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2011 BMW 5 Series announced

BMW Australia has just announced pricing for the new generation 5 Series Sedan expected to arrive in Australia in June.


Prices start from $83,300 for the 520d and go up to $178,900 for the 550i which will sit at the top of the range until the new BMW M5 arrives. You can read our review of the new BMW 5 Series.

The first variants to arrive will be the 550i, 535i and 528i. BMW Australia will introduce the 520d in September.

The sixth generation BMW 5 Series will take on Mercedes-Benz's E-Class and Audi's A5 range. BMW believes the new 5 Series offers significantly more value than the outgoing model. Despite prices starting in the mid $80,000s, standard luxury features and advanced technology are expected to be a vast improvement over the current model.

Having a simple look at the specifications for the new 520d over its outgoing equivalent model gives a good indication of what we can expect from the new 5 Series.

An ultra-efficient 2.0-litre turbo diesel mated to an eight-speed automatic plus additional standard features such as Head-Up display, 17-inch alloys, parking sensors front and rear, 8.1 seconds from 0-100km/h compared to 8.4 and fuel economy of 5.2l/100km compared to 5.6l/100km, make up just a portion of upgrades.

"The new BMW 5 Series Sedan represents a dramatic advancement in the evolution of the world's best luxury executive sedan, with its stunning contemporary design, trademark BMW driving dynamics, powerful and efficient petrol and diesel engines an extensive array of luxury features and advanced technologies, the new 5 Series Sedan has moved forward in every way. In keeping with our objective to consistently increase value for our customers, BMW Group Australia has been able to maintain the price of the new model at levels that are comparable to the previous generation on a specification adjusted comparison and more than competitive with our major rivals." said BMW Group Australia Managing Director, Stavros Yallouridis

From the outside the new 5 Series is a great evolution of the model, now making use of BMW's trademark design characteristics of wide kidney grille, chiselled bonnet and muscular rear end.

Moving inside, BMW has worked extensively to offer a more spacious and luxurious cabin. The German company says the new 5 Series interior "provides the perfect environment in which to enjoy the car's ultimate driving pleasure".

Across the range all BMW 5 Series models will get:

  • 17-inch alloy wheels
  • multi-zone climate control,
  • fine Dakota leather upholstery, wood trim,
  • keyless start,
  • cruise control with brake function,
  • front and rear Park Distance Control,
  • Head-Up Display,
  • anti-dazzle interior mirror,
  • four-way electric adjustment for the driver and front passenger seats,
  • automatic lights and windscreen wipers,
  • satellite navigation system,
  • Bluetooth connectivity and a premium CD audio system with USB interface and through-loading across the range.
  • Six airbags,
  • Antilock Braking System incorporating Cornering Brake Control, Brake Assist, Dynamic Stability Control active front headrests and active bonnet pedestrian protection

Moving up from the 520d, the 528i adds Bi-Xenon headlights, 18 inch alloy wheels and ambient lighting.

BMW 535i adds:

  • adaptive headlights (turn into corners) for superior night vision in corners,
  • high beam assist,
  • a rear view camera,
  • full electric front seat adjustment with lumbar support,
  • sports leather steering wheel,
  • comfort access system,
  • extended air-conditioning,
  • premium HiFi audio system with 12 speakers
  • metallic paint.

The 4.4-litre TwinPower Turbo V8 range topping BMW 550i also receives:

  • comfort seats with ventilation and heating,
  • alarm,
  • electric glass sunroof,
  • electric sunblind for the rear window,
  • exterior mirrors with antidazzle function,
  • 4 zone automatic air-conditioning,
  • professional navigation,
  • voice recognition
  • DVD Changer
  • 19 inch alloy wheels

The options list allows for further personalisation with Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go available. The feature allows the driver to set the speed and have the vehicle automatically slow down and speed up depending on traffic.

BMW will also offer Night Vision which is best used for detecting wildlife at night. If you want more, BMW's innovative Parking Assistant and Surround View are also available.

This means the new 5 Series is capable of parking it self. Interestingly the Surround View system makes use of a number of digital cameras to display a bird's eye view of the car on the large 7.0 inch (or 10.2-inch 550i) screen on the dash.

Features aside, it wouldn't be a BMW if engines were not part of the highlights. Until such time as the new BMW M5 arrives, the new 4.4-litre TwinPower Turbo V8 (already in use in the BMW X6 and BMW 7 Series) used in the 550i can generate 300kW and maximum torque of 600Nm.

Couple the V8 to BMW's new 8-speed Sports Automatic transmission with steering wheel paddles and you'll get a 0-100km/h sprint time of 5 seconds flat. Best of all it does it all whilst using just 10.4 litres of fuel per 100km. Both the 550i and 535i come standard with Dynamic Driving Control which offers three modes of operation to enable the driver to adjust steering, throttle, transmission and DSC response (optional on the 520d and 528i).

