It avoids obstacles, holds its lane, brakes and accelerates on its own. And, if needed, parks itself with a remote control. The BMW 5 Series has never been this efficient, and from March it will also be available as a plug-in hybrid.
And to think that at first glance the new BMW 5 Series doesn't seem all that revolutionary. The proportions are those of the previous generation (it's almost 5 metres long) and the design team, in defining the car's look, worked with continuity in mind rather than dazzling with a new aesthetic language.
The result is nonetheless convincing: the appearance is more muscular and sleek. Moreover, thanks to air vents on the front flanks and an active grille in the front fascia, airflow around the bodywork is improved: with a drag coefficient (Cd) of 0.22, the German saloon achieves the best figure in its class. In addition, thanks to a new "skeleton" making greater use of aluminium and special steels, up to 100 kg has been saved on the scales. Which on the road translates into greater efficiency: lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
Quality of life on board a car is a topic that comes up time and again, and in the BMW 5 Series it reaches the highest levels. Premium materials offer a pleasant feel to the touch, ambient lighting creates the right atmosphere, and air ionisation combined with the fragrance diffuser available with the four-zone climate control system purifies the cabin. Not to mention that for "first class" journeys there is no shortage of accessories such as a 1,400 W Bower & Wilkins audio system and soft leather seats with a massage function.
What stands out on the new BMW 5 Series, however, is the new multimedia system interface, which simplifies life on board: the main functions of the car can now be managed via the touch screen (up to 10.25 inches), voice commands or gesture controls. Thanks to a camera positioned in the area above the gear lever, a simple hand movement can, for example, adjust the volume, change radio station, or answer or reject a phone call. The new head-up display, which projects key information onto the windscreen, is more comprehensive (it includes sat-nav directions, road signs and the phone book) and allows the driver to keep their eyes on the road at all times. The ever-present smartphone can now also be charged wirelessly, and thanks to the Wi-Fi hotspot, up to 10 devices can be connected simultaneously in the car.
It is once you're on the road, however, that all the new features of the new BMW 5 Series are most appreciated. Thanks to the integration of several systems — including adaptive cruise control (which slows the car to maintain a safe following distance) and active steering (which automatically corrects the trajectory to keep the car in its lane) — the German saloon can travel on its own at up to 210 km/h, accelerating and braking automatically even in traffic: it "locks onto" the car ahead and follows the flow. Moreover, in the event of an emergency manoeuvre, the car recognises a hazardous situation and helps the driver avoid obstacles by stabilising the chassis response.
But there's more: once you've reached your destination, remote parking is possible if the space for getting out of the car is the kind that requires a contortionist. Simply hold the BMW 5 Series key — a genuine mini-PC complete with a touch screen that also allows you to start and stop the engine — and have it manoeuvre automatically (the car moves a few metres forwards or backwards). And if that weren't enough, thanks to integration with ParkNow, it will very soon also be possible to book and pay for parking spaces directly via the car's sat nav, and to find out where spaces are available. Not bad at all…
The new BMW 5 Series is an "intelligent" car that nonetheless makes no compromises when it comes to driving. On faster stretches you enjoy the excellent cabin insulation, through corners you appreciate the precise handling thanks to the responsive and fairly direct steering, and the multi-link suspension always ensures optimum tyre-to-road contact. The eight-speed automatic gearbox (standard on all versions except the 520d) is quick and smooth in its shifts, while the all-wheel drive (available on all versions) inspires confidence even on the most slippery surfaces.
At the time of its commercial launch, the new BMW 5 Series is on sale in four versions: the petrol 530i and 540i, with 252 hp and 340 hp respectively, and the turbodiesel 520d with 190 hp and the 530d with the 3.0 six-cylinder engine offered in two power outputs: 265 or 249 hp (exempt from the luxury car surcharge). The most interesting 5 Series models will arrive in March, however: these are the 520d EfficientDynamics Edition and the plug-in hybrid 530e iPerformance.
As the name suggests, the former benefits from a series of measures to further reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, such as low rolling resistance tyres, aerodynamic modifications and an 8-speed automatic gearbox with a "coasting" function: when you lift your foot off the accelerator, the engine decouples and the car continues under its own momentum. The result is an average fuel consumption of 25.6 km/l and CO2 emissions of 102 g/km, compared with 24.4 km/l and 108 g/km for the "standard" 520d. Following the BMW i3 electric, the BMW 530e iPerformance pairs a 2.0 four-cylinder direct-injection turbocharged petrol engine with a 70 kW electric unit and a 9.2 kWh lithium battery that can be recharged by plugging the car into a power socket. According to BMW, it allows the large 5 Series to cover up to 46 kilometres in electric mode, with a top speed of 140 km/h. The average fuel consumption declared at type approval is 50 km/l, while CO2 emissions stand at 46 g/km.