BMW Australia will roll-out most of the stunning new 5-Series sedan range in June, however the $83,300 entry-level 520d is not scheduled until September.
As usual for BMW, the new, sixth-generation model boasts a staggering array of technical and luxury feature inclusions that surpass even the excellent current-generation 5-Series. Principle amongst the technical upgrades is the standard eight-speed automatic transmission.
Prices are up, but BMW says the extra technology and standard features mean the all-new 5-Series is actually better value than its predecessor. “In keeping with our objective to consistently increase value for our customers, BMW Group Australia has been able to maintain the price of the new models that are comparable to the previous generation on a specification adjusted comparison and more than competitive with out major rivals,” explained BMW Group Australia’s Managing Director, Stavros Yallouridis.
Styling presents the trademark 5-Series, athletic/sporty look with the wide kidney grille and chiseled bonnet. In fact the bonnet is now ‘active’ to provide enhanced pedestrian safety.
Proportions are also typically BMW with the long front end and broad, muscular rear. 520d rides on 17-inch alloy wheels, 528i and 535i get 18-inch alloys while the range-topping twin-turbo V8 550i gets 19-inch wheels.
Inside is the usual BMW luxury with more space than the outgoing models. A head-up display is now standard across the range.
Even the owner’s manual has gone electronic and is now accessible via the I-Drive system.
Petrol models gain B-Xenon headlights (adaptive on 535i and 550i).
Other technical highlights include Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go, BMW NightVision, Parking Assistant and Surround View. Parking Assistant chooses an appropriate parking space and then automatically steers the car into position, while Surround View provides a number of digital cameras to display a bird’s eye view on the 7.0-inch or 10.2-inch dashboard screen.
Fuel consumption is down and performance is up across the range.
The 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-diesel-powered 520d now provides 135kW/380Nm with consumption down to 5.2l/100kms.
For the naturally-aspirated 3.0-litre straight-six petrol 528i (replacing the 530i), you can score 190kW/310Nm and consumption of 8.0l/100kms.
BMW’s latest 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight six petrol engine - which debuted in the 535i Gran Turismo - comes across to the new 5-Series sedan with 225kW/400Nm and consumption of 8.4l/100kms.
And the range-topping 550i with its 4.4-litre twin-turbo petrol V8 is good for 300kW/600Nm and consumption of 10.4l/100kms.
