Officially announced this week was BMW’s new 5 Series Sedan. BMW fans will be happy to know what the carmaker has done to build on the previous already fantastic car.
At launch, the new BMW 5 Series Sedan will be available with one V-8 and one inline-6 gasoline engine. The top-of-the-range BMW 550i arrives with BMW’s “reverse-flow” V-8 engine featuring twin turbochargers and High Precision direct injection for maximum output of 400 hp.
The new 5 Series will be the first U.S.-market BMW other than the company’s new hybrids to get brake energy regeneration. Like the new electric power steering, this regen braking system uses a special heavy duty glass-mat battery in combination with an intelligently controlled alternator. While a normal alternator is being driven continuously, this unit only charges the battery when the car is decelerating to avoid adding any load to the engine.
Of course, the most obvious difference for the new 5 is its styling. Over the past decade, BMW has had some very controversial exercises in design, including the current E60 5 Series. The new 7 Series is considered one of the most successful BMW designs in many years and the 5 Series picks up that mantle. Unlike the the somewhat awkward looking Gran Turismo, the sedan keeps a lower profile more akin to the 4th generation E39 5 Series. The nose is also more upright like the 7 Series and GT compared to the slope back shape of the E60.
The new 2011 5 Series has been increased in length by 1.7 inches to 192.9 inches and width by 2.5 inches to 73.2 inch. Tech-wise, the car will feature a 4th generation iDrive control screen available. The 2011 5 Series is scheduled to go on sale in Europe in March 2010, and shortly after in North America and other international markets.
The new inline-6 of the BMW 535i features a single twin-scroll turbocharger, High Precision direct injection, and, for the first time, VALVETRONIC...
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