BMW 5 series

BMW 5 Series Touring Unveiled at Paris Auto Salon

It's not for lack of experience that luxury automakers like BMW surmise that American buyers like sedans, while European buyers gravitate towards wagons. The conclusion is backed by decades of sales numbers, and that's why the BMW 5 Series Touring wagon you see here, unveiled for the first time at the Paris Auto Salon, won't be coming to the Western shores of the Atlantic.

Although the Touring model retains nearly all the handling dynamics of the sedan while packing additional cargo capacity, American buyers fill that niche with crossovers. Which is a bit of a shame, but if you're looking for a more versatile version of the latest 5, BMW can arrange a nice Gran Turismo model – taller and bulkier though it may be – to suit your requirements.

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Tags: 2010 paris, 2010 paris auto salon, 2010 paris auto show, 2010 paris motor show, 5 series, bmw, bmw 5 series, bmw 5 series touring, paris, paris auto salon, paris auto show, paris motor show

BMW 5 Series by Hamann

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

If you're enamored of the latest BMW 5 Series but can't wait for the M5 to come along, may we suggest you look to the aftermarket. BMW always attracts a fair deal of attention from independent tuners, and now Hamann has stepped up with a customization program specific to the new 5.

The catalog consists of a body kit (with a new front bumper, adjustable front lip spoiler and daytime running LEDs, side skirts, rear apron and diffuser and a pair of spoilers), matte black 21-inch wheels with polished rims, a 35-milimeter dropped suspension and a four-tip exhaust system along with carbon fiber and aluminum trim for the interior. A series of engine modifications are expected to follow shortly.

Gallery: Hamann BMW 5 Series

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Tags: 5 series, bmw 5, bmw 5 series, hamann, hamann bmw 5 series

BMW Alpina B5 Bi-Turbo

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

BMW has just produced the last example of its epically fast M5 super-sedan. A replacement is on its way, based on the new 5 Series but replacing the outgoing V10 with a new twin-turbo V8. Fans of high-performance BMWs needn't wait until the new M5 makes its debut, however, as the new Alpina B5 has just been released.

Alpina is one of those rare tuning houses that enjoys close cooperation with the factory, thereby bridging the gap from manufacturer to aftermarket, and their products are well known to Bimmerphiles. For the new B5, Alpina has fitted its 507-horsepower twin-turbo V8, mated to a specially-developed eight-speed transmission and complemented by an electronically-adjustable suspension riding on 20-inch wheels.

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Tags: alpina, alpina b5, alpina b5 bi-turbo, bmw, bmw 5 series, bmw alpina, bmw m5, m5

BMW Promises More Hybrids, Compares Itself to Chanel

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Green

BMW is out to prove that Ultimate Driving Machines can also be Efficient Driving Machines. The famed German automaker is already dabbling in hybrid technology with models such as the X6 and large, range-topping 7 Series, but soon the marque will expand the fuel-saving technology to its mainstream 5 Series and even 3 Series models.

Speaking at the automaker's normally scheduled annual meeting, Chairman Dr. Norbert Reithofer said that the upcoming 5 Series ActiveHybrid will go into production in 2011. This application should pair a larger 40-kilowatt electric motor to the mild hybrid system currently used in the 7 Series, and it will reportedly be capable of powering itself using electricity only. Closely following the 5 Series is likely to be a hybrid version of the next-generation 3 Series.

Interestingly, Reithofer also pointed out that BMW is poised for future success as it is apparently very highly thought of by the younger generation.

BMW is the most prestigious brand among Generation Y. Generation Y refers to the young people born between the late 1970s and the year 1994 in the U.S. This consumer group has an annual spending capacity of 200 billion dollars – and the most prestigious brands to this young generation are BMW and Chanel.

You can find the rest of Reithofer's speech after the break.

[Source: BMW]

Tags: 3 series, 3 Series Hybrid, 5 series, 5 series activehybrid, 5 series hybrid, bmw, BMW 3 Series, bmw 3 series hybrid, bmw 3-series, BMW 5 series, bmw 5 series activehybrid, bmw 5 series hybrid, BMW 5-series, Generation Y

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Lexus, Infiniti Not Currently Planning BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo Competitors

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

BMW 535i Gran Turismo – Click above for high-res image gallery

Depending on who you ask, BMW is either at the forefront of an exciting new automotive genre with the 5 Series Gran Turismo, or is inventing market segments with no real purpose other than to grab several thousand new sales from those who simply must be seen in the latest trendy niche. In other words, the 5 Series GT is nothing if not polarizing.

For now, it seems that you can put such luxury brands Lexus and Infiniti in the latter camp, though fellow upmarket Japanese automaker Acura is headed down a similar path as its German counterpart with the new ZDX – at least with regard to the X6. Speaking to Auto Observer at the New York Auto Show, Ben Poore, Nissan North America's vice president of the Infiniti business unit, said, "What [we are] seeing is a much stronger preference (among consumers) for a trunk."

Granted, some may see little difference between such vehicles as the 5 Series GT and Infiniti's own EX and FX crossovers, but Poore suggests the machines aren't direct competitors. "I'd rather be on (either) the crossover styling or the trunk styling," he said. Dave Nordstrom, Lexus' vice president of marketing, concurs, saying, "We don't have any plans for it right now. We have not seen the demand from our customers – but we continue to look at it."

