BMW recently unveiled their brand-new line-up of the 5 Series. It is an 8th generation of the sedan and also the BMW model that has had more iterations than any others over its 51-year history. The new 5 series includes the first ever i5, the completely electric derivative of the line-up.
Extensive testing and development went into creating the new 5 Series. It took one year of testing and thousands of kilometres to build this niche vehicle.
The intention behind the BMW 5 Series is to combine the best of two worlds. It has the best of functionality you would find in the 7 Series combined with the sportiness of the 3 Series. It is the ‘marriage of true minds’ and impediments are quite difficult to find.
Tech
The 5 Series launched with several ‘statement pieces’ according to BMW. This makes it the tech fundi of the brand. Sometimes when there is so much tech in one vehicle it makes it difficult to operate or sometimes even use some of the tech – it almost makes the operation cluttered. What I enjoyed about the 5 Series is that it has everything you could imagine and is still user friendly.
It makes use of the 8.5 BMW operating system. All main functions are displayed on the screen in a menu similar to what you have on your smartphone.
The camera in the vehicle has an eight-megapixel camera which allows it to sense 3m ahead. This allows drivers to respond faster and, consequently, better to hazards. It also means less evasive manoeuvring is required as well.
The new 5 Series also has augmented reality where the car can move lanes without physical driver assistnce with a few movements of your body. Motorists can lift their hands slightly above the steering wheel and foot off the accelerator then look towards their blind spot and, if safe to do so, the car will move over. We gave it a few attempts, but it never quite worked. Another driver did succeed but also had to give it a few tries before it worked.
The reaction to this piece of technology was a mixture of awe and doubt. The question was raised about what would happen if you glanced back at your children and your car starts to change lanes. BMW is confident that will not happen. It is true that the technology is not as easily activated as initially thought.
The drive
The entry level of the 5 Series while the second derivative is the i5 M60. The i5 M65 will arrive a few months after the first two derivatives. The new 5 Series also introduces the first i5 ever. The 520d has mild hybrid technology.
BMW says the M Sport beats the standard in terms of power. It has 442 kW of power while the torque is set at 820 Nm. Added to this is a ‘boost’ button which when pressed allows you to access the full torque offered by the vehicle. To say this was impressive and exciting to use is an entertainment. If you pass a truck, don’t blink you will not see the truck.
The i5 reaches a top speed of 230km/h while its 0 – 100 sprint is just 3.8 seconds.
There are 5 elements incorporated into the design of the 5 Series to make it as aerodynamic as possible. This results in a drag efficient of Cw 0.23. It not only makes the sedan look appealing but allows for better performance.
It also has an efficiency trainer that guides you to drive in a manner that gets the best range from your vehicle. Indicators alongside the speedo indicate when you are driving the most efficiently.
The 520d has start/stop technology that BMW says should be impossible to feel. I was, however, aware of it but to their credit it is the least noticeable I have felt in a BMW thus far.
The interior
The seats themselves are even laden with tech. this includes heated seats (and steering wheel) which we did not use with the exterior temperature between 35 and 37 degrees Celsius. Where they really showed off was when you change into sport it moulds and tightens into ‘semi’-bucket seats. If someone was there to catch the expression on our faces, BMW could definitely use it as an advert.
The exterior
The 5 Series is well-proportioned and creates a compelling ground effect with its black diffusers, sills and other elements. It creates a low-slung effect
The i5 gets the M exterior design. The main difference is in the grille. it features the iconic kidney grille which is becoming a statement piece for BMW vehicles. It also features 21-inch wheels in the i5 M60 but these can be spec’d down. The i5 also features the flat-bottomed steering wheel in the interior.
The 5 Series presents an imposing stance on the road that attracts admiring glances wherever you go. The sedan is 5m long, but you never feel the size of the imposing stance.
The 5 Series will arrive in the second quarter with the M65 arriving approximately two months after. It is a sedan traditionally catering to the executive, but its design is intended to make for a great all-round vehicle.
The only thing I can’t quite convince myself of is the price, particularly of the i5. Over 2 million for a sedan whose range I felt could have been better particularly in a country with need for many more charging stations. As an all-round vehicle I see this being problematic.
Prices
- BMW 520d – R1 247 893,60
- BMW i5 40 – R 1 842 500 (incl wall box and installation)
- BMW i5 M60 – R2 190 000 (incl wall box and installation)
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