When the Germans say “domestically-made car”, they associate that with something they can be proud of, unlike Russians for whom that expression bears a kind of disparaging overtones. That honor in German industry was brightly seen during premiere of new BMW 5-series that took place at Rolf-Premium dealership in Moscow on March 3, 2017.
BMW 5-series is an executive car. The first generation of this model appeared in the distant 1972 year. Since then more than 7.9 million cars of first six generations have been sold all over the world. Furthermore, sales of the sixth generation amounted to 2.1 million cars, making this model the leader of its segment. Sales of new (seventh) generation began in February 2017. Its classmates-competitors are: Audi A6, Infiniti Q70, Jaguar XF, Lexus GS, Mercedes-Benz E-class and Volvo S90.
In fact, two novelties have been shown – two sedans with dandified white body and with an official black one.
“Domestic” BMW 5-series looks highly manful which makes it not just an accessory but a part of owner body. Its design combines business style with sporting spirit, and there’s no contradiction, as business is a kind of sport too.
The car makers describe the new sedan as “beefy”, “athletic” and even “dominant”. Perhaps, to highlight those qualities, the cars were represented not by elegant ladies but by hard-baked male acrobats from Du Soleil circus.
Still, the manufacture stresses not muscles of their car but its intellectual abilities which are available for all four grades of the model: basic, luxury, sport and M-sport.
Due to high IQ, its owner may delegate some control to the car and to engage himself into something more important than following the road marking, pedestrians, fellow cars and other hassles the BMW driver might face on his way from elite suburban cottage to a government meeting. For instance, the driver and his passengers might indulge themselves into “unlimited pleasures”, the company guarantees.
Among those pleasures the BMW 5-series offers auto start stop function; set of the Connected Drive options, which renders the car a huge wheeled communicator; Plus drive assistant and parkomat; gesture controls.
Like any intellectual, BMW 5-series is not just concerned with values and meanings, but is also ecologically aware. In that sense, the “five” passes the exam with the highest mark, too, all on five plus: their CO emission is 33% lower due to the introduction of Effective Dynamics technology.
In Russia, the new BMW 5-series is available in four petrol versions:
- 530i/530i xDrive – engine 2.0-liter (249hp) paired with a rear/all-wheel drive; Price is from 2’990’000/3’130’000 RUR;
- 540i xDrive – all-wheel drive version with the 3.0 liter engine (340hp); Price is from 3’600’000 RUR;
- M550i xDrive – all-wheel drive version with the motor of 4.4 liters (462hp); Price is from 5’100’000 RUR;
and three diesel trim levels:
- 520d/520d xDrive – 2.0 liter engine (190hp) with rear/all-wheel drive; the Price is from 2’760’000/2’900’000 RUR;
- 530d xDrive motor 3.0 liter (249hp); Price is from 3’600’000 RUR;
All versions are mated to 8-speed automatic Steptronic.
The first cars have already appeared in showroom.
Sources: BMW Russia, BMW Russia