Gallery: BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo

[Source: Auto Observer]

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Tags: Acura, Acura ZDX, AcuraZdx, bmw, BMW 5 series, bmw 5 series gran turismo, bmw 5 series gt, BMW 5-series, BMW 5-Series GT, BMW 5-Series Touring, Bmw5-series, Bmw5-seriesGt, Bmw5-seriesTouring, Bmw5Series, Bmw5SeriesGranTurismo, Bmw5SeriesGt, Infiniti, infiniti fx, InfinitiFx, lexus

First Drive: 2011 BMW 535i sedan, Returning to its Design Roots

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

2011 BMW 5 series sedan - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's no small matter when the time comes for an automaker to replace one of its top selling models and BMW is no exception. For the Munich based automaker the mid-size 5 series is second only to the compact 3 series in sales volume so they can't afford to mess it up. The 5 series competes in one of the most sought after segments for premium cars, going up against the likes of the Audi A6, Mercedes-Benz E-class, Jaguar XF and Cadillac CTS.

In the coming months an all-new 5 series sedan will go on sale around the world. Before that happens, BMW invited automotive media from around the world to Portugal to spend a couple of days sampling the new sedan. We drove the 5 on the roads south and west of Lisbon as well as on the Estoril race track that formerly hosted the Portugese Grand Prix. Follow the jump for our driving impressions.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 BMW 535i

Tags: 2011, 2011 bmw, 2011 bmw 5 series, 2011 BMW 5-Series, 2011 bmw 530d, 2011 bmw 535i, 2011Bmw, 2011Bmw5-series, 2011Bmw530d, 2011Bmw535i, 2011Bmw5Series, 5 series, 530d, 535i, 5Series, bmw, bmw 5 series, Bmw5Series, first drive, FirstDrive

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The Classicist: Back to the Future in the New BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, The Classicist

The GT or Gran Turismo ("grand tourer") designation, first used by Italian marques in the 1920s to denote a vehicle combining sports car performance with luxurious appointments and enhanced luggage capacity for long-distance travel, has been abused to the point of absurdity - hello Ford Escort GT. But BMW has brought it back to life in a wholly modern incarnation with their newest creation, the 5 Series Gran Turismo, managing to invent something brand new in the process. These days "brand new" has also lost its appeal when it comes to automotive styling outside of supercars and ultra-luxury rides; witness the deluge of melted minivans and beastly breadboxes clogging up the freeways. The 5 Series GT triumphs because while undeniably breaking new ground, at heart it's basically a mélange of two of the famed German marque's longstanding successes: the X5 Sports Activity Vehicle and 7 Series luxury sedan.

There's been a lot of debate about whether the 5 Series GT should be considered a car, a mini-SUV, a crossover or some other damn thing altogether. What we can tell you is that when we recently took one on a drive up through the scenic byways of New England that was the furthest thing from our mind. The inside is incredibly spacious, with the same legroom as the 7 Series combined with the headroom of the BMW X5, the elegance, comfort and class of both, and an extremely practical, well-designed and capacious rear cargo area with a two-piece tailgate adaptable to a number of different configurations. A stretched and sleek coupé-like roofline, frameless windows, a commanding, slightly elevated seating position, large windows and a panoramic glass roof, upright BMW kidney grille, large air intakes and dual round LED headlights slanted back at rakish angle all give the car its distinctive good looks.

Under the bonnet, the V8 TwinPower Turbo engine delivering a maximum output of 407 hp borrowed from the stellar 750i is paired with the innovative eight speed automatic transmission that can otherwise only be found in the new twelve-cylinder 760Li. In the 550i GT that means a masterful 0–62 mph time of 5.5 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph. A fourth generation iDrive system, black panel instruments and giant displays give the cockpit the feeling of a private jet. Add options like high beam assist, night vision, and even an electrically swiveling trailer hook and you begin to see the versatility of a vehicle of this caliber. Expect to see the competition rushing out copies in record time.

Gallery: BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo

Tags: BMW, BMW 5 Series, BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo, Bmw5Series, Bmw5SeriesGranTurismo, Germany, SUV

BMW Launches All-New 5 Series Luxury Sedan

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

BMW has finally taken the wraps off its brand-new 5 Series sedan, culminating months of anticipation for the Bavarian automaker's mid-range luxury saloon. The styling takes its cues from the new 7 Series and the recently launched 5 Series Gran Turismo, ending years of controversial styling ad replacing it with a more dynamic shape.

The new 5 is being offered in the North American market with a choice of two turbocharged engines: an all-new 300-horsepower twin-scroll 3.5-liter inline six for the 535i, and a 400hp twin-turbo direct-injection V8 in the 550i. Both are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and benefit from F1-derived regenerative braking for improved economy and optional four-wheel active steering. Additional engines – including diesels and more compact gasoline engines – are also available in overseas markets, with more powertrain options expected to join in the future, including hybrids and a new M5 performance model.

It's a pivotal product for BMW, and features a state-of-the-art cabin with all the luxury amenities you could expect from a luxury sedan. Browse through our high-resolution gallery below for a closer look, or follow the link to our sister-site Autoblog for a more in-depth analysis.

Gallery: 2011 BMW 5 Series

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Tags: 5 series, 5-series, 5Series, bmw, bmw 5 series, bmw 5-series, bmw 535i, bmw 550i, Bmw5-series, Bmw535i, Bmw550i, Bmw5Series

2009 Frankfurt Auto Show: BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

German automakers have elevated the crossing of traditional market segments into an art form, BMW arguably chief among them. Joining the X6 – a sort of cross between a sport-utility vehicle and a sports coupe – is the new 5 Series Gran Turismo, revealed in production trim to the public at the Frankfurt auto show.

Combining what BMW claims is the head room of the X5 and the legroom of the 7 Series in a more compact form, the 5 Series GT bridges the gap between a tall wagon and a short sport-ute. A strange concept, to be sure, but one which BMW appears to have pulled off with aplomb. Available with a range of engines starting with a 245hp diesel and topping out at the 407hp twin-turbo V8, the Gran Turismo is slated to replace the 5 Series Touring wagon variant in the American market in the near future, but you can see it now in our high-resolution image gallery below.

Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo