BMW's new 5-series incorporates many tech updates.
(Credit: BMW)
BMW released full details and photos of the new, 2011 5-series, representing a pretty significant update to the company's midsize sport-luxury sedan. An entirely new platform was developed, and is now shared between the 5-series and the new 7-series. The 550i model and 750i also share a power plant, a twin turbo 4.4-liter V-8. In the 550i, this engine produces 407 horsepower, bringing the car to 60 mph in 5 seconds. Other U.S. models are the 535i, powered by the same twin turbo 3-liter straight-six as the previous model, and a 528i.
The new 5-series serves as a platform for a host of driver aid technologies. Lane Change Warning alerts you to other cars in your blind spots while lane departure warning lets you know when you're drifting across lane lines. A night view system shows an enhanced display of the road on the LCD when it's dark out, and includes a pedestrian detection feature. Adaptive cruise control lets you set a cruising speed, and have the car slow down to match speeds with slower traffic ahead.
One of the more surprising driver aid features is automated parallel parking. This system is made possible by BMW's adoption of an electric power steering module for the 5-series. It uses sonar to determine if a parking space is long enough for the car, then automatically steers the wheel as you handle the gas and brake.
The 5-series gets the latest version of iDrive, but BMW is actually making it standard on all models. That means you get an LCD in the car whether you've chosen the navigation option or not. Without navigation, the LCD is a little smaller, and shows audio, phone, climate, and other car functions.
Before we drove it, the idea of an X5 M seemed outlandish, and we suspected BMW's motives had more to do with marketing than the company's engineering reputation. How could an X5 all-wheel-drive SUV live up to the M badge? We should have trusted BMW, whose engineers are so pure of heart they would never let a vehicle wear the M that didn't deserve it. The X5 M is a monstrously powerful beast that handles like a sports car. In fact, we had to drive up next to other cars for a height comparison to remind us we were in an SUV.
In a test to demonstrate reductions to cabin turbulence in the 3-series convertible, BMW convinced Dutch model Sylvie van der Vaart to sit in two 3-series convertibles while a wind tunnel generates a 37 mph air stream. The first car is a 1987 model, while the second is the current 3-series. van der Vaart adopts period clothing and hair style for each of the cars, and we get to see her flipped hair swishing every which way in the older car. And, of course, in the new car her hair is completely unruffled.
The lesson: Don't buy a 1987 BMW 3-series convertible if you have hair issues.
The Nissan GT-R proves that the coupe is the best body style in the world.
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET)
I love coupes. I would go so far as to say that the coupe is the best style of car in the world. Limiting a full-size car to two doors may fly in the face of practicality, but it allows for much more body style than a sedan. Automotive designers get to play with the roofline and equip a coupe with real fenders, making for a sporty-looking package. The best a sedan can do is look stately.
Roadsters are loads of fun, but a soft top just says you're not taking driving that seriously. A coupe means business, ready to take on all sorts of weather, with a hard top that can be shaped for aerodynamics.
The only negative aspect of a coupe is the rear seat. Most coupe rear seats are a joke, cramped little spaces that serve as much purpose as your appendix, or a vestigial tail.
In honor of the coupe, I've collected our last 10 coupe reviews and added a little commentary about those rear seats. Enjoy! I certainly did while driving these cars.
(Credit:
Stefan Radev)
Step aside, Greenbird. Here comes a version with all the luxe trimmings. Cooked up by industrial designer Stefan Radev, the Blue Dynamics land yacht is a concept wind-powered pleasure vehicle that steers with the help of a huge sail in the rear. Entry to the cockpit is via the elevated wind screen, while the rigid sail adjusts according to wind direction either automatically or through the on-board sail control unit.
The name Blue Dynamics is a symbolic connection of the wind and BMW's "efficient dynamics," greener-emissions program, which helped inspire the designer. BMW is not affiliated with the project, however.
