BMW Romania moved excellently and put us physically next to a 5 Series example from the latest generation, namely the 8th, exactly on the same day that the car was officially presented internationally. I therefore had the chance to see live, as they say, a pre-series example of an emblematic car from the Bavarians, the one that gave birth to the current naming of BMW models (Series 3, Series 5, Series 7 etc. I have d). I’ll tell you further how the car seemed to me and I wouldn’t want to bring here many specifications and other details that you can find with a simple online search in a multitude of sources. If I still saw and touched the car, I’d like to focus on that here.
First of all, I would like to say that although the location of the presentation was spectacular and that in reality the lights there did not create any kind of problems, from the pictures it is a bit difficult to figure out exactly how and what. There are many reflections that do not favor the main subject, that is, the new BMW 5 Series 2023.
The designers and engineers who were involved in the conception and development of this generation had the task of making the 5 Series a car as agile and pleasant to drive as a 3 Series, which at the same time offers the space and comfort of o Series 7. Simple!
Well, before we get to the interior, let me tell you what I think of the new BMW 5 Series on the outside. Honestly, it’s an original entry in the BMW lineup, but I don’t think it has the most expressive personality, so to speak so. Of course, design judgments are completely subjective and may seem different to each of us.
I see a silhouette that looks a bit like the 2 Series Gran Coupe and less curved lines than the old 5 Series. The shapes hide a sedan that has grown a lot in size compared to the generation it replaces, the new BMW Series 5 being now almost 10 cm longer (passed the threshold of 5 meters long – 5060 mm), 1.9 meters wide (+32 cm) and 1515 mm high (+36 mm). The grille is kept within absolutely normal limits, it does not go either to the Series 4 or Series 7 area. But it can be ordered with lighting, as can be seen from the representative image of this article.
The number 5 is highlighted several times, including on the trunk lid, on the 520i inscription, the first number is larger than the ones that follow. Then we see another 5 on the gold element behind the rear door glass, for another to appear embossed on the B-pillar:
If we leave the exterior and go inside for the first time on the bench, we notice that, although it is not quite as much space as in the 7 Series, it comes close. You can have problems with the head if you are over 1.9 meters tall, like me, but otherwise there are no other complaints. The position is excellent, one of the best seats I have ever sat on.
The seat is very high towards the front, so you have a somewhat natural position for your legs, which are also well supported up to the knees. The backrest also has an angle that lets you relax, you don’t sit tense at all.
Up front, the seats are also as I expected, offering both excellent lateral support and plenty of comfort. Space is plentiful in every direction here.
The layout of the dashboard is part of the new BMW interior design line, with the two screens (12.3 inches for the instrument panel and 14.9 inches for the infotainment system) that continue one in the extension of the other on a slightly curved panel. Few physical buttons have found a place in the new BMW 5 Series, most of those on the dashboard and on the central console being of the capacitive type.
There is an extremely wide variety of materials. There were so many types, shades and textures on the car on display that I hardly got to admire each one individually as much as I would have liked. Well, after all we are talking about a showcar that was meant to show us how much the new BMW 5 Series can be customized.
A special function that many of the participants have and tested is that through which one or more passengers can enjoy themselves in certain games directly on the screen of the multimedia system, which runs iDrive 8.5.
Basically, with the AirConsole app installed on your smartphone, you turn it into a controller for the game installed in the new BMW 5 Series. It’s an interesting idea, but I find it especially useful for the BMW i5, that is, for the fully electric version of the new sedan, for times when you are waiting for your battery to charge at a public station.
The BMW i5 will be available in two versions initially, i5 eDrive40 (1 electric motor, propulsion, 340 HP and 430 Nm, 81.2 kWh battery, range between 477 and 582 km) and i5 M60 xDrive (2 motors, all-wheel drive, 601 HP and 820 Nm, battery also of 81.2 kWh, autonomy between 455 and 516 km).
Versions that include internal combustion engines will be the 520i (208 HP) and 520d (197 HP) at the start of sales, with the diesel available with propulsion or xDrive system. From the spring of next year, PHEV variants will also be introduced in the offer – 530e (2.0l petrol with a total power of 299 HP) and 550e xDrive (3.0l with 6 cylinders in line and a total power of 489 HP). Autonomies in purely electric mode are between 87 and 102 km. In about a year, a diesel version with 6 cylinders in line and a capacity of 3 liters is also promised.
Prices for the new BMW 5 Series look like this (EUR with VAT):
🔵 520i – 58.965;
🔵 520d – 61.285;
🔵 520d xDrive – 63.843;
🔵 i5 eDrive 40 – 70.150;
🔵 i5 M60 xDrive – 99.603.
I’m curious to hear what you think of the new BMW 5 Series, so please let us all know what you think in the comments section.
2023-05-26 20:24:29
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