THE all-new BMW 5 Series, the seventh generation of the large business saloon, has been unveiled with a top class blend of driving dynamics, comfort and functionality.

Highlights include low emission versions more attractive on the company car front including a 49g/km plug-in hybrid in the spring.

On sale from February 2017, seven years after its predecessor first made an appearance, this new model uses the latest BMW technology for a saloon that’s more refined, significantly lighter, safer, and more fuel efficient.

Engines sourced from the new family of TwinPower Turbo units provide impressive performance gains, but also show major advances in reducing fuel consumption and emissions to comply with Euro 6, with AdBlue systems in the diesels’ exhausts.

Shortly after the new 5 Series Saloon is launched, BMW will add a further two engines to the line-up. The BMW 520d SE EfficientDynamics model has the most efficient 190hp four-cylinder diesel unit, for 72.4mpg and CO2 emissions of 102g/km.

A plug-in hybrid version of the BMW 5 Series saloon will also be launched in March in the form of the BMW 530e iPerformance model. The BMW eDrive system and a four-cylinder petrol engine work in perfect unison to achieve ultra-low CO2 emissions of just 49g/km, while generating overall output of 252hp.

Fuel consumption is a remarkable 134.5mpg with an all-electric mode top speed of 87mph and electric range of up to 28 miles.

The new car is much lighter – with a multi-material mix of aluminium, high-tensile steels and magnesium, up to 100 kilograms has been shaved off the weight of the previous model – doors weigh just 6kg each – while body strength and torsional stiffness have been increased to enhance ride and handling.

An extensive suite of driver assistance technologies means that the new BMW 5 Series Saloon takes a notable step towards fully autonomous driving. With the new BMW 5 Series Saloon, every single facet of the large business saloon has been examined and developed to create the ultimate vehicle of its type.

First powertrains for all-new BMW 5 Series

With body styling that is up to 10% more aerodynamic, the exterior dimensions of the new models are minimally larger but with the passenger cell set back for a sportier stance with a larger cabin providing more elbow an leg room plus a bigger boot of 530 litres.

At the front it is distinguished by twin circular headlights now with glass headlight covers to connect seamlessly with the familiar BMW kidney grille. LED headlights are standard, while the adaptive LED headlights alter the light graphic with the option of BMW Selective Beam anti-dazzle high beam with a range of up to 500 metres.

The interior of the new BMW 5 Series Saloon strikes a fine balance between sporty driver focus and sophisticated elegance. Top-class materials, supreme build quality and attention to detail, a great feeling of spaciousness and new technologies in abundance combine to offer both driver and passengers superb comfort and driving enjoyment.

Professional Navigation, RTTI (Real Time Traffic Information), telephone, entertainment features and vehicle functions can be visualised on the standard high-resolution 10.25-inch screen, with new button function including a message centre, where all incoming SMS messages, emails and information about the car’s operating state can be found.

Meanwhile the latest generation of the BMW Head-Up Display has a resolution of 800 x 400 pixels, and the projection area is around 70% larger than in the outgoing model.

A range of sound systems are available, starting with the Professional radio with six speakers; progressing to the ultimate option for audiophiles: the Bowers and Wilkins Diamond surround sound system, with 10-channel amplifier and 16 speakers featuring 1,400 watts.

Two non-metallic and 11 metallic colour shades are available, with six BMW Individual paint finishes and four BMW Individual Frozen paint finishes joining the selection over the course of 2017. Customers can choose from a total of nine different light-alloy wheels (from 17-inch to 20-inch).

Powertrain of the new BMW 5 Series

All the BMW EfficientDynamics engines comply with the EU6 emission standard. The petrol units employ TwinScroll turbocharging, High Precision Injection, Double-VANOS variable camshaft control and Valvetronic fully variable valve timing.

The diesel models feature a turbocharger with variable turbine geometry and latest-generation common-rail direct injection, which generates injection pressure of up to 2,500 bar.

The diesel exhaust systems operate using BMW BluePerformance technology, which combines close-coupled particulate filters and oxidation catalysts with a NOx storage catalyst. Exhaust gas after treatment in all diesel models is performed with the aid of SCR technology, including a water-cooled metering module for the AdBlue fluid, which serves to cut nitrogen oxide emissions still further.

AdBlue can now also be replenished from special pumps at filling stations, allowing the reservoir to be topped up more quickly and conveniently.

A new, two-litre, four-cylinder in-line engine in the BMW 530i supersedes the petrol unit previously fitted in the BMW 528i. This turbocharged, direct injection engine produces 252hp (up 7hp on its predecessor) and enables the BMW 530i to sprint from zero to 62mph in 6.2 seconds.

The most powerful petrol option at launch is the new BMW 540i xDrive, which produces 340hp. This three-litre straight-six generates an impressive 450Nm of torque (+50 Nm), yet despite this performance average consumption is 39.2mpg with CO2 emissions of 164g/km – a reduction of 11% over the outgoing model.

The all-wheel-drive BMW 540i xDrive sets a new class-beating 0-62mph time of 4.8 seconds.

The four-cylinder diesel engine powering the BMW 520d has an output of 190hp at 4,000rpm and unleashes its maximum torque of 400Nm. Gearshifts are made with the eight-speed Steptronic. Fuel consumption with the eight-speed Steptronic comes in at 68.8mpg, resulting in CO2 emissions of 108g/km.

