BMW reveals all-new 5 Series

BMW has revealed the all-new 5 Series. The 2017 BMW 5 Series has been entirely newly developed allowing for a significant weight loss of up to 62kg with the use of magnesium, aluminum and high-strength steel. Here’s the news from BMW: Thanks to the available state of the art chassis systems including Integral Active Steering now combinable with xDrive (BMW’s intelligent all-wheel drive system), Driver and Parking Assistance Systems and Adaptive Mode including Dynamic Damper Control, the all-new BMW 5 Series once more defines the athletic and executive design of a true sport sedan. Featuring a new user interface (iDrive 6.0), Gesture Control, the latest generation of Head-Up Display, Remote 3D View and an improved Voice Control with natural voice input, the 2017 BMW 5 Series marks a new era of personalized connectivity. The BMW 5 Series is the most innovative BMW 5 Series to date, combining unique driving dynamics using Remote Control Parking and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems clearing the way towards semi-automated driving.

Design.

The all-new BMW 5 Series Sedan remains the quintessential midsize sport sedan. “The new BMW 5 Series will make a mature, confidently stylish and dynamic impression at every opportunity. The formal and precise design combines presence, aesthetic appeal and functionality in equal measure,” says Karim Habib, Head of Design BMW Automobiles. The exterior dimensions of the new car are only slightly larger than those of its predecessor. The new BMW 5 Series Sedan is 30mm longer than the outgoing model 8mm wider and 15mm taller. Its wheelbase measures 2974mm (+5mm).

LED Adaptive headlights as standard.

The familiar BMW kidney grille is flanked by twin circular headlights with the headlight housings now connecting seamlessly with the kidney grille, emphasizing the car’s width.

The standard LED Adaptive headlights already make the BMW 5 Series a captivating prospect, its concentrated gaze locked onto the road. Adaptive Full LED Headlights alter the light graphic and can be specified as an option. With Adaptive Full LED Headlights, the LED tubes of the daytime running lights are hexagonal and extend to meet the kidney grille, creating a stylistic connection that accentuates the wide, low-to-the-road appearance of the front end.

The side view: short overhangs, elongated silhouette.

The passenger cell is set back and leads the eye over a flowing roofline to the rear end, while a short front overhang underscores the car’s sporty appearance. “For the first time, the new BMW 5 Series Sedan brings together two traditional BMW design elements which are normally separate from one another. The swage line turns up as it heads rearwards, moving from shadow to light and sweeping up the Hofmeister kink in its path rather than continuing into the rear. This upwards motion lends the car a forward-surging character, and the expressive, swooping surface imbues it with an undeniable muscularity,” explains Habib.

The rear: a visually lower center of gravity.

The low-slung, expressive and width-accentuating design of the rear end points to the dynamic, direct handling of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan. The rear lights reach deep into the sides of the car, creating a visual connection between its flanks and rear end. Cutting-edge LED bars enable a slim interpretation of the hallmark BMW “L” shape and underline the width of the new sedan. Another defining element of the rear end are the exhaust tailpipes, which are now arranged symmetrically on both sides on all model variants. Depending on the engine and equipment package specified, the tailpipes will be circular (four-cylinder engines) or trapezoidal (six-cylinder versions and cars with the M Sport package).

EfficientDynamics Enhancements.

The all-new BMW 5 series model now features active kidney grille slats for the radiator. This system opens moveable slats behind the vertical, fixed kidney grille slats and lower air intakes when more cooling air is required but otherwise keeps them closed to optimize aerodynamic efficiency,

The Air Curtains in the front apron team up with Air Breathers to cut air turbulence in the wheel arches significantly and channel the air effectively as the car pushes through it. Aerodynamic efficiency, courtesy of optimized trim and airflow-channeling elements which are fitted across the whole of the underbody; provide a considerable degree of underbody sealing. This also reduces lift, which enhances dynamics at high speeds.

A total of 13 colors, wheels in 18-inch, 19-inch and 20-inch sizes.

Two non-metallic and 11 metallic color shades are available for the new BMW 5 Series. Customers can choose from a total of 4 different light-alloy wheels (18-inch, 19 inch and 20-inch).

Sport design: now standard.

The standard Sport design shines the spotlight on the car’s dynamic character and stands out with numerous trim elements in high-gloss black and 18-inch Double Spoke light-alloy wheels (optional 19-inch in a bi-color polished finish). Chrome window surround, chrome kidney grill bars, and front & rear bumper trim finishers on the exterior and SensaTec upholstered dashboard on the interior enhances the sporty character of the all-new BMW 5 Series. On the interior, standard Sport Seats with power adjustable side bolsters and an Anthracite headliner welcome the driver and front passenger.

M Sport Package.

