New BMW 5 Series: official information

The new generation of the BMW 5 Series has just been officially unveiled. The sixth generation of the 5 Series (F10) now features a new design in line with the brand’s current direction and plenty of novelties in terms of mechanics and technology. The BMW 5 Series will go on sale in spring 2010.

The 5 Series receives a new platform, partly shared with the BMW 7 Series, and compared with the previous model its wheelbase grows by eight centimetres, reaching 2,968 mm. Another novelty is the suspension system it inherits from the 7 Series: multilink suspension on both axles. The BMW 5 Series can also be equipped with Adaptive Drive (adaptive suspension), which includes electronic damping control, the Dynamic Drive roll stabilisation system and active integral steering.

Turning to the engine range, the new BMW 5 Series will offer four petrol engines and two diesels (or even three, since the 525d with 204 CV is not yet confirmed). The engines can be paired with a six-speed manual gearbox or a modern eight-speed gearbox.

Within the petrol range, the entry-level engines are the 523i (204 CV) and 528i (258 CV). Above these two entry engines sits the powerful 535i with 306 CV, a six-cylinder inline engine with twin turbos. The petrol jewel (and until the M5 arrives) will be the 550i (taken from the 750i), a 4.4-litre V8 with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, producing 407 CV.

In the diesel range, for now only two engines are confirmed: the 520d with 184 CV and the 530d with 245 CV (the 525d with 204 CV remains unconfirmed). There is also talk of an ActiveHybrid version, but for the moment we don’t know its specifications.

As for the design, opinions will vary, since it has a somewhat conservative look that follows the design of the new BMW range, with a rounder and even slightly more muscular front end, moving away from the squarer shapes of the previous 5 Series. At the rear it features new headlights that look smoother and recall the 3 Series. Personally, and from my point of view, it is not a particularly daring or novel design, but on the outside the BMW 5 Series keeps its presence as a saloon and modernises a design that was already showing its age.

As for the interior, it is closer to the 7 Series or even the 5 Series GT, with a dashboard oriented towards the driver. From now on all BMW 5 Series will have a 7-inch LCD screen to display various information, and those equipped with GPS will get the 10.2-inch screen of the 7 Series.

We leave you with the gallery of official photos, and we hope to have details on prices for Spain soon.

Via | Autoblog en español