Like all toys for the rich, this is one selfish contraption that'll take just one person on-board. But hey, if you've got the chump change to afford this swanky three-wheeled ride should it ever hit the deserts or beaches, you'll definitely not want to share it as you zip past envious landlubbers and green-eyed sedan drivers.
More pics after the jump.
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We watched the Stig race a 2009 BMW Z4 around the track on "Top Gear," but we didn't realize how truly good this car is until we did our own racing around Northern California in one. The model we had in for review was loaded with the twin turbo engine, making it the sDrive35i trim, twin-clutch gearbox, and M suspension, which has three modes. It's an expensive car, but as we crushed turn after turn, it seemed worth every penny. And that's not even going into the cabin tech, which BMW also liberally loaded into this car. The audio system alone is phenomenal, using 16 speakers to fill the small cabin. Everybody on the CNET Car Tech staff lusted after this car after spending time behind the wheel.
(Credit:
Corinne Schulze/CNET)
It's taken many years, but we've finally gotten a few diesel cars to choose from in the U.S. BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen are all offering versions of their cars with diesel engines, and from what we've seen the fuel economy can be impressive. And unlike older diesel cars, these new models have good acceleration and no black soot spewing from the exhaust.
The BMW 123d isn't sold in the U.S., and that's a shame for a variety of reasons.
(Credit: James Martin/CNET)
With falling gas prices dampening enthusiasm for alternative fuels, and poor economic conditions causing automakers to tighten their belts, plans for new diesel car launches in the U.S. have slowed. However, diesel engine cars still present a good option over gasoline-powered cars, generally getting much better fuel economy. Although automakers scaled back their plans, Bosch, which makes diesel engine components, still wants to change the perception of diesel cars in the U.S. so the public will be more receptive, and even demanding of this technology from automakers.
To that end, Bosch loaned us a 2007 BMW 123d, a car you can't currently get in the U.S., so we could see how it performed in comparison with gasoline cars. Combating the image of soot-spewing diesel trucks, Bosch adopted the slogan "good, clean fun" for its diesel technology, and the BMW 123d was a means to make sure we had some fun.
BMW started selling its 1-series car in the U.S. last year, as the 128 and 135, in coupe and convertible formats. While we found both cars to be very enjoyable, the 123d is a hatchback, a style that makes much more sense with the diminutive sports car. Increased rear headroom makes the cars rear seats more usable, although still tight, and the hatchback means you have substantially more cargo area. After driving the 123d, we really wish BMW would bring the 1-series hatchback to the U.S., with a diesel or gas engine. It didn't hurt that this 123d was also fitted with an M kit, meaning a sport-tuned suspension.
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(Credit:
Corinne Schulze/CNET)
BMW must hate us. The new 7-series came in with so much tech, we had to work long days to evaluate it all. Of course, a long day spent driving the 750Li over and around mountains wasn't exactly a painful experience. But then there was the time spent trying out the navigation system with its traffic avoidance feature, or activating night vision and seeing how the pedestrian detection works, not to mention trying out the lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, parking system, side-view cameras, phone system, stereo, and the list goes on. Fortunately, this is a new update for the 7-series, so we won't have to work this hard until the next update.
BMW's weather data shows up as a graphically rich three-day forecast for the current location of the car.
(Credit: BMW)Keeping up with the trend of offering external data connections in cars, BMW announced the addition of gas prices, weather forecasts, and stock indices to its existing Google Maps connection. Drivers will be able to view a list of nearby fuel stations with gas prices; select the cheapest; and have the address automatically entered in the navigation system, catching up to a feature already offered by Ford.
Weather shows up as a graphically rich three-day forecast for the current location of the car or any destination. BMW says the system will also show weather advisories. Stock information, provided by Bloomberg, is limited to real-time updates of the Dow, Nasdaq, and S&P 500.
The new information sources are available on the 2009 1-, 3-, and 7-series, and on the Z4, as long as they're equipped with the navigation system and BMW Assist. 2010 5- and 6-series BMWs with navigation and BMW Assist will also get the new system.