The BMW 535i makes use of BMW's 3.0-litre TwinPower Turbo straight six cylinder engine which we first saw in the BMW 535i Gran Turismo. The engine, mated to the same transmission as the 55oi, achieves 225kW of power and 400Nm of torque using just 8.4 litres of fuel per 100km. Best of all it can catapult the 535i from 0-100km/h in 6.1 seconds.

The peculiar 528i will fill the gap left by the 525i. It will sport a naturally aspirated 3.0-litre straight six cylinder engine developing 190kW of power and 310Nm of torque. Using an 8-speed Automatic transmission has led to reduction in fuel consumption to 8L/100km. 0-100km/h times are quoted at a very reasonable 6.7 seconds.

Alas, the real highlight of the 5 Series range for those looking at environmentally friendly premium cars is the BMW 520d. Making use of a 2.0-litre turbodiesel four-cylinder engine the new 520d puts out 135kW and 380Nm of torque, goes from 0-100km/h in 8.1 seconds and uses just 5.2 litres of diesel per 100km. All of that without a hybrid system? We can't wait to see what BMW will do when it's hybrids hit the market.

The new 2011 BMW 5 Series range is built at BMW Plant Dingolfing in Germany alongside the BMW 7 Series with which it shares its basic architecture.

Standard equipment features of the new 5 Series Sedan over the E60 5 Series Sedan.

The new (F10) 520d over the (E60) 520d gains: -

  • Head-Up display
  • 17-inch alloys
  • Through loading
  • Park distance control front and rear
  • 8-speed automatic transmission
  • Additional 5 kW - Additional 30 Newton-metres
  • 8.1 seconds from 0-100km/h compared to 8.4
  • 5.2l/100km consumption, compared to 5.6 -
  • Active engine compartment lid to reduce risk of injury -
  • Reduced rolling resistance tyres -
  • Run-flat safety tyres -
  • Electric power steering with Servotronic -
  • Integrated owner’s handbook accessible via iDrive -
  • Electro-mechanical parking brake with automatic hold function

The new (F10) 528i over the (E60) 525i gains:

  • - Head-Up display -
  • 18-inch alloys -
  • Through loading
  • Bi-xenon headlights -
  • Park distance control front and rear -
  • 8-speed automatic transmission -
  • Additional 30 kW - Additional 60 Newton-metres - 2,996cc six-cylinder engine, compared to 2497cc six-cylinder engine -
  • 6.7 seconds from 0-100km/h compared to 7.9 -
  • 8.0l/100km consumption, compared to 9.4 -
  • Active engine compartment lid to reduce risk of injury -
  • Ambient light -
  • Air vent control -
  • Brake Energy Regeneration -
  • Electric power steering with Servotronic -
  • Headlight washer system -
  • Integrated owner’s handbook accessible via iDrive -
  • Electro-mechanical parking brake with automatic hold function

The new (F10) 535i over the (E60) 530i gains: -

  • Head-Up display -
  • 18-inch alloys -
  • Through loading
  • 8-speed Sports automatic transmission -
  • Sport leather steering wheel -
  • Comfort access -
  • Rear view camera
  • Lumbar support -
  • Bi-xenon headlights -
  • High-beam assist -
  • Extended automatic air conditioning -
  • Additional 25 kW - Additional 85 Newton-metres - 2,979cc Six-cylinder in-line engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo -
  • 6.1 seconds from 0-100km/h compared to 6.6 -
  • 8.4l/100km consumption, compared to 9.3 -
  • Active engine compartment lid to reduce risk of injury -
  • Adaptive Headlights -
  • Ambient light -
  • Air vent control -
  • Brake Energy Regenerations -
  • Electric power steering with Servotronic -
  • Headlight washer system -
  • Integrated owner’s handbook accessible via iDrive -
  • Lumbar support -
  • Electro-mechanical parking brake with automatic hold function

The new (F10) 550i over the (E60) 550i gains:

  • - 19-inch alloys -
  • Through loading -
  • 8-speed Sports automatic transmission -
  • Sport leather steering wheel
  • Comfort access -
  • Rear view camera -
  • Front seat ventilation -Front seat heating -
  • 4-zone automatic air conditioning -
  • DVD changer -
  • Additional 30 kW - Additional 110 Newton-metres - 4,395cc V8 engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo -
  • 5.0 seconds from 0-100km/h, compared to 5.3 -
  • Active engine compartment lid to reduce risk of injury -
  • Ambient light -
  • Electric power steering with Servotronic -
  • Integrated owner’s handbook accessible via iDrive -
  • Electro-mechanical parking brake with automatic hold function

BMW 5 Series Sedan Australian Pricing:

  • BMW 520d - $83,300*
  • BMW 528i  - $99,900*
  • BMW 535i  - $128,900*
  • BMW 550i  - $178,900*

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