The M Sport package will be available from launch. It includes the M Aerodynamic kit (front apron with larger air intakes, side skirt trim, a diffusor-style rear apron and an exhaust system with two rectangular tailpipes), Shadowline exterior trim, lowered M Sport suspension and 19-inch M Double-Spoke Wheels with Mixed Performance Run-Flat Tires or all-season Run-Flat Tires.  The interior includes a new M Sport leather steering wheel, a SensaTec upholstered dashboard and aluminum pedal covers and footrest, with exclusive floor mats when selecting the option of Black Dakota Leather with contrast Blue stitching and piping.

Luxury travel: more freedom of movement, low noise levels.

The all-new 5 Series offers increased  trunk capacity  (18.7 cubic feet), capable of carrying 4 golf bags. The lowered instrument panel, freestanding display, and the cabin’s enlarged dimensions provide additional room and comfort. Passangers in the rear now have more space to spread out, thanks to the increased kneeroom and extended legroom (+1.2 inches).

As part of the interior’s acoustic design the headliner is equipped with built-in sound absorbing materials to reduce interfering sounds, which increases the driver and passenger’s ability to communicate. Additional storage spaces in the door pockets, able to hold regular sized bottles, have been created. The cupholders in the center console  have been designed to allow easy access control switches. The storage compartment in front of the cupholders can be equipped with an optional wireless charging tray.

Seats with massage function.

The standard front Sport seats are 16-way electrically adjustable, including adjustable side bolsters for optimum lateral support, and offer tremendous safety and comfort together with a wide choice of materials. Other enhancements inlcude decorative stitching for the optional Dakota and quilting for the optional Nappa leather upholsteries can be selected. The available 20-way adjustable Multi-contour seats for the driver and passenger can be additionally equipped with ventilation and massage function. Eight different massage programs, each with a choice of three intensity modes, relax the muscles in the back and relieve the strain on the spinal discs while driving. The massage function uses 20 air chambers incorporated into the seat backrest and cushion, which are alternately inflated and deflated. The driver is now able to set temperature thresholds for activating the seat heating and seat ventilation, as well as the steering wheel heating – a highly convenient feature that starts these functions automatically when the temperature falls below or rises above the respective limit.

There is room for up to three adults on the rear seats. When the middle seat is not occupied, rear seat passengers can make use of the center armrest and its integrated cupholders.

Contact sensors for the seat control.

When equipped with Multi-contour seats, new seat adjustment switches contain touch-sensitive sensors. Touching the switch located on the outside edge of the seat, activates one of five sensors and the corresponding menu opens in the iDrive display. Lightly pressing on the switch again then carries out the desired adjustment, all clearly illustrated by a matching animation in the display.

Gesture control, Intelligent Voice Control, Touch screen and iDrive 6.0 touchpad Controller.

The latest version of Gesture control which premiered last year in the all-new BMW 7 Series is now available as an option in the all-new BMW 5 Series. Navigation, telephone, entertainment features and vehicle functions can be visualized on the standard high-resolution 10.25-inch screen and controlled not just in the usual manner using the iDrive Controller, but also by means of gestures, voice commands or simply touching the display.

Available content is arranged in a total of six large tiles over two screen pages, providing the driver with direct access to functions as well as a live display of the associated content. The interactive and live tile for entertainment, for example, shows the current song selection with an image of the album cover. When navigation is active, the driver can see the route the vehicle is taking in the main menu’s navigation tile. If the driver now touches this map section, the navigation screen opens, showing the detailed map view. Touching a tile’s header line, opens the respective function’s main menu, in this case the navigation menu. This allows for easy and quick access to all information stored, saved or currently enabled.  The two sets of three pads can be rearranged as desired, allowing drivers to position the content they use most frequently in the first screen.

Users select menu options and the associated functions in the usual way with the iDrive Controller or by simply tapping the button on the iDrive Touch screen with their finger.

The all-new BMW 5 Series can also be operated using voice control or with optional Gesture Control which offers a particularly intuitive and easy way of operating commonly used infotainment system and telephone functions. All that is needed are simple movements of the hand or fingers, which are detected by a 3D sensor in the vicinity of the center console and translated into commands: pointing at the screen with the index finger is all it takes to accept a phone call, for instance, while a swiping motion with the hand rejects it. The swiping action can also be used to open submenus. Tracing a circle with the index finger adjusts the audio system’s volume, and the driver can pull their thumb and index finger away from the navigation map towards them to zoom in on that section of the map. In addition, the two-finger point towards the iDrive screen can be used to carry out an individually selectable command, such as instructing the navigation system to start route guidance to the home address or skipping to the next track in a playlist.

The Intelligent Voice Control offers the most advanced level of natural voice control currently featured in a BMW.  Now, the driver can formulate their request in everyday language and simply ask, for example, where the nearest Italian restaurant is located. Intelligent Voice Control is currently available in English, Spanish and French.

Latest-generation multicolor Head-Up Display.

In the all-new BMW 5 Series, drivers can see Advanced Real-Time Traffic, navigation instructions, warnings from the driver assistance systems, phone lists and the audio track selection. A wealth of information is being projected onto the windshield when activated. With a resolution of 800 x 400 pixels, the projection area is around 75 percent larger than on the outgoing model.