminate them in the dark, a traffic jam assistant function that automatically follows road contours to keep the car in its lane is available as 'Driving Assistant Plus,' along with Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function and a collision warning system with automatic braking. This system utilizes the latest camera and radar technology. A fully automatic parking assistant, which controls not only steering but also acceleration and braking, is also introduced.

Available with Four Gasoline and Six Diesel Engines

The top-of-the-line 5 Series model after the minor change is the '550i,' equipped with a 4.4-liter V8 twin-power turbo engine. Featuring twin-scroll turbochargers, high-precision direct injection, and Valvetronic fully variable valve control, it boasts a 10 percent increase in output compared to the previous model, with a maximum output of 330 kW (450 hp) and peak torque of 650 Nm.

The transmission is an 8-speed automatic. The '550i Sedan' equipped with this engine achieves 0-100 km/h acceleration in 4.6 seconds, while fuel consumption is 8.6-8.8 liters/100 km and CO2 emissions are 199-206 g/km.

In terms of gasoline engines, there are also the inline 6-cylinder engine producing a maximum output of 225 kW (306 hp) for the '535i,' and inline 4-cylinder engines with varying outputs for the '528i' and '520i.' In Germany, the standard transmission for these engines is a 6-speed manual, with an 8-speed automatic available as an option.

The diesel engine lineup has been expanded, with the '518d' featuring a 2-liter inline 4-cylinder twin-power turbo diesel engine producing a maximum output of 105 kW (143 hp) and peak torque of 360 Nm, available for both sedan and touring models. While achieving 0-100 km/h acceleration in 9.6 seconds, fuel consumption is 4.5-4.9 liters/100 km and CO2 emissions are 119-129 g. Additionally, the 520d producing 135 kW (184 hp) and the '525d' producing 160 kW (218 hp) are also available as 2-liter 4-cylinder models. The '530d' and '535d' are equipped with inline 6-cylinder diesel engines producing 190 kW (258 hp) and 230 kW (313 hp) respectively.

The 'M550d xDrive,' belonging to the 'M Performance' series from BMW M, is also continued. This model is equipped with a 3-liter inline 6-cylinder diesel engine and a triple turbocharger, boasting a maximum output of 280 kW (381 hp) and peak torque of 740 Nm. 0-100 km/h acceleration for the sedan is 4.7 seconds, with a top speed of 250 km/h. Environmental performance is also high, with fuel consumption at 6.2 liters/100 km and CO2 emissions at 162 g/km.

The intelligent energy management of the 'ActiveHybrid 5,' which combines an inline 6-cylinder gasoline engine with an electric motor, has been improved. Proactive Driving Assistance has been further developed to analyze the upcoming road conditions in conjunction with the navigation system, pre-emptively determining the optimal use of the engine and motor.

A new feature is the availability of the xDrive all-wheel-drive system for the 520d sedan and touring models.

As with the 3 Series, the lineup now offers 'Luxury Line' and 'Modern Line' options in addition to the standard configuration for all models. Both lines feature LED fog lights, 18-inch light alloy wheels (19-inch for the 5 Gran Turismo), high-gloss black finish for the B-pillar and side mirrors, door illumination, and illuminated door sills. Additionally, 'Luxury' or 'Modern' badges are affixed to the front sides, similar to the 3 Series.

New body colors have also been added: 'Callisto Grey Metallic,' 'Jatoba Metallic,' 'Mineral White Metallic,' and 'Glacier Silver Metallic.'

The infotainment system has also been updated, with options for a tablet-style rear-seat entertainment system, Harman Kardon audio, and ambient lighting that can change from orange to white. Furthermore, through BMW ConnectedDrive, services such as concierge services for hotel reservations, SMS sending and receiving, and even internet-based music streaming services are provided. The iDrive controller has also been redesigned, replacing the mouse-like operation with a touchpad interface where users can trace their finger on the button surface.