BMW's redesigned sports sedan has plenty of soul

BMW’s 530i is one more step in the total redesign of BMW’s product line. Under the bold new styling is the heart and soul of a sports sedan.

 Tom Purves, chairman and chief executive officer  of BMW North America, told automotive writers at the car’s launch last fall that BMW’s mission is to build The Ultimate Driving Machine.  “This car,” he said, “is central to what BMW is all about.”  It is a technical showcase, a platform for innovations such as active steering, active roll stabilization and the unique use of aluminum and steel body panels.

 The 5-series is the third BMW with styling that has come under criticism from some BMW loyalists. Purves said there is a reason for the new look. BMW’s market research discovered that people said, “your cars are great, but they are not sufficiently differentiated.”

 BMW’s new styling is a series of compound curves and sharp edges. The variation in surfaces means light reflects differently all the time.

 BMW’s new styling has been controversial. Chris Bangle, BMW’s design director, was recently promoted to an executive position, director of BMW Group design. Hands-on design responsibilities now fall to Adrian van Hooydonk, formerly president of Designworks USA, BMW’s California design studio.

 The new 5-series has a wheelbase that is 2.3 inches longer than the previous car’s. It is also slightly wider, taller and longer. The trunk is 26 percent larger, big enough now for four golf bags. The additional length translates into greater rear-seat legroom, something that was needed. The back seat is now quite comfy.

 The all-new 5-series is available in three versions, two featuring inline six cylinder engines and one featuring BMW’s V-8. The 525i will be equipped with a 2.5-liter inline six that produces 184-horsepower, while the 530i's 3.0 in-line six offers 225 horsepower. Finally, the 545i will have a 4.4-liter V-8 with 325 horsepower. A 6-speed manual transmission will be standard on all three versions, and a fully electronic Steptronic six-speed automatic will also be available. The 525 starts at $40,995, the 530 at $45,995 and the 545 at $55,995.

 Whether you like the styling or not, the redesigned 5-series sedan is a car to be reckoned with. Its handling, road holding and overall balance are absolutely first cabin, among the best in its segment.

 Active steering and active roll stabilization are two innovations worthy of note. Active steering varies the steering ratio by speed. It is essentially invisible, yet it makes driving more pleasurable. It takes fewer turns of the wheel to steering the car at slower speed than it does at high speed. This means you can wheel through switchback turns without moving your hands from the steering wheel, yet at high speeds the vehicle tracks straight even if you move the wheel slightly.

 In conjunction with the vehicle stability program, active steering can apply 2.5 degrees of countersteering to help reduce the chance of skidding in an emergency swerve.

 Active roll stabilization uses a hydraulic coupling in the middle of the stabilizer bars. This unit decouples when the car is going straight, allowing the suspension to be more compliant and the ride to be softer. When you make a turn, the stabilizer bars reconnect and keep body lean in check.

 All of the technical sleight of hand happens without the driver ever being aware that anything is going on. The car carves through turns with precision while feeling arrow-straight on flat sections.

 The interior is bigger, more advanced and more sophisticated. The gauge package is quite nice, but overall the instrument panel is less successful. The iDrive system, operated by a large knob on the console, has been simplified, but it still isnít as intuitive as it should be. Fortunately, most functions essential to driving are located on or around the steering wheel and column. An optional head-up display will be available sometime this year.

 Adaptive bi-xenon headlights turn slightly with the steering wheel to shine around bends. When the driver applies the brakes hard, or upon activation of the ABS, the brake lights and the taillights both light at once to alert those behind that you are braking hard.

 While the 5-series’ styling is the first thing to catch your eye, agile road holding and a sweet manual gearbox are the things that bring a smile to your face every time you turn the key.