Finally, for now at least, the most potent diesel is the 155mph BMW 530d, producing 265hp and 620Nm with 60.1mpg, equating to 124g/km CO2.

The volume engines available at launch can be specified with BMW’s xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive system (20d, 30d, 40i). For the first time, BMW xDrive can be combined with Integral Active Steering as well as lowered sports suspension.

Driver assistance systems include speed limit assist

Dynamic Cruise Control (DCC), which is standard, maintains any selected speed between 19 ‑ 155mph. It also supports energy-saving coasting by decoupling the engine from the powertrain when the driver lifts off the accelerator at higher speeds.

Meanwhile, the functionality of the optional Active Cruise Control (ACC), which uses radar to adjust the pre-selected speed to the traffic situation, has been extended yet further. Working alongside this, the optional Speed Limit Info system shows speed restrictions on the current route segment in the display.

Speed Limit Assist can also take into account speed restrictions further along the driver’s route, encouraging a more proactive driving style. And when vehicles that are part of the inter-connected BMW fleet detect a hazard, the information is immediately relayed to BMW and incorporated in the form of a hazard preview into the navigation system and screen of vehicles in the immediate vicinity.

The optional Driving Assistant Plus safety package includes the Lane Keeping Assistant, the Lane Departure Warning system and the Lane Change Warning. Moreover, Side Collision Warning warns drivers by means of a visual signal or steering wheel vibration if another vehicle is encroaching from the side. The Lane Change Assistant offers comfort-enhancing steering assistance when changing lanes on motorways or dual carriageways.

Another new function contained in the Driving Assist Plus package is the evasion aid. If a swift lane change is required because an obstacle has suddenly appeared in the driver’s path, the evasion aid – which operates at speeds up to 99mph – supports the necessary evasive steering action.

A further system that provides an early foretaste of automated driving is the Steering and lane control assistant. This system already features a high level of automation. It operates in the speed range from zero to130mph and uses smooth, comfort-enhancing steering interventions to keep the vehicle in its current lane, reducing driving stress particularly in congested traffic.

The system’s hands-on-wheel detection is very sensitive, and can identify hand contact even when only a few fingers are in contact with the wheel. Drivers can now take their hands off the wheel much more often than in the past.

The Priority warning system provides visual and audible warnings if the driver has failed to notice that vehicles in another road have priority. The brake system is also primed so that the braking distance can be reduced to a minimum. Both Priority warning and Wrong-way warning operate in conjunction with the standard Professional Navigation system.

The Wrong-way warning detects if the driver is driving the wrong way onto a motorway or onto a roundabout, or is heading the wrong way down a one-way street. Similarly, Crossing traffic warning uses radar sensors to check for approaching traffic at junctions with poor or impeded visibility or when backing out of a perpendicular parking space.

BMW Connected Drive

The new BMW 5 Series Saloon sets new standards for connectivity between the driver, vehicle and outside world: to this end, the already extensive portfolio of BMW ConnectedDrive Services has been expanded to include new products  designed to bring added comfort and time savings – for business travellers in particular.

Optional Remote Control Parking – as seen first on the new BMW 7 Series – and the optional Parking Assistant and Parking Assistant Plus packages, enable automated parking with the greatest of ease in both parallel parking spaces and perpendicular or angled spaces.

Surround View and Remote 3D View offer peace of mind to anyone who frequently finds themselves manoeuvring in awkward traffic situations in city centres by allowing them to keep an eye on the area surrounding their BMW 5 Series at all times.

This fusion of driver assistance systems and connectivity services allows owners to quickly check on their parked car no matter how far away it is, as the image data is transmitted over the mobile phone network to their mobile device.

Besides the facility for directing the BMW 5 Series Saloon into a parking space by remote control, the optional Display Key offers a host of other functions as well.  Drivers can also check whether they closed the windows, sunroof and doors when they parked their car. The car’s fuel level and remaining range are also shown on the key, along with any service information.

Mobile phones with inductive charging preparation can be supplied with power wirelessly. The options list also includes a WiFi hotspot offering a high-speed internet connection (LTE) for up to ten mobile devices. Apple CarPlay is available in the new BMW 5 Series Saloon, too. BMW is the first carmaker to integrate Apple CarPlay without any cables at all.

The latest generation of the Professional Navigation system boasts quicker start-up, even faster route calculation and more realistic 3D graphics in cities. The navigation system is adaptive, too, meaning that if the driver keeps diverting from a suggested route, the system will in future propose the newly learned route as the standard route to the destination in question.

BMW Connected seamlessly integrates the vehicle into the user’s digital life via multiple touchpoints, such as an iPhone, Apple Watch, Android smartphone or smartwatch. BMW Connected focuses first and foremost on the digital products and services that simplify the day-to-day planning of driving routes and appointments.

With BMW Connected, mobility extends beyond the vehicle. BMW Connected is a digital assistant that combines the various functions that assist with everyday mobility requirements.

BMW is now the first carmaker to offer Microsoft Office 365 users a secure server connection for exchanging and editing emails, calendar entries and contact details thanks to the car’s built-in Microsoft Exchange function.

Addresses from appointments can be imported straight into the navigation system and telephone numbers can be dialled directly from a linked